In the summer of 1938, aspiring author Murray Burnett traveled with his wife through Europe, where he witnessed the racism, lawlessness and refugee flows under the advancing fascism. He helped smuggle the belongings of Jewish relatives out of Austria. In Marseille he visited a nightclub where a colorful collection of refugees happily let off steam while partying. This seemed to him a suitable setting for a play. Back in the US, he and his writing partner Joan Alison incorporated his experiences into the play 'Everybody Comes To Ricks', which became the basis of one of the most beloved films of all time: Casablanca.

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