CASABLANCA TOPS THEM ALL WITH BEST SCREENPLAY

Hollywood screenwriters should know a good movie script when they see one, and "Casablanca" has been crowned the best screenplay ever.

The members of the Writers Guild of America voted Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch's "Casablanca" into the top spot of the guild's 101 greatest screenplays.

In a tally announced Thursday, Francis Ford Coppola's collaborations with Mario Puzo on the first two "Godfather" scripts were both voted into the top 10 — although "Godfather III" somehow didn't make the cut.

Among living screenwriters, Woody Allen tied with Coppola (who also was honored for his work on "Patton" and "Apocalypse Now") for the most mentions with four: "Hannah and Her Sisters" (No. 95), "Crimes and Misdemeanors" (No. 57), "Manhattan" (No. 54) and "Annie Hall" (No. 6).

Charlie Kaufman ("Adaptation," "Being John Malkovich" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind") and William Goldman ("Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "All the President's Men" and "The Princess Bride") each earned three recognitions.

Neither the script for "Crash" nor "Brokeback Mountain," which won this year's WGA and Academy Award screenplay awards, landed on the list.

The guild, which has branches on both coasts and 9,500 film and television writer members, voted its top 10 screenplays in this order:

1. "Casablanca"
2. "The Godfather"
3. "Chinatown"
4. "Citizen Kane"
5. "All About Eve"
6. "Annie Hall"
7. "Sunset Boulevard"8. "Network"
9. "Some Like It Hot"
10. "The Godfather II"

It's a little surprising to me that Casablanca's screenplay was selected #1. There probably are better screenplays but not better movies. It's the total package that makes Casablanca the best movie ever made. Drama that is riveting, romance that tears at your heart and unforgettable characterizations that take on a life of their own are some of the elements that make Casablanca great. The magnetism of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman is magical and compelling. Add to that the humor that is so preposterous but works so well, and then of course you have that song: Is there anyone, anywhere in the world who doesn't know the song, "As Time Goes By" ?? Many of us know the lines from many parts of the movie. One of my favorite scenes is where one of Rick's girls pleads with him, "Where were you last night?" and he answers, "That's so long ago, I don't remember." Then she says, "Will I see you tonight?" and he answers, "I never make plans that far ahead." My recollections of Casablanca make me laugh long after the film has ended.