Michael Curtiz
Date of Birth:
24 December 1886, Budapest, Austria-Hungary (now Hungary)
Date of Death:
10 April 1962, Hollywood, California, USA (cancer)
Birth Name:
Manó Kertész Kaminer
Nickname:
Miska
Height:
5' 9" (1.75 m)
Mini Biography:
Curtiz began acting in and then directing films in his native Hungary in 1912. After WWI, he continued his filmmaking career in Austria and Germany and into the early 1920s when he directed films in other countries in Europe. Moving to the US in 1926, he started making films in Hollywood for Warner Bros. and became thoroughly entrenched in the studio system. His films during the 1930s and '40s encompassed nearly every genre imaginable and some, including Casablanca (1942) and Mildred Pierce (1945), are considered to be film classics. His brilliance waned in the 1950s when he made a number of mediocre films for studios other than Warner. He directed his last film in 1961, a year before his death at 74.
Spouse:
Bess Meredyth (7 December 1929 - 10 April 1962) (his death) 1 child
Lili Damita (1925 - 1926) (divorced)
Lucy Doraine (1918 - 1923) (divorced)
Casablanca Casablanca (70th Anniversary) 
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Movie Synopsis:
In World War II Casablanca, Rick Blaine, exiled American and former freedom fighter, runs the most popular nightspot in town. The cynical lone wolf Blaine comes into the possession of two valuable letters of transit. When Nazi Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca, the sycophantic police Captain Renault does what he can to please him, including detaining Czech underground leader Victor Laszlo. Much to Rick's surprise, Lazslo arrives with Ilsa, Rick's one time love. Rick is very bitter towards Ilsa, who ran out on him in Paris, but when he learns she had good reason to, they plan to run off together again using the letters of transit. Well, that was their original plan.
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