DALLAS, TEXAS — In 1942, Hal B. Wallis and Michael Curtiz hired several talented writers and A-list actors to make what they hoped would be a successful war drama. Instead, they created a legend: Casablanca ranks at the top of virtually every list of Hollywood classics.

On Day 1 (April 7) of Heritage Auctions’ two-day poster sale, the first post-war French release double grande for Casablanca (Warner Brothers, 1947), 63 by 90 inches, sold for $143,400 including the buyer’s premium. Drawing multiple bids, this rare poster, with only two other copies know, has very stylized artwork of Bogart and Bergman; it is believed to have been done by French poster artist, Hervé Morvan. A full review of the auction will appear in a future issue.