When I heard that the piano used in the 1942 movie Casablanca was sold this week – at a New York auction - for $3.4 million, my mind went back in time, to the day I saw it first.
The movie, I mean. Not the piano.
But, yes, the piano was in the movie; though I wonder if anyone will actually remember how it looked.
I remember, however, the very beautiful Ingrid Bergman - Ilsa in the movie - who goes into Rick’s Café, run by her old flame.
She pleads with the pianist, known to both, for a song: "Play it once, Sam. For old times' sake…. Play ‘As Time goes by’…"
The movie, I mean. Not the piano.
But, yes, the piano was in the movie; though I wonder if anyone will actually remember how it looked.
I remember, however, the very beautiful Ingrid Bergman - Ilsa in the movie - who goes into Rick’s Café, run by her old flame.
She pleads with the pianist, known to both, for a song: "Play it once, Sam. For old times' sake…. Play ‘As Time goes by’…"
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| From the movie Casablanca. Sam, the pianist, and Rick the owner of the Cafe |
These lines have now become memorable in the chronicles of Hollywood. And many say that, even now when they watch the movie, they have tears in their eyes when the pianist plays the song.
Especially, when Rick enters, agitated by this song which brings back painful memories, and suddenly sees his former lover sitting in his own Café.
Of course, many will further admit they had had even more tears at the end of the movie!
Several years ago, I was among some seventy odd people who attended a three-day event, in my hometown, on Hollywood film appreciation.
In a small hall, each evening, we were shown a Hollywood Classic. There was an elaborate introduction before the screening, and a heated discussion, by a panel of experts, after the screening.
Casablanca was one of the three movies shown. High Noon and Citizen Kane were the other two.
Not only do I vividly remember these movies, but I also remember the wonderful whirr of the projector, the scratchy flashes on the screen, and that ethereal beauty of black and white movies, straight from the celluloid.
It was a completely different experience from watching the now easily accessible High Definition colour formats of the day.
No wonder the connoisseurs of nostalgia are willing to pay millions to collect the Hollywood memorabilia they hold close to their hearts.
I read that at the same New York City auction held this week, the Cowardly Lion costume from the movie “The Wizard of Oz” was sold for $3.077 million.
Interestingly, though not in millions, and though not in this auction, the coat which Orson Welles wore in the movie ‘Citizen Kane’ was also among the items for which collectors paid a lot.
My curiosity got the better of me, as I wanted to find out which item from the movie memorabilia could be the highest ever sold.
And guess which one it was?
It was a dress. And it was sold in 2011, for an astounding $4.6 million, by the actress Debbie Reynolds from her huge movie prop collection.
Even if you have not seen the film, you would have seen – like the whole world has seen, for 60 years now – the iconic photograph of the white dress of Marilyn Monroe – from the movie ‘The Seven Year Itch’.
The gusty-lusty breeze from the New York subway grate below, had then raised not just her skirt, but a thousand eyebrows!
Whatever these dresses and movie props meant then, I genuinely doubt if they will really appreciate in value over time, but the fact remains that the current owners think they will.
Especially, when Rick enters, agitated by this song which brings back painful memories, and suddenly sees his former lover sitting in his own Café.
Of course, many will further admit they had had even more tears at the end of the movie!
Several years ago, I was among some seventy odd people who attended a three-day event, in my hometown, on Hollywood film appreciation.
In a small hall, each evening, we were shown a Hollywood Classic. There was an elaborate introduction before the screening, and a heated discussion, by a panel of experts, after the screening.
Casablanca was one of the three movies shown. High Noon and Citizen Kane were the other two.
Not only do I vividly remember these movies, but I also remember the wonderful whirr of the projector, the scratchy flashes on the screen, and that ethereal beauty of black and white movies, straight from the celluloid.
It was a completely different experience from watching the now easily accessible High Definition colour formats of the day.
No wonder the connoisseurs of nostalgia are willing to pay millions to collect the Hollywood memorabilia they hold close to their hearts.
I read that at the same New York City auction held this week, the Cowardly Lion costume from the movie “The Wizard of Oz” was sold for $3.077 million.
Interestingly, though not in millions, and though not in this auction, the coat which Orson Welles wore in the movie ‘Citizen Kane’ was also among the items for which collectors paid a lot.
My curiosity got the better of me, as I wanted to find out which item from the movie memorabilia could be the highest ever sold.
And guess which one it was?
It was a dress. And it was sold in 2011, for an astounding $4.6 million, by the actress Debbie Reynolds from her huge movie prop collection.
Even if you have not seen the film, you would have seen – like the whole world has seen, for 60 years now – the iconic photograph of the white dress of Marilyn Monroe – from the movie ‘The Seven Year Itch’.
The gusty-lusty breeze from the New York subway grate below, had then raised not just her skirt, but a thousand eyebrows!
Whatever these dresses and movie props meant then, I genuinely doubt if they will really appreciate in value over time, but the fact remains that the current owners think they will.
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