Bogie’s Casablanca Video

«I haven’t rented a video in YEARS» said the gentleman next to me in line at Bogie’s Casablanca. Besides finding myself a copy of Back to the Future a few months ago, I could say just about the very same thing. It seems to archaic, and yet, there’s just something about heading into your local video store and perusing the titles, seeing new releases and rediscovering old favourites. And when I say local, I don’t mean your local Blockbuster or Rogers store. I mean your *real* local spots. Much like this one.
There’s something about a little indie shop of any kind. Frequenting them becomes an experience. It’s about knowledge and love of a common product, not just the cheapest or most available item. Bogie’s made me feel like I was back in Millet, heading down to the video store with my brother or my mom or my best friend. It was a destination and a highlight to our Friday or Saturday nights.
My very first trip to Bogie’s Casablanca was but one week ago. I stopped in to check it out and decided I’d rent Gnomeo and Juliet (none of my friends would go see it with me in the theatres). I opened an account (all you need is a driver’s license and a credit card). To my surprise, my first rental was free! Yep, you read that right. FREE. We were off to a great start. Now, new releases are due back the next day at 8 pm. Not a common practice these days… but one I remember quite well from Millet days (not to be mistaken for the actual Millet Days that happen every June).
My second trip was last night. I’ve had it in my head that I haven’t seen Inception, and so I headed in to find it. This time, the movie cost me $ 4.50 and is due back next Saturday at 8 pm. Mind you, it isn’t a new release any longer, but I can definitely live with that.
I also love the little notes and drawings pointing out favourite staff pics, Oscar nominees and winners, etc. made on postit notes… and most obviously hand drawn. Bogie’s Casablanca, you rock! And you’re making video rentals a definite comeback in my books for evening and weekend activities!

A classic, nifty little video store.
Good service, good selection and not bad prices on used DVDs as well.
Apparently split from being affiliated the «other» Casablanca? And maybe not on great terms? Gossip anyone?

If you are a cinephile, Casablanca is in your arsenal.
One of the last store front vestiges to a dying medium. Cult, cult, cult… not only a great selection but a good authority on the rare & the unique.

This is one of the hidden treasures and luxuries of living in south Calgary. Unbelievably good amount of obscure classics and the modern day barf but the classics make up for it all. Lots of good stuff still carried on VHS as some of it has never, maybe will never come to DVD. How I miss it there…

This is one of my favorite places to hang out in all of Calgary. Sure it’s a video store and video stores are a dying breed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a blast wandering the aisles, wondering who the heck made these often random movies and more importantly, who would rent them?
My love with Casablanca also has to do with how cool it would be to work there. I’m always so intimidated whenever I pop in because the staff is like the High Fidelity staff of movies. Whenever I do end up renting a movie, I always secretly await their approving smile. If they groan or moan, I instantly feel bad and try to find something else.
Why do I care so much? Because Casablanca video is like that group of kinds in high school. If they acknowledged your existence, your street cred was instantly on the rise!
I hope Casablanca can keep fighting the good fight. it is a great store that deserves to live out the DVDs dying days in peace.

Casablanca is like walking into a giant warehouse with literally thousands of video rentals, over 15,000 to be exact. Much like Dog Video; Casablanca carries classics, alternative, cult, documentary and foreign but now have just released movie choices as well. 5.25 new and 4.19 old, rent 9 and get your 10^th rental for half price and 20 rentals is free.
Staff is pretty friendly and is very insightful about the more obscure movie selections as they should be. Store is clean and organised but I find that other than the new video rentals which I think are pretty pricey; Bird Dog Video just has more personality in its interior than Casablanca. There is another store on 33^rd that I plan to visit so I can compare.
All in all, you won’t be dissatisfied with the über selection here, plus avant garde used videos that you can purchase at 3 for $ 15. This I will definitely return for.

It feels like Casablanca is operating out of an old meat freezer. But they do offer one of the best selections of movies in the city.
Despite their vast new release section, they also have a huge «alternative» section of documentaries, independent and foreign films. But they didn’t have the movie I was looking for. After prompting by me, the girl at the desk told me where else to look, but she didn’t offer to order it for me or suggest how I might go about obtaining a copy.
That aside, I like their selection and it’s a great place to (try to) find movies that aren’t so mainstream…