MovieChat Forums > For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) Discussion > This movie 'saved' Casablanca

This movie 'saved' Casablanca

posted 17 years ago by CmdrCody
9 replies | jump to latest

Did you know that the musical producer for the movie "Casablanca," Max Steiner, hated the song "As Time Goes By" and wanted to change it after the original shooting schedule was finished? Some people felt Steiner wanted to insert his own tune so that he could reap royalties.

But that unforgetable tune stayed in the movie as it was shot...for one big reason. Ms. Ingrid Bergman was unavailable for new close-up shots while some new love song was played at "Rick's."

Why?

Because she had cut her hair very short for her next picture..."For Whom The Bell Tolls"...and could not possibly re-do any "Casablanca" scenes.

Thank God !!!!

CmdrCody

[–] Homer900 16 years ago

Excellent trivia CmdrCody. And BTW, I LOVED the Commander Cody serials on Saturday afternoon TV years ago that you did! ;-)

[–] CmdrCody 16 years ago

Homer900: My Lost Planet Airmen salute you ! Thanks.

CmdrCody

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hawks_senator 16 years ago

I was just going to post that!
If this movie weren't made, Casablanca's soundtrack would be who-knows-what and the movie would probably not be as brilliant as it is!

"It was to be announced at the Party Congress on Monday. As you know, the Premier loves surprises."

[–] DirkDigglerStyle 15 years ago

Yay, I can read IMDB trivia too

[–] CmdrCody 15 years ago

Hey Dirk...actually, my source about "As Time Goes By" and FWTBT was Robert Osborne of Turner Classic Movies in the States.

CmdrCody

[–] Jactor 11 years ago

I've read that it was Jack Warner who hated the song and wanted it out of the picture, and also that they actually tried re-shooting Bergman's close-ups with her wearing a wig but they couldn't design a wig that was a close enough match to the way her real hair looked in all the other scenes, so they gave up and that's why the "As Time Goes By" stayed in the picture.

[–] OrwellHuxley 11 years ago

Sorry, but in my opinion, "As Time Goes By" by Herman Hupfeld is indeed not a very good song. It's much older than the movie, from 1931:

http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-2/astimegoesby.htm

The melody, and the lyrics are below average, and with the exception of Billie Holiday's & Eddie Heywood's rendition from 1944, I don't know any memorable (jazz) version of the song although there are some listed at the site, I've posted above.

But which song would have fitted better?

A better choice would have been "Memories Of You", or "These Foolish Things", or "April In Paris" ... Outstanding songs for an accidentally great movie.

[–] mightymac101 8 years ago

Thank God indeed. I love that she mentions her hair in the film itself.