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Casablanca Casablanca is considered by a lot of film enthusiasts to be one of the best movies ever made. It certainly is one of my favourites. There are so many memorable moments in the story line. I love the "round up all the usual suspects" bit. And the most mis-quoted line of all, "Play it again Sam," seems to define the romantic events that follow. Going to see a movie is all about suspending reality and to be entertained on another level and another reality. However, every time I see Casablanca a repeating scene troubles me. Maybe this particular scene seems to go against what I have experienced as a musician. The character "Sam" is played by actor Dooley Wilson. He is frequently seen moving (pushing) his piano from table to table to entertain and play requests (As Time Goes By). I don't think there is a nightclub anywhere in the world where you would see someone moving a piano for this purpose. And I might add, Dooley moves it with apparent ease. Going back to those days the pianos (old clunkers) would probably be very heavy. In any case all pianos are difficult to move. However, the writers of this story line didn't think this was stretching it a bit as they needed this piano mobility to continue the melodramatic sequence (dialogue) of the story. I wonder if other movie fans have noticed this rather strange mobility solution. Probably not, as they have accepted it as being normal to the story. I can't picture myself going to one of the local clubs and asking the piano player to move the piano over to my table to entertain my guests. However, this rather unrealistic “stretch” by the "dream merchants" doesn't ruin my appreciation of what I consider a great movie. Some years ago I read in the Detroit newspaper a news item about a middle aged chap who got "tanked" over the weekend and was apprehended for causing a disturbance. It was Sunday morning in a somewhat poor neighbourhood. Weekend mornings are usually quiet in that area especially in those very early hours. Well, this chap had helped himself to an old piano from a local bar and was pushing the "machine" down the street to his house. He most likely lived about four or five blocks from the bar where he borrowed (stole) the piano. It must have been a strange sight. The old piano had cast iron wheels and probably weighed a ton (close to four hundred pounds). Well, this guy was grunting, groaning, sweating and coaxing his awkward booty up the street. The neighbours must have thought, "What the devil is all that racket? Good grief, it's six in the morning." After a couple of blocks or so the police arrived. I like the newspaper's account of the events. Their words, "That's when things got rather interesting." Meaning, that's when the scuffle and altercation began. Well, our "piano mover" was finally subdued and jailed. Monday morning at his trial he was asked by the judge to explain himself. He said, "Your honour. Lately I've been having problems with my three sons. I thought if they had something to keep them entertained maybe they would stay out of trouble. I thought a piano would be something they would enjoy to keep busy." Since the judge was himself a piano player he had to give this explanation some serious consideration. I don't think the piano mover was this articulate (especially nursing a hang-over) but he did manage to somehow get his point across. The judge who had sons of his own was somewhat moved and amused. He just sat there silently and pondered his next judicial move. He probably thought, "How the heck did this guy get the piano out of the bar in the first place." By the way Mr. Smith" (not his real name) "Are you presently employed?" "No sir." The judge just sat there thinking. He further asked, "Do you play the piano?" "No I don't." said Mr. Smith. Perhaps you should find employment maybe with a moving company. You don't appear to be afraid of hard work and you seem to be very good at "moving pianos". After all was said and done (and considered) Mr. Smith luckily got a suspended sentence. The bar sympathetically wished not to press charges. They said, they were going to eventually donate the piano to Goodwill anyways and Mr. Smith was remembered as being a good customer. Fortunately, the roadway was pavement so no significant damage was sustained . Sometime later, Mr. Smith did get a job, sold the piano and bought a set of drums. I understand his neighbours still weren't that happy.
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