About Those Humphrey Bogart Movies

Of course, he was famous for "Casablanca" but here are some others he starred in:

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

To Have and Have Not (1944)

The Big Sleep  (1946)

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre  (1948)

In A Lonely Place  (1950)

The African Queen  (1951)

Sabrina  (1954)

The Caine Mutiny  (1954)

We're No Angels  (1955)

--CootGart

'Casablanca'-- A Talented Cast: Wilson and Page

SAM

Played by Dooley Wilson

Unquestionably one of the most famous supporting characters any actor has played on the big screen:  That's one way to describe the role of Sam "the Rabbit," ably filled by Wilson, who was in fact, not a pianist, but a drummer.

He couldn't play the piano at all, but achieved immortality with his rendition of "As Time Goes By."

Already in his fifties when he starred in "Casablanca," Wilson was about to quit acting when he got the role.

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ANNINA BRANDEL

Played by Joy Page

Perhaps the only actor younger than Labeau to appear in the film, Page was just 17 when she found her fame in the movie.

And this came about at least partially because she was the stepdaughter of studio chief Jack Warner.

Still, her exotic beauty was perfect for her part of the young Bulgarian refugee whose virtue is saved after Rick intervenes when Captain Renault suggests he will arrange safe passage of Brandel and her husband if she will sleep with him.

Well, Rick couldn't have this so fixed it where her husband won enough money gambling where she wouldn't have to.

Sorry Renault.  --Cooter

'Casablanca': A Talented Cast: Labeau and Veidt

YVONNE

Played by Madeline Lebeau.

The French actress was just 19 when she appeared as Rick's soon-to-be-discarded girlfriend near the begnning of the movie.  Bogart was nearly twice her age at the time.

During the scene where the patrons of Rick's burst into the rendition of "La Marseillaise" that is her face up front and center singing with gusto.

She died in 2016, the movie's last surviving cast member.

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MAJOR STRASSER

Played by Conrad Veidt.

Another German Jew, Veidt was a highly respected actor who escaped the Nazisin 1933.

Despite being Jewish, Veidt often insisted on playing Nazis to bring asttention to their villainous agenda.

He only made one more movie after "Casablanca" before dying of a heart attack while playing golf in April 1943.

--CootBlanca

'Casablanca' A Talented Cast: Kinskey, Lorre and Sakall

SACHA THE BARTENDER

Played by Leonid Kinskey.  Anither refugee in the cast.  Was a Russian Jew who escaped to America.  Got the role because he was a regular drinking biddy of Bogart's.

SIGNOR UGARTE

Played by Peter Lorre.  One of the best-known actors of his era whose name is linked to creepy characters.  Of course, that famous voice of his.

CARL THE WAITER

Played by S.Z. Sakall.  Possibly the most amiable character in the movie.  Born in Hungary and was another Jewish cast member who had fled the Nazis.

--Cooter

Casablanca: A Talented Cast-- Part 1: Henreid, Rains & Greenstreet

**  VICTOR LASLO

Played by Paul Henreid.

He didn't want to do "Casablanca" saying the script was "terrible, really rotten."  Born in Austria-Hungary and emigrated from there in 1935.

**  CAPTAIN LOUIS RENAULT

Played by Claude Rains.

He was the first choice to play the Vichy French policeman.  Fought in World War I.  Was a force on Broadway and in movies.  Didn't like Paul Henreid and called him "Paul Hemorrhoid."

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**  SIGNOR FERRARI

Played by Sydney Greenstreet.

The conniving owner of Rick's competition, the Blue Parrot.  Was a latecomer to movies, starting at age 62.  Was in "The Maltese Falcon" with Bogart.

--Cooter

A Timeless Song 'As Time Goes By'-- Part 2: 'The Lousiest Tune'

Producer Hal Wallis gave him the go ahead, and Max Steiner got to work on a new one, but there was a problem.  The scenes featuring "As Time Goes By" would need to be reshot and Ingrid Bergman had already moved on to her next movie, an adaptation of the Ernest Hemingway novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls," and had cut her hair short for the role.

That meant that Steiner was stuck with "As Time Goes By, a song which he described to his wife, Louise, as "the lousiest tune."

But Steiner wasn't considered one of the best composers in the film business for nothing, and he worked with what he had.  He incorporated the song into his score, along with bits of the two songs played in the epic musical showdown between the German soldiers and the club patrons:  "Die Wacht am Rhein" and "La Marseillaise."

By using inpirtation for all three, Steiner earned his 11th Oscar nomination of the astonishing 24 he would get over the course of his long career.

(It would be hard to think of "Casablanca" without "As Time Goes By.")

--CootSeillaise

A Timeless Song 'As Time Goes By'-- Part 1

We just watched the movie and throughout it, this song was played more than a bit often.  And, that would be "As Time Goes By."

It is rare that a single song is so tied to a single movie, but this is certainly the case with "As Time Goes By" and "Casablanca."  It is so closely identified that when you see any movie released by Warner Brothers (the company that made the movie) these days, several bars of the song play with the WB logo.

But it almost wasn't that way.  The song was written by Herman Hupfield in 1931 for the Broadway musical "Everybody's Welcome."  It had been included by playwrights Joan Alison and Murray Bennett in their original play, "Everybody Comes to Rick's."

Once the film production was underway, composer Max Steiner, who had already won two Oscars wanted to change the song and insert something original of his, giving him the potential to easrn rotyalties and possibly another Academy Award.

--Cooter

'Casablanca' Trivia-- Part 6: That Oscar and First Scene

MAGICAL TALISMAN

In 2006, David Copperfield paid $231,500 for director Michael Curtiz's Best Director Oscar for "Casablanca."

The Las Vegas showman, who kept it by his bed, said the statuette represented the excellence of old films that influenced his career:  "It keeps me hungry."

An unnamed seller later sold that statue at auction for more than $2 million.  Nice profit.

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THE FIRST SCENE

It wasn't the director's original plan to begin shooting the movie with a love scene, but when filming of "Now, Voyager" ran behind scedule and both Paul Heinreid and Claude Rains were unavailable, he had to change his mind.

The very first scene shot for "Casablanca" featured Rick and Ilsa standing over Sam's piano in Paris.

The Usual Suspects.  --Cooter

'Casablanca' 80th Anniversary-- Part 5: Looking Good and Looking At You

Well, actually 81st.

HER BEST SIDE

Ingrid Bergman preferred to be shot from her left side and cinematographer Arthur Edeson, who previously worked on "The Maltese Falcon" and "Frankenstein," did just that for most scenes.

He also used a gauze filter and targeted lights to soften her features and make her eyes sparkle.  The effect was designed to make her face seem sad and nostalgic.

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HERE'S LOOKING

Bogart is credited with improvising the line "Here's looking at you, kid," which was written as "Here's good luck to you," in the Parisian scenes.

But the phrase was used by Eddie Cantor in 1932 (a decade before "Casablanca" was released) to sign his name in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theater n L.A..

He wrote, "Here's looking at you, Sid," in reference to the theater's owner Sid Grauman.

--CootKid

'Casablanca' Trivia-- Part 4: A Nod and a Cameo?

A SILENT NOD

During filming, Bogart was called to the studio to stand in Rick's Cafe and nod silently.

He had no idea why, but that shot would be added to the "La Marseillaise" scene, showing his character, Rick, giving the band the OK to play the French anthem.

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COMIC CAMEO

A Chicago newspaper reported in 1943 that funnyman Jack Benny visited the set when Bogart and Bergman were shooting a cafe scene.

"There were about 50 extras seated at tables, with a number of waiters scurrying around," the paper reported.  "There's where you will see Benny, among the waiters.  He borrowed a white coat and appears in the background."

This story has been much debated but Benny's daughter, Joan, said that she believed it was true.

--CootBlanca

'Casablanca' Trivia-- Part 3: Playing Games and Groucho

PLAYING GAMES

Because of script changes nearly every day, Bogart had free time on the set.  He could usually be found playing chess against Paul Henreid (Victor Laszlo), who later claimed, "I beat the hell out of him time and time again."

Bergman, on the other hand, learned to play poker on the set.

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MARX BROTHERS MAYHEM

The Marx Brothers wrote a parody of the movie shortly after it was released, even naming Groucho's character "Humphrey Bogus," but they changed the storyline after Warner Brothers issued a formal inquiry concerning the title:  "A Night in Casablanca."

Groucho used the inquiry for a publicity stunt, writing a series of letters back to the studio in which he told them:  "Professionally, we were brothers before you were."  The comedy featuring Groucho as the newest manager of  the Hotel Casablanca, was released in 1946.

--CootBrother

'Casablanca' Trivia-- Part 2: Lois Meredith? And, It Hit Home

**  A NEW NAME FOR A HEROINE

When "Casablanca" was being cast, the lead female role was to be an American named Lois Meredith.  But when Bergman got the role, the name of Rick's love interest was changed to Ilsa Lund; her nationality was switched to Norwegian.

Director Michael Curtiz came up with her name, taking it from a 19th-century travelogue called "The Harz Journey" by Heinrich Heine, which featured an enchantress named Princess Ilse.

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**  TEARS ON THE SET

Several extras and actors in the cast were from Europe, and the realities of war hit close to home.  While filming a flashback scene, Ilsa and Rick talked about how the Germans would soon storm Paris -- when a female extra burst into loud sobs, ruining the take.

Another extra walked over to the director to apologize.  "I am very sorry, sir, but that is my wife," he told Michael Curtiz of the crying woman.  "Please pardon her.  You see, our home was in Paris.  And we went through that awful day."

--Cooter

Some Interesting 'Casablanca' Trivia: That Fez and Last Line

From the same book as the quotes.

**  A FEZ OF THE HEART

Sydney Greenstreet wanted to wear traditional Moroccan garb but the producers wouldn't hear of it.  They wanted him to wear the white suit he was becoming known for (in other films).

Greenstreet settled for wearing a fez and doing the traditional salaam gsture (touching his heart, lips and brow).

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**   A DIFFERENT LAST LINE

The film almost ended with Rick Blane saying to Captain Renault, "Louis, I might have known you'd mix your patriotism with a little larceny."

Producer Hal Wallis came up with a better last line -- about a beautiful friendship-- after shooting was completed.  He had to bring Humphrey Bogart back to the studio a month later to dub the new line.

--Cooter

80th Anniversary of Casablanca-- Part 4: More Quotable Quotes 'I'm a Drunkard'

**  "I'm a Drunkard"

Major Strasser:  "What is your nationality?"

Rick:  "I'm a drunkard."

Captain Renault:  "That makes Rick a citizen of the world."

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**  "I remember every detail."

Ilsa:  "That was the day the Germans marched into Paris."

Rick:  "Not an easy day to forget."

Ilsa:  "No."

Rick:  "I remember every detail.  The Germans wore gray, you wore blue."

A World Citizen.  --CootDrunk

80th Anniversary of 'Casablanca'-- Part 3: 'The Usual Suspects'

Some More Quotes.

**  "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."  --Rick Blane

**  "Round up the usual suspects."  --Captain Louis Renault  (I called out usual group of friends the "Usual Suspects.")

**  "Just because you despise me, you are the only one I trust."  --Ugarte

**  "We'll always have Paris."  --Rick Blane

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**  "I came to Casablanca for the waters."  Rick Blane

       "The waters?  What waters?   We're in the desert."  --Captain Renault

       "I was misinformed."  --Rick Blane

--CootPect

80th Anniversary of Cassablanca-- Part 2: 'Play It, Sam'

Some more quotable quotes from the movie.

**  "Play it, Sam.  Play 'As Time Goes By'."  --Ilsa Lund

**  "Kiss me.  Kiss me as if it were the last time."  --Ilsa Lund

**   "Here's looking at you, kid."  --Rick Blane

**  We might as well be frank.  It would take a miracle to get you out of Casablanca, and the Germans have outlawed miracles."  --Signor Ferrari

"Play 'As Time Goes By'."  --Cooter

'The Godfather' Turns 50, Where Are They Now-- Part 7: Talia Shire, Diane Keaton and John Cazale

TALIA SHIRE

After playing the abused wife in "The Godfather", the actress was the ever-supportive Adrian in "Rocky."

Shire, now 75, reprised the role on "Rocky's" four sequels and appeared on others, including "I Hear Huckabees" (2004) and "Palo Alto" (2013).

DUANE KEATON

Now 76, Keaton played wife Kay in all three movies and established herself as one of Hollywood's premier actresses in films such as "Annie Hall" (1977), "Baby Boom" (1987) and "The First Wives Club" (1996).  Her latest charmers?  "Poms" (2019) and "Love, Weddings & Other Disasters" (2020).

JOHN CAZALE 

The Boston native, memorable as Fredo in two "Godfather" films, went on to other memorable performances in "The Conversation" (1974) and "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975).  He died of cancer atbv42 after completing his role for "The Deer Hunter" (1978).  He was in a relationship with his "Deer Hunter" co-star Meryl Streep at the time.

A Great Movie.  --CootFather

'The Godfather' Turns 50, Where Are They Now?-- Part 6: Robert Duvall and James Caan

ROBER DUVALL

Since his film debut as Boo Radley in "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962), Duvall -- who played the Corleone's legal consultant Tom Hagen -- has racked up seven Oscar nominations, including "The Judge" in 2015.  (He won in 1984 for "Tender Mercies.")

The actor, now 91, is also a skilled tango dancer.

JAMES CAAN

He auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone before Coppola chose him for brash older brother Sonny.  Now 81, Caan has stayed busy during the later decades with more than 90 film and TV credits -- most notably in the 2003 holiday classic "Elf."

--Cooter

'The Godfather' Turns 50-- Part 5: Where Are They Now? Al Pacino and Marlon Brando

AL PACINO

**  The New York City-born actor who starred in all three "Godfather" movies, has memorably portrayed intense characters from both sides if the law in films such as "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975), "Scarface" (1983), "Heat" (1995) and "The Irishman" (2019).

Still in demand at age 81, he most recently co-starred in "House of Gucci."

MARLON BRANDO

**  The mercurial star-- who made an explosive debut in the 1950s in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "On the Waterfront" -- refuse to appear in "The Godfather:  Part 2."

But he agreed to pull off a tongue-in-cheek version of a Godfather-lik mob boss in the 1990 comedy "The Freshman."

He died in 2004 at age 80.

--Cooter

'The Godfather' Turns 50-- Part 4: About That Horse's Head

THAT BLOODY HORSE HEAD

Discovered in the bed of the ruthless movie producer, it wasn't a prop:  it was a real horse's head from a dogfood plant in New Jersey.  That scream the producer let out was as good as Pacino's in "Godfather 3."

THE GODFATHER IN POP CULTURE

"Return of the Jedi" (1983)  It's no coincidence that Princess Leia kills Jabba the Hutt by strangling him with her chain.  Screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan was inspired by Luca Brasi, whose eyes and tongue bulge out as he is garroted by an assassin.

"You've Got Mail" (1998)   Doing his best Vito impression, Tom Hanks insists that life's problems can be solved by one of the Godfather's credos, telling Meg Ryan to "go to the mattresses," to fight for her business to stay open.

"The Sopranos" (1999)   The TV series made several references to the original mob family, like when Tony Soprano gets shot after chugging orange juice near his car.

"Despicable Me"  (2010)   Even this G-rated kiddie movie includes a nod"  Villain Gru finds a doll's head in his bed and screams bloody murder.

--CootFather