Original artwork, not a still
Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time goes By.'
— Casablanca ‧ 1942
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The quiet request is a spell: a single song unlocks everything Rick has been trying not to feel. It is also the source of the film's most famous misquotation. Nobody in Casablanca says "Play it again, Sam", but the phrase became so attached to the picture that Woody Allen used it as the title of his 1972 comedy in which Rick is the hero's imaginary mentor.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for CasablancaShow the scene
When Ilsa Lund walks into Rick's Café Américain with her husband, Victor Laszlo, she spots Sam, the house pianist and Rick's old friend. She asks him first to play something once for old times' sake, and when he pretends not to understand she names the song: "As Time Goes By". Sam is reluctant, because Rick has ordered that he never play it again, and Rick storms over furious that his order has been broken, only to find Ilsa standing there. A flashback to their love affair in Paris follows.
Sources (1)
- Wikipedia: Casablanca (film)Plot and Legacy (misquotation note)Reference checked
Context reviewed
