The Michael Curtiz directed film Casablanca is generally considered of the finest American films ever produced. The filmÆs use of music is but one of many elements that add to the filmÆs impact, a story about war, honor, duty, sacrifice and, most poignantly, love and romance. Rick is the owner of CafT Americain, in French-occupied Morocco. His former love affair with a beautiful woman named Ilsa comes back to haunt him due to her marriage to a leader of the resistance, Victor Laszlo. The song selection in the film is used not only as a framing device but also as a means of providing emphasis and background on various elements of the story.
The song selection in Casablanca is used as a framing device in two ways. The first song is ôAs Time Goes By,ö one that frames the romantic love affair of Rick and Ilsa. The second song is the French National anthem, La Marseillaise, used to frame the eventual victory of the French over the Germans. When Ilsa first comes to RickÆs with Laszlo, she goes to Sam the piano player. He is nervous and seems to prefer avoiding her queries about Rick. She tells him to play ôsome of the old songs,ö but when he begins to play ôAvalonö it is not the old song she has in mind (Curtiz, 1942). Finally, Ilsa persuades Sam to play ôAs Time Goes By,ö a song that puts her into a romantic, teary-eyed reverie. Eventually, Rick hears the song and becomes angry with Sam, ôI thought I told you never to playàö (Curtiz, 1942). Sam immediately stops as Rick sees Ilsa.
Once Laszlo and Ilsa have left RickÆs, Rick becomes irritated over the memories she has disturbed. He demands Sam play the song ôAs Time Goes By,ö but Sam demurs. When he does Rick becomes agitated and says, ôIf she can stand it, I can. Play it!ö (Curtiz, 1942). As such, we understand that this song was their song. As Sam begins to play the song the camera fades to a flashback of happier times betwee
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