Early Edition - 17 February 2013

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Hail Casablanca, A classic honored

Hail Casablanca, A classic honored

It's not often you get a chance to visit Morocco over 70 years ago without leaving London. So when we heard Future Cinema were putting on an interactive showing of the 1942 movie 'Casablanca' we had to sneek past the border guards to see if we could bring you a taster.

Our tickets had been issued as blank id cards with which we were required to furnish with a photo and fingerprints. We arrived to see the imigration queue being bullied by the guards, but once past the border we made our way into Ricks Cafe American. All the guards and cast of characters acted out key scenes, from the movie around the club, including a song from some german officers that went down very badly with the crowd.

A period club evening with entertainment, in a spacious venue with live performances by actors, singers, and dancers, then a showing of Casablanca. The audience were in fine mood and there was much cheering and jeering as some of the key lines were delivered. After the movie, more music and dancing. All the usual speakeasy activities.