Rick's Cafe: Bringing the Film Legend to Life in Casablanca

By: Kathy Kriger and Cathy Del Gandel

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Synopsis: For more than 60 years, tourists visiting Casablanca tried to visit Rick&’s Café Americain only to discover that Warner Brothers had built the entire set on a studio back lot. It was a Hollywood fantasy—until Kathy Kriger came along, that is, and decided after 9/11 to bring the imaginary gin joint to life. In RICK'S CAFE, she takes us through souk back alleys, the Marché Central's overflowing food stalls, and the shadowy Moroccan business world, all while producing, directing, casting, and playing lead actress in her own story. Instead of letters of transit, she begged for letters of credit; the governor of Casablanca watched her back instead of Captain Renault; and at the piano, playing &“As Time Goes By,&” sits not Sam but Issam. She encountered paper pushers, absent architects, dedicated craftsmen, mad chefs, and surprising allies. It took over two years, but now, as Captain Renault says to Major Strasser, &“Everybody comes to Rick&’s.&” Here is the remarkable story of a woman who turned Hollywood fantasy into Moroccan reality and made her dream come true.

Book Quality:: Publisher Quality
Book Size:: 288 Pages
ISBN-13:: 9780762790449
Publisher:: Globe Pequot Publishing
Date of Addition:: 10/06/25
Copyrighted By:: Kathleen Kriger and Catherine Gandel
Adult content:: No
Language:: English
Has Image Descriptions:: No
Categories:: Nonfiction, Travel, Biographies and Memoirs, Cooking, Food and Wine, Business and Finance
Submitted By:: Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:: This is a copyrighted book.