<P> In December 1941 , American expatriate Rick Blaine owns an upscale nightclub and gambling den in Casablanca . `` Rick 's Café Américain '' attracts a varied clientele , including Vichy French and German officials , refugees desperate to reach the still - neutral United States , and those who prey on them . Although Rick professes to be neutral in all matters , he ran guns to Ethiopia during its war with Italy and fought on the Loyalist side in the Spanish Civil War . </P>
<P> In December 1941 , American expatriate Rick Blaine owns an upscale nightclub and gambling den in Casablanca . `` Rick 's Café Américain '' attracts a varied clientele , including Vichy French and German officials , refugees desperate to reach the still - neutral United States , and those who prey on them . Although Rick professes to be neutral in all matters , he ran guns to Ethiopia during its war with Italy and fought on the Loyalist side in the Spanish Civil War . </P>
where does the story of the film casablanca take place
where does the story of the film casablanca take place
Casablanca .
Casablanca .