Casablanca is a 1942 American romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz. The film stars Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid. Set during World War II, it focuses on an American expatriate who must choose between his love for a woman and helping her and her husband, a Czech resistance leader, escape from the Vichy-controlled city of Casablanca to continue his fight against the Germans. Exceeding expectations, Casablanca went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, became iconic and it consistently ranks near the top of lists of the greatest films in history. David Serero adapted this film as a theater play.