December 1941, Casablanca. Rick is drinking bourbon, dejected, and asks Sam to play As Time Goes By, but Sam claims not to remember it.
Rick insists: “You played it for her. Play it for me. If she can stand it, I can. Play it.”
Not long before, Ilsa had asked him the same thing: “Play it, Sam.”
The scene is from Casablanca, one of my favorite films.
It is part of those legendary classics where you could tell a great story in 102 minutes, today this seems impossible.
Those two scenes are legendary, as is the song itself. We only know it through a twist of fate, because it was not originally going to be included.
Sam is actually Dooley Wilson, a great American actor and singer immortalised by this film. He earned $350 a week during the seven-week shoot, while less memorable characters received $3,750, including Signor Ferrari.
Dooley Wilson also appeared in the extraordinary film Stormy Weather. Imagine: 77 minutes and 20 performances.
The cast of artists in this film is simply spectacular. To cite just a few: the Nicholas Brothers, Fats Waller, Katherine Dunham and, of course, Cab Calloway.
I suggest comparing the artistry of its musical numbers with La La Land.
OR BETTER YET, DON'T.
By the way, Stormy Weather is also a song. Ethel Waters first sang it at the Cotton Club, but I recommend seeking out Billie Holiday's version. I have already recommended I'll Be Seeing You.
That aside, Cab Calloway was a great musician and bandleader who also enjoyed considerable success on screen, in both animation and major musical productions.
- The Big Broadcast 1932
- Stormy Weather 1943
- Sensations of 1945 1944
- The Cincinnati Kid 1965
We have included posters and clips from several Cab Calloway films; do not miss them. You will also find As Time Goes By from Casablanca and the film's poster.
Live, play, dance... but above all don't get bored.See you at Spirit if you want.