Writers Guild crowns ‘Casablanca’ as greatest script

By Jesse Hiestand

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – “Casablanca” has topped
the list of “101 Greatest Screenplays,” a first-ever ranking by
members of the Writers Guild of America that was revealed
Thursday night at a reception in Beverly Hills.

The screenplay for “Casablanca,” by Julius Epstein, Philip
Epstein and Howard Koch, was followed, in order, by Mario Puzo
and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather,” Robert Towne’s
“Chinatown,” Herman Mankiewicz and Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane”
and Joseph Mankiewicz’s “All About Eve.”

“This list and the films on it are meant to be scrutinized
and criticized, dissected and collected, viewed and reviewed,”
WGA West president Patric Verrone said. “They are the
literature of our industry and the legacy of our union.”

Added WGA East president Chris Albers: “It’s difficult to
think of American life without the films on this list. Just
reading the titles reminds us of the fantastic journeys they
have provided.”

The results, sponsored by the unions and Premiere magazine,
were revealed at a gala tribute at the Writers Guild Theater.

Members nominated more than 1,400 screenplays. Any produced
screenplay was eligible regardless of era or language.

Rounding out the top 10 are Woody Allen and Marshall
Brickman’s “Annie Hall,” Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder and
D.M. Marshman Jr.’s “Sunset Blvd.,” Paddy Chayefsky’s
“Network,” Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond’s “Some Like It Hot”
and Coppola and Puzo’s “The Godfather Part II.”

Three writers — Allen, Coppola and Wilder — had four
films on the list, while three others had three: William
Goldman, John Huston and Charlie Kaufman.

Forty-five were original scripts, while 56 were
adaptations; the list also was heavy on dramas (60) as opposed
to comedies (26) and comedy/dramas (15).

Full credits and the complete list can be found at
www.wga.org.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter