I’m shocked, shocked at Warner Home Video’s announcement today that the DVD and Blu-ray editions of  “Casablanca” are going on moratorium as of March 28 — in anticipation of new digital editions for the film’s 70th anniversary in 2012. It seems like only yesterday that I attended a 60th anniversary screening in Lincoln Center, but it was on was on Aug. 11, 2003.

You might ask, why only a nine-year wait between the 60th and 70th anniversaries? Going back at least to the 50th anniversary, and probably further, Warner has calculated the “Casablanca” anniversary based on Jan. 23, 1943 — the day Michael Curtiz’ classic opened in Los Angeles and in general release around the country. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1943 at the ceremonies held on March 3, 1944.

Previously, the studio has ignored the fact that the initial theatrical run of “Casablanca” was at the Warner Hollywood Theater in New York — now the Times Square Church on W. 51 Street — immediately following its world premiere, which was celebrated with a military parade on Thanksgiving Day 1942. (Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade was suspended during World War II). Under an Oscar rule that still in effect, a movie’s eligibility is determined by at least a one-week run in Los Angeles.

In its release announcing moratoriums for “Casablanca” and the four “Lethal Weapon” films, the studio said that “Within the coming year, WHV will announce the details for special commemorative editions for these titles, which will include stunning remasterings, spectacular Blu-ray debuts, new special features, Ultimate Collectors Editions and more.”

For starters, I’d recommend that WHV dig up newsreel footage from the New York premiere, which I’m sure still exists somewhere. And pester CBS for outtakes from the interviews that Harry Reasoner did with all of the “Casablanca” survivors for a “60 Minutes” piece that ran to celebrate the film’s “40th” anniversary — in 1983.