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A Night in Casablanca (1946) movie poster

Timeline

A Night in Casablanca (1946) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1946 · 85 mins · English
JustWatch #28,230
Directed by
Archie Mayo
Starring
Sig Ruman, Paul Harvey, Dan Seymour, Ruth Roman, Chico Marx, Groucho Marx

In post‑World War II Casablanca, the Marx Brothers find themselves working at a bustling hotel. Amid the comedic chaos, they uncover a Nazi plot to retrieve a hidden cache of stolen treasure, leading to a series of slap‑slap‑stick mishaps, mistaken identities, and rapid‑fire wordplay that fuels the film’s endless laughs.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (11)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like A Night in Casablanca
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch A Night in Casablanca (1946)

Where can you watch A Night in Casablanca? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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11 events in order · contains spoilers

A Night in Casablanca Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of A Night in Casablanca (1946) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Heinrich Stubel's Murders at Hotel Casablanca

    Shortly after World War II, Heinrich Stubel, an escaped Nazi war criminal, begins murdering three managers of the Hotel Casablanca to hide his identity and maintain control of stolen art treasures hidden within the hotel. His disguises himself as Count Pfefferman to deceive others and carry out his deadly plans. These murders establish his ruthless efforts to reclaim his stolen wealth without detection.

    Where
    Hotel Casablanca
  2. Introduction of Ronald Kornblow

    Ronald Kornblow, a former motel proprietor, is unexpectedly hired as the new manager of Hotel Casablanca. Unaware of the hotel's dark history and Stubel's motives, Kornblow takes charge with limited knowledge and confidence. His arrival signifies a new chapter for the hotel amidst mounting danger.

    Where
    Hotel Casablanca
  3. Corbaccio's Appointment as Bodyguard

    Corbaccio, owner of the Yellow Camel company, appoints himself as Kornblow’s bodyguard to protect him from potential threats. He is aided by Stubel's loyal valet Rusty, who secretly supports Stubel’s plans and complicates the safety of those involved in the hotel.

    Where
    Hotel Casablanca
  4. Stubel’s Espionage and Cupid Work

    Stubel attempts to eliminate Kornblow by using Beatrice Reiner, a captivating woman sent to seduce the naive hotel manager. This romantic ploy is part of Stubel’s broader strategy to manipulate the hotel’s staff and exterminate those who threaten his secret.

    Where
    Hotel Casablanca
  5. Rusty's Bet and Hotel’s Financial Threat

    Rusty makes a daring roulette bet with three 5s in a row, risking the hotel’s finances. Rusty wins, which Stubel exploits to persuade the governor and police to arrest Kornblow, Corbaccio, and Rusty on charges of conspiracy, which temporarily takes them out of action.

    Where
    Casino or Hotel Casablanca
  6. Stubel's Appointment as Hotel Manager

    After the arrests, Stubel is appointed as the new hotel manager, gaining control over Hotel Casablanca. His rise to power signals the intensification of his plans to recover the stolen art treasures hidden within the hotel’s premises.

    Where
    Hotel Casablanca
  7. Prison Break and Revelation of Treasure

    Kornblow, Corbaccio, Rusty, and hotel secretary Annette manage to break out of prison. Rusty reveals that he previously found the hidden treasure, prompting the group to unite in a concerted effort to intercept Stubel before he escapes with the loot.

    Where
    Prison, Hotel Casablanca
  8. Infiltration and Frustration of Stubel

    Kornblow, Corbaccio, Rusty, and Beatrice hatch a plan to break into Stubel’s room. They carefully sneak through suitcases, closets, and hiding spots, ultimately driving Stubel mad with their intrusion. This chaos hampers his escape attempt at the hotel.

    Where
    Stubel’s hotel room
  9. Stubel’s Attempt to Escape

    Stubel flees the hotel in a plane with the stolen treasure, aiming to escape justice. His plan begins to unravel as the hotel guests and allies pursue him, determined to prevent him from getting away with the loot.

    Where
    Hotel Casablanca, Airfield
  10. Crash at the Police Station

    Kornblow, Corbaccio, Rusty, and Beatrice chase Stubel to the airfield. They crash Stubel’s plane into a police station, effectively stopping his escape and exposing him as a notorious escaped Nazi to law enforcement officials.

    Where
    Police station and airfield
  11. Stubel’s Exposure and Final Defeat

    Stubel is finally exposed as an escaped Nazi criminal thanks to the crash. The combined efforts of Kornblow and his allies prevent him from escaping with the stolen artifacts, bringing his reign of terror at the hotel to an end.

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:14

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Timeline questions answered

A Night in Casablanca Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of A Night in Casablanca (1946): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why is Heinrich Stubel killing the hotel managers?

Heinrich Stubel is a Nazi war criminal who has hidden stolen art treasures within the walls of Hotel Casablanca. He killed the previous managers to take control of the hotel undetected and to keep his identity hidden while he retrieves his stolen loot.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early on that Stubel has been eliminating hotel staff to maintain his secret operation.

  • heinrich stubel
  • hotel managers
  • murder
  • stolen art
  • nazism
  • casablanca
Q2

How did Ronald Kornblow become the hotel manager?

After Stubel murdered three previous managers, no one else was willing to take the job. Ronald Kornblow, a former motel owner, accepted the position out of desperation, completely unaware of the hotel's dark history or Stubel's presence.

  • ronald kornblow
  • manager
  • hotel
  • hired
  • marx brothers
Q3

Why did Stubel send Beatrice Reiner to seduce Kornblow?

Stubel used Beatrice Reiner as part of his scheme to eliminate Kornblow. By sending a beautiful woman to distract and seduce the naive manager, Stubel planned to murder Kornblow and facilitate his escape with the stolen art treasures.

Foreshadowing: Stubel's pattern of using others to do his dirty work is established early in the film.

  • beatrice reiner
  • seduction
  • plot to kill
  • stubel's plan
Q4

How did Rusty's roulette bet lead to Kornblow's arrest?

Rusty won a roulette bet hoping for three 5s in a row, which nearly bankrupted the hotel. Stubel exploited this financial disaster to convince the Governor and police that Kornblow, Corbaccio, and Rusty were involved in a conspiracy, leading to their arrest and giving Stubel control of the hotel.

  • rusty
  • roulette bet
  • arrest
  • conspiracy
  • hotel bankruptcy
Q5

How did Kornblow and the others escape from prison?

Kornblow, Corbaccio, Rusty, and hotel secretary Annette orchestrated a daring escape from prison. During the escape, Rusty revealed he had already located the hidden treasure, prompting the group to unite and stop Stubel before he could escape with the loot.

  • prison break
  • escape
  • rusty
  • treasure
  • Annette
Q6

What was Rusty's connection to the hidden treasure?

Rusty, despite being Stubel's valet and accomplice, had already found the hidden treasure within the hotel. He revealed this information during the prison break, which motivated the group to pursue Stubel and prevent him from escaping with the stolen art.

  • rusty
  • hidden treasure
  • found
  • stubel
  • accomplices
Q7

How did Kornblow and the others infiltrate Stubel's room?

The group hatched a plan to break into Stubel's hotel room by sneaking through suitcases and closets, creating a comical and chaotic scene. This intrusion drove Stubel mad and hampered his escape attempt.

  • infiltration
  • stubel's room
  • suitcases
  • closets
  • comedic scene
Q8

Why did Stubel's plane crash into the police station?

Kornblow, Corbaccio, Rusty, and Beatrice chased Stubel as he tried to flee in a plane with the stolen treasure. Their pursuit culminated in a crash into a police station, which exposed Stubel's true identity as an escaped Nazi war criminal.

  • plane crash
  • police station
  • chase
  • stubel's escape
  • exposure
Q9

How was Stubel finally exposed as a Nazi?

The crash into the police station exposed Stubel's true identity to law enforcement. His attempt to escape with the stolen art treasures was thwarted, and he was revealed as a notorious escaped Nazi war criminal, bringing his reign of terror at the hotel to an end.

  • stubel exposed
  • nazi criminal
  • arrest
  • final defeat
  • treasure
Q10

Why did Corbaccio become Kornblow's bodyguard?

Corbaccio, who owns the Yellow Camel company, appointed himself as Kornblow's bodyguard to protect him from potential threats. However, this was complicated by Rusty, Stubel's loyal valet who secretly supported Stubel's plans while pretending to help Kornblow.

  • corbaccio
  • bodyguard
  • yellow camel
  • rusty
  • protection
Q11

Why did Stubel disguise himself as Count Pfefferman?

Stubel disguised himself as Count Pfefferman to hide his identity as a Nazi war criminal while operating within Hotel Casablanca. This alias allowed him to carry out his deadly plans and search for the hidden treasures without raising suspicion.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early that Stubel uses disguises to evade detection.

  • count pfefferman
  • disguise
  • alias
  • stubel's identity

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Night in Casablanca, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes A Night in Casablanca tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Fast-paced comic chaos movies like A Night in Casablanca

Stories where relentless jokes and slapstick mishaps drive the plot. If you liked the rapid-fire wordplay and slapstick energy of A Night in Casablanca, explore more movies like it. This collection features hilarious comedies with fast pacing, chaotic plots, and a focus on delivering endless laughs through witty satire and physical humor.

  • slapstick
  • farcical
  • energetic
  • playful
  • irreverent
  • witty
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Movies in this thread typically feature a simple, straightforward plot that exists largely to enable comedic set-pieces. The conflict is often lighthearted or exaggerated, with characters navigating a series of escalating misunderstandings and mishaps. The journey is less about deep character development and more about the relentless, playful energy of the comedy itself.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a core commitment to high-energy humor. They possess a fast pacing, a light tone, and a straightforward narrative approach that keeps the focus on laughs. The dominant experience is one of playful, chaotic fun, where the joy comes from the expertly delivered gags and the infectious energy of the cast.

Comic misadventures in exotic locales like A Night in Casablanca

Absurd comic misadventures set against a vibrant, international backdrop. Find more movies like A Night in Casablanca where the setting is key to the comedy. These films combine international intrigue, mistaken identities, and farcical plots within a vibrant, exotic location, creating a unique blend of travelogue and slapstick humor.

  • farcical
  • exotic
  • playful
  • intrigue
  • satirical
  • misadventure
  • Tone: light, satirical
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a group of protagonists, often outsiders, arriving in a distinctive location that is rife with its own rules and eccentric characters. A simple goal—like retrieving treasure or solving a mystery—unfolds into a series of comic misadventures amplified by the setting's unique social dynamics. The local color and atmosphere become central characters in the farce.

Why they belong together: These movies are linked by their use of an exotic setting to elevate a straightforward comedic plot. They share a light tone and medium intensity, blending elements of adventure or intrigue with farce. The similarity stems from the specific vibe of glamorous, international chaos, where the plot is silly but the world feels exciting and full of comic potential.

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Every angle

A Night in Casablanca (1946) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about A Night in Casablanca in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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