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Curtiz (film)

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Wikipedia article




'Curtiz' is a 2018 Hungarian film by Tams Yvan Topolnszky, based on the making of the 1942 Humphrey Bogart film Casablanca by Hungarian director Michael Curtiz.

That year, America is on the brink of World War II. Michael Curtiz filmed his later iconic, multi-Oscar-winning film Casablanca under most unusual circumstances. During the shoot, he had to battle almost daily with political censors who wanted to change the film's script. In addition, Curtiz's troubled relationship with his daughter made this period more difficult for him.

The film's producers were Tams Yvan Topolnszky, Claudia Smeghy, and Barnabas Hutlassa. The Executive Producer was Orian Williams, and the screenwriter was Zsuzsanna Bak.

Plot



The film tells the story of the first Hungarian Academy Award winner, Michael Curtiz (originally known as Mihly Kertsz), who won the Best Director Oscar for Casablanca, a romantic film that film critics consider to be one of the best in film history. Curtiz, who is credited with nearly 200 films, was a highly controversial, aggressive, womanizing, selfish, violent and crude personality.Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film (Screen Classics) --- 2017

https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Curtiz-Life-Screen-Classics/dp/0813173914


The film about him (the original full Hungarian title is 'Curtiz A magyar, aki felforgatta Hollywoodot') was originally made as a TV movie. Its story takes place in 1942, during the filming of Casablanca, when the Japanese had destroyed Pearl Harbor, the Germans had already started bombing the British, and the United States was moments away from entering World War II. Curtiz, meanwhile, could not decide how to finish Casablanca, rewriting the script over and over again as the shooting neared. To make matters worse, to promote war propaganda as much as possible, the state authorities appoint a political official to supervise the film in progress, who tries to pressure Curtiz into making changes to the storyline. In defiance of these political interventions, Curtiz is determined to make his film a success, but he also faces serious family tensions during the shoot. The endangerment of his sister, who has stayed in Hungary, and his troubled relationship with his daughter, who has emerged after a long period of absence, take unexpected turns during the filming of the movie.

The story of the film is based on real events, with dramatized elements. The filmmakers have created the film with the help of a wealth of anecdotes and memoirs. Screenwriter Zsuzsanna Bak said that the story of the film covers 85 percent of the original events.

Cast



*Ferenc Lengyel --- Michael Curtiz

*Evelin Dobos --- Kitty

*Declan Hannigan --- Mr. Johnson

*Scott Alexander Young --- Hal B. Wallis

*Joseph Gyabronka --- S.Z. Sakall

*Nikolett Barabas --- Bess

*Yan Feldman --- Julius Epstein

*Rafael Feldman --- Philip Epstein

*Christopher Krieg --- Conrad Veidt

*Andrew Hefler --- Jack L. Warner

*Lili Bordn --- Irene Lee

*Caroline Boulton --- Louise Fazenda

*Eszter Nagy-Klzy --- Margit (voice)

*Jeremy Wheeler --- Government Official No. 1

Awards



* It won the 'Grand Prix des Amriques' at the Montreal World Film Festival in 2018. The lead role is played by Ferenc Lengyel, opposite Evelin Dobos.[https://dailynewshungary.com/two-hungarian-wins-at-the-montreal-world-film-festival/ The Montreal World Film Festival took place this year between 23 August and 3 September. Congratulations are in order, as Index reports that Tams Yvan Topolnszkys biopic Curtiz won Best Film, while the Best Director was announced to be Attila Szsz for Eternal Winter.] "Casablanca is easily one of the best-known films ever made, directed by a Hungarian man, Mihly Kertsz, also known as Michael Curtiz. He was the first Hungarian to receive an Oscar as Best Director, and about whom Tams Yvan Topolnszkys latest film, Curtiz, is. Curtiz is portrayed by Ferenc Lengyel, the female lead by Evelin Dobos."

* At the Riviera International Film Festival, Topolnszky was awarded the prize for 'Best Film Director'.

* At the Boston International Film Festival, Zoltn Dvnyi won the 'Best Cinematography' award.

Release



Canada

1 September 2018 (Montreal World Film Festival)

2 February 2019 (Pendance Film Festival, Toronto)

USA

5 April 2019 (Phoenix Film Festival)

15 March 2020 (Boston International Film Festival)

Italy

8 May 2019 (Riviera International Film Festival, Sestri Levante)

Hungary

12 September 2019

Poland

11 November 2019 (Camerimage International Film Festival, Torun)

Netflix

Added to Netflix worldwide on March 25, 2020 for two years with it removed on March 25, 2022.

References




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