Casablanca The Complete Budget Breakdown

It’s one of the greatest movies of all time and the following fascinating info is a very interesting breakdown of just how much the whole thing cost to put together. These figures could all be multiplied by 20 or much more in the case of the actor’s salaries if the movie were to be made today of course.

Continuity and Treatment

CASABLANCA is based on an unproduced play entitled Everybody Comes to Rick’s by Murray Burnett and Joan Allison. The amount Warner Brothers paid for Everybody Comes to Rick’s was $20,000.

• The following are salaries paid to studio writers and other personnel for work on the script:W. Klein: $1,983
  Aeneas MacKenzie: $2,150
  Julius Epstein: $15,208
  Phillip Epstein: $15,208
  Howard Koch: $4,200
  Lenore Coffee: $750
  Secretaries: $1,432
  Script changes: $6,350Writers’ Salaries Grand Total: $47,281
• Director’s Salary: Michael Curtiz: $73,400
  
• Producer’s Salary: Hal Wallis: $52,000
• Assistant Directors:To the week ending May 23, 1942: $3,036

  Lee Katz: $1,431
  George Tobin: $560
  Alma Dwight: $630
  Extra Assistant: $280
  Hugh McMullen: $1,400
  Robert Aisner: $1,000
  Al Alleborn: $1,500

  Assistant Directors’ Grand Total: $9,837

• Cameramen & Assistants:To the week ending May 23, 1942: $2,813

  Director of Photography: Arthur Edeson, A.S.C.: $4,000
  2nd Cameraman: $1,040
  Assistant: $640
  Still man: $880
  Test, Extra cameras: $1,500

  Cameramen’ Grand Total: $10,873

• Cast Salaries:
  

  Humphrey Bogart	$36,667
  Ingrid Bergman	$25,000
  Paul Henreid	$25,000
  Claude Rains	$22,000
  Conrad Veidt	$25,000
  Sydney Greenstreet	$7,900
  Peter Lorre	$2,333
  S.Z. Sakall	$2,600
  Madeleine LeBeau	$700
  Gino Corrado	$350
  Dooley Wilson	$3,500
  Joy Page	$200
  Martin Garralaga	$300
  John Qualen	$400
  Dan Seymour	$1,000
  Leo Mostovoy	$2,267
  George Dee	$300
  Helmut Dantine	$800
  Curt Bois	$1,000
  Marcel Dalio	$667
  Corinna Mura	$2,000

   

  A. Extras:………………………………….$44,978
  B. Bits: ……………………………………..$10,551
  C. Animal Handlers: ……………………..$490

  Talent Grand Total: $161,584

• Musicians:A. Song writers, releases, arrangers: $8,000
  B. Musicians: $20,000Musicians’ Grand Total: $28,000
• Property Labor:A. Prop Labor: $850
  B. Set Dressers: $2,635
  C. Prop Operating Labor: $6,665Property Labor Grand Total: $10,150
• Construction of Sets: $18,000
• Stand-by Labor: $15,350
• Electrical Rental and Expense: $750
• Electricians:A. Rigging: $1,500
  B. Operating: $18,380
  C. Striking: $875Electricians Grand Total: $20,755
• Make-up Expense:A. Make-up salaries: $6,000
  B. Hairdressers salaries: $2,600
  C. Wigs purchased and rented: $500Make-up Expense Grand Total: $9,100
• Art Department Salaries: $8,846
• Cutters Salaries: $4,630
• Property Rental and Expense:A. Outside rentals: $2,790
  B. Outside purchases: $1,275
  C. Studio charges: $2,235Property Rental and Expense Grand Total: $6,300
• Location Expense: $1,252
• Trick shots, Miniatures, Etc.:A. Miniature construction: $3,025
  B. Cameramen: $1,775
  C. Operating Labor: $1,300
  D. Electricians: $1,373Trick shots, Miniatures, Etc. Grand Total: $7,475

• Wardrobe Expense:A. Outside Rentals: $5,000
  B. Outside Purchases: $1,000
  C. Studio Charges: $6,035
  D. Wardrobe labor: $10,285Wardrobe Expense Grand Total: $22,320

   

• Negative Film: $8,000
• Developing & Printing: $10,500
• Camera Rental & Expense: $400
• Meals: $1,200
• Auto Rental Expense & Travel: $5,000
• Insurance: $2,800
• Miscellaneous Expenses: $3,350
• Sound Expense: $2,200
• Trailer: $2,000
• Sound Operating Salaries: $8,000
• Stills: $850
• Publicity: $3,000Total Direct Cost: …………………………….. $638,222General Studio Overhead @ 35%: $223,822

  Depreciation @ 2 1/2%: $15,956

• Grand Total Cost: $878,000