“And remember, this gun is pointed right at your heart.” “That is my least vulnerable spot.”
On November 8th,1942 the Allies invaded the Vichy controlled city of Casablanca. Because the film was not due to be released until the following Spring, the studio wanted to change it and incorporate the invasion. Warner Brothers chief Jack L. Warner objected because he felt an invasion was a big subject worthy of an entire film, but that this film’s love story should retain its pre-invasion setting. Eventually he gave in and told producer Hal Wallis to prepare shooting an epilogue where Humphrey Bogart and Claude Rains hear about the invasion. But just before Rains could travel to the set, David Selznick (whose studio owned Ingrid Bergman’s contract) previewed the film and urged Warner not to wait – but to release it unaltered and capitalize on the huge publicity from the Allied invasion of North Africa. Warner agreed and the film premiered in New York on Nov 26th, 1942. Hal Wallis almost cast the piano player as a female. Hazel Scott, Lena Horne, and Ella Fitzgerald were all considered for the role of Sam. Studio publicity in 1941 claimed that Ronald Reagan and Ann Sheridan were scheduled to star in this film. The false story was planted by their talent agents so they could keep the other actor’s names in the press. At the same time, George Raft was angling for the role of Rick but Hal Wallis was intent on casting Humphrey Bogart and wrote to Jack Warner telling him that he had found the perfect role for him. Casablanca was to be tough guy Bogart’s first attempt at playing a romantic lead. It won the Oscar for Best Picture.
