CASABLANCA

Signed Photograph of Arthur "Dooley" Wilson, who played the role of "Sam" ["Play it again, Sam"] in the movie "Casablanca, seated at the piano, smiling broadly, Inscribed, "To Howard, Dooley Wilson, Casablanca Sam." The black and white photograph measures 7 * inches wide by 9 inches high. Rare.

While Dooley appeared in over twenty motion pictures, he won immortality for his role as Sam in the 1942 classic "Casablanca." "Sam" is a singer and pianist at the nightclub ("Rick's Café") owned by "Rick" (Humphrey Bogart). The song, "As Time Goes By," is a musical and emotional motif throughout the film. Rick and "Ilsa" (Ingrid Bergman) regard it as "their song" as they associate it with their love affair in Paris. Since their breakup and Ilsa's marriage to another, Rick has forbidden the song to be played in his club.

When Ilsa appears at Rick's Café, she requests "As Time Goes By" and Sam acquiesces. Dooley Wilson's warm and memorable rendition of the song is a highlight of the film and remembered apart from its cinematic association. Hearing it, Rick becomes aware of Ilsa's presence and her continuing feelings for him.

In a later scene, Rick sits in a darkened nightclub, alone except for Sam, drinking heavily and torturing himself by insisting that Sam repeatedly play the song, saying, "You played it for her, you can play it for me…. If she can stand it, I can! Play it!"

As it turns out, Wilson was a singer and a drummer, not a piano player. He imitated the hand movements of pianist Elliot Carpenter who was placed where Wilson could see him and later had his version of "As Time Goes By" dubbed in. Examples of Wilson's autograph are the most difficult of the Casablanca stars to find.

Framed dimensions: 14 * inches wide by 15 * inches high.

This item is associated with the following category in our inventory:

• Motion Pictures