Casablanca is a Top 5 of All Time movie for me.  So you can bet I will be in my local theater on March 21 for a digital presentation of Casablanca to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the 1942 release.  Even better, every cinephile’s favorite television channel Turner Classic Movies is hosting the event.  That means each screening begins with TCM host Robert Osborne “taking audiences behind the scenes of this epic love story in a special original production showcasing stories from those who were on set and those who simply admire this timeless classic.”  From my experience, an introduction by Osborne improves the viewing experience by 10-20%.

A three-disc Blu-ray/DVD release will follow on March 27, but how can you resist seeing one of Hollywood’s great classics on the big screen?  Hit the jump for details and a trailer for the anniversary re-release.

Turner Classic Movies is not only a great TV station, but is also serves as an archivist.  Their moving year-end “Remembers” montages highlight not just the famous faces we lost, but the character actors, cinematographers, writers, and other cinematic artists who didn’t get publication-spanning obituaries at the time of their passing.  TCM has footage of all of almost all of the artists we lost in 2011 and they’ve once again woven a touching tribute.

In 2011, we lost some good ones including Pete Postlethwaite, Peter Falk, Cliff Robertson, Jane Russell, Elizabeth Taylor, Laura Ziskin, and Sidney Lumet.  As far as editing goes, I think the “TCM Remembers 2010″ video is better, but they’re both worth your time so I’ve included both after the jump.