Kazablan (1973 film)

Kazablan is a 1973 Israeli musical film directed by Menahem Golan and written by Golan and Haim Hefer. The film stars Yehoram Gaon, Efrat Lavie, Arieh Elias, Etti Grotes and Yehuda Efroni. The film was released on May 8, 1974, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Plot
The plot follows that of the musical of the same name.

Cast

 * Yehoram Gaon as Kazablan
 * Efrat Lavie as Rachel
 * Arieh Elias as Moshiko
 * Etti Grotes as Maryuma
 * Yehuda Efroni as Mr. Feldman
 * Gita Luka as Mrs. Feldman
 * Aliza Azikri as Singer
 * Yossi Graber as Yanush
 * Misha Asherov as Josh
 * Abraham Ronai as Sarevsky
 * Ya'ackov Ben-Sira as Mr. Spiegel
 * Gabi Ohad as Mrs. Spiegel
 * Chaim Banai as Mr. Shimon
 * Geula Yeffet as Mrs. Shimon
 * Yaacov Timan as Russian Neighbor
 * Miriam Oleinik
 * Zvi Borodo as Mr. Nissimov
 * Madeline Rahmimov as Mrs. Nissimov
 * Victor Atar as Sgt. Mizrahi
 * Moshe Hillel as Mohel
 * Mutzi Aviv as Nikko
 * Nurit Amir

Production
The film was shot on a budget of 2.8 million Israeli pounds, the highest ever for an Israeli production at the time, with around 700,000 pounds going towards employee salaries. It was filmed using a rented Panavision camera from England on 70mm film, and the music was recorded in stereo. The original actors from the stage production, who portrayed characters such as Kazablan, Marioma, and Moshiko, returned to reprise their roles in the film.

While the original play "Kazablan" was set in the "Big Yard" in Jaffa (now known as Gan HaPisga), by the 1970s, little remained of the original setting, prompting the filming to take place in the nearby Manshiya neighborhood, then facing demolition.

An English version of the film was also produced simultaneously, with translators from the United States and England assisting in translating the script and songs, as well as coaching the actors in proper pronunciation.