When you think of Casablanca, you can’t help but think of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman exchanging sassy one-liners. The 1942 Hollywood classic conjures up a feeling of old-world glamour, romance and mystique that lingers to this day.
Disappointingly, it turns out not a single scene was actually filmed in Morocco. It was entirely shot at Warner Bros Studios in California, bar a few starring roles from Van Nuys airport and stock footage of Paris. (Rick’s Cafe does exist, but it was opened in 2004 as a tribute to the film by former US diplomat Kathy Kriger.)
Casablanca is a major economic hub and the financial capital of Morocco
There’s still a sense of magic though, particularly at dawn when the city wakes under a blanket of fog that’s sweetly tinged with the scent of the ocean, with the faint echo of mosques calling residents to prayer. As the sun pushes through, a bustling metropolis comes to life, and the spell is somewhat broken.
