"Play it again Sam"

Bogey didn't say that in his great 1942 film, Casablanca.

He did say 'Play it, Sam'.

Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa) had this conversation with the story's piano player 'Sam' (played by Dooley Wilson):

Ilsa: "Play it once, Sam. For old times' sake."
Sam: "I don't know what you mean, Miss Ilsa."
Ilsa: "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By.'"
Sam: "Oh, I can't remember it, Miss Ilsa. I'm a little rusty on it."
Ilsa: "I'll hum it for you. Da-dy-da-dy-da-dum, da-dy-da-dee-da-dum...
Ilsa: Sing it, Sam."
Sam: [singing] "You must remember this / A kiss is still a kiss / A sigh is just a sigh / The fundamental things apply / As time goes by. / And when two lovers woo, / They still say, 'I love you' / On that you can rely / No matter what the future brings-..."
Rick: [rushing up] "Sam, I thought I told you never to play-..."
[Sees Ilsa. Sam closes the piano and rolls it away]

That exchange is followed by

Rick: "You know what I want to hear."
Sam: "No, I don't."
Rick: "You played it for her, you can play it for me!"
Sam: "Well, I don't think I can remember..."
Rick: "If she can stand it, I can! Play it!"

Get It Right, Wouldja?

Since I'm rambling on about the movie, which is set in 1942 North Africa, there are many truly memorable lines worth repeating here.

A German Army officer talking with a French police official:
Major Strasser: "You give him credit for too much cleverness. My impression was that he's just another blundering American."
Captain Renault: "We mustn't underestimate American blundering. I was with them when they blundered into Berlin in 1918." (Zing!)

Bogey's character, Rick:
"There are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn't advise you to try to invade."

Famous Casablanca quotes that are not misquotes:
"I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.Here's looking at you, kid." (Bogart to Bergman)
"I'm the only cause I'm interested in." (Bogart, on his disdain for 'causes')
"Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine." (Bogart, lamenting the appearance of Bergman)
Captain Renault: "Major Strasser has been shot. Round up the usual suspects."
Rick(Bogart's character): "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." (That line was improved by Bogart)

A common misconception:
The movie's title always was "Casablanca". Many claim it was going to be called "Everybody Comes to Rick's". The script was based on an unproduced play of that name, hence the confusion.

Any true aficianado of this movie should read Goofs in Casablanca

Labels: casablanca, play it again sam, play it sam, the usual suspects