Bogart, Bergman, and (Al)bert: What might have been

Clifford Will, Washington University, St. Louis, Robert Riemer, NRC
cmw@howdy.wustl.edu

The recent list of the top 100 American films put out by the American Film Institute places Casablanca in the top 10, a ranking few would dispute. Who can forget the haunting song which Ingrid Bergman asked to be ``played again'', and which brought back such painful memories for Bogart's Rick: ``You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss, ''?

However, few realize that what was sung in the movie is only part of a song written by Herman Hupfield twelve years earlier. The intro to the song goes as follows:

This day and age we're living in

Give cause for apprehension

With speed and new invention

And things like fourth dimension

Yet we get a trifle weary

With Mr. Einstein's theory

So we must get down to earth at times

Relax, relieve the tension

And no matter what the progress

Or what may yet be proved

The simple facts of life are such

They cannot be removed

You must remember this

What a missed opportunity to connect Albert to Bogie and Bergman!

Robert (Roc) Riemer is currently NRC staff liaison for the Committee on Gravitational Physics.

© 1931 by Warner Bros. Music Corporation, ASCAP