The Golden Age

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CHAPTER 5: A DEATH AND A REBIRTH

From Ernest Krupp, You Must Remember This: The Story of They All Come To Rick's, 1991:

...Filming had already begun for Rick's when a tragedy occurred. Peter Lorre, known for his roles in the Mr. Moto movies, the finalist for the role of Ugarte, the sleazy Italian conman (played by Bela Lugosi, of course, in what can be seen as his first main non-horror role) was hit and killed by a car, on September 10th, 1942. The driver was never found. He was rushed to Cedars of Lebanon, and died that night...

peter-lorre-9386583-1-402.jpg

Peter Lorre (1904-1942)

The choice of Bela Lugosi to play the role of Ugarte was by no means an obvious one. He was, at that time, known as a horror actor, best known for his (in)famous portrayal of Dracula. With the death of Lorre, there was no ideal way to proceed with the character, and it was nearly to be cut, with the lines to be said by Senor Martinez (Sidney Greenstreet). But Bela Lugosi showed up on the Warner Bros. lot one day, allegedly secretly (although some have doubted this story) and asked to audition for the part. The chances of the other finalist, Vincent Price, melted away. He was hired.

From Robert Layton, The Boy Genius: The Early Films of Orson Welles, 1998

The Magnificent Ambersons, the utter triumph that we know and love, was almost never to be. The studio, as is commonly known, hated Welles' long, uncut form of the film, and trimmed it down considerably. Welles' future wife, Dolores del Rio, persuaded him to save an uncut copy of the film, and hide it somewhere "safe...History will vindicate your film." Welles hid a rough reel in a bank vault, and it was only discovered in 1976. The film, along with Homage to Catalonia, is considered his true masterpiece. Welles concurred.

"What's your name?"

"Clark Gable."

"Haha! Wait..."

-Overheard at an army base, November 10th, 1942

"Alright, everyone. Jane, I'd like you to be over there. Let's start filming on Billy the Kid!"

-Howard Hughes, November 12th, 1942

"Aufweidersein, Herr Protektor."

"Aufweidersein."

-Reinhard Heydrich and an aide, November 15th, 1942

From L. L. Fitz, The Films of Bertolt Brecht, 1942-1950, 2003

...Brecht was not at first happy in Hollywood. English was not his native tongue...but his savior arrived in the former of a fellow German, Fritz Lang. Lang suggested to Brecht a story about the war. Brecht made a suggestion, and soon, Blitzkrieg was born, and the pair would become as famed as any in Hollywood.
 
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Well, Casablanca is one of my favourite golden age films (I know, how cliche), and in my opinion the definitive wartime picture. So I suppose I can discuss a few of the details you're presenting here...

First off, the body of the text describes Lorre dying in 1942, while the caption says 1943.

Martinez's name was changed to Ferrari because Martinez, an obviously Spanish name (unlike the more generically Romantic "Ugarte"), might have been perceived by Spain (a neutral country, whatever its oft-disputed leanings) as an insult, and would hurt Spanish box-office returns. Italy was, of course, an enemy state by 1942, one against which American troops were fighting in North Africa from May onward. These changes were might despite Spaniards being far more prevalent in Morocco than Italians (who were present in large numbers in French North Africa, but in Tunisia).

Another important note: the role of Martinez/Ferrari was dramatically reworked and expanded from the original play to get Greenstreet to play him. Ugarte, on the other hand, was adapted largely intact.

That in mind, it's hard to imagine Lugosi or Price playing Ugarte; it seems a role that Lorre was born to play. (One of the reasons Casablanca is remembered so fondly: perfect casting.) Price would make a far better Ferrari, but he was a contract player for Fox, not Warners, so a loan-out agreement would be necessary. (As it probably would for Lugosi, who worked for Universal.)

Speaking of casting, you mentioned earlier that Dooley Wilson would not be playing Sam. I don't suppose you're considering implementing a famous casting WI and putting Ella Fitzgerald in the part? :D
 
Well, Casablanca is one of my favourite golden age films (I know, how cliche), and in my opinion the definitive wartime picture. So I suppose I can discuss a few of the details you're presenting here...

First off, the body of the text describes Lorre dying in 1942, while the caption says 1943.

Martinez's name was changed to Ferrari because Martinez, an obviously Spanish name (unlike the more generically Romantic "Ugarte"), might have been perceived by Spain (a neutral country, whatever its oft-disputed leanings) as an insult, and would hurt Spanish box-office returns. Italy was, of course, an enemy state by 1942, one against which American troops were fighting in North Africa from May onward. These changes were might despite Spaniards being far more prevalent in Morocco than Italians (who were present in large numbers in French North Africa, but in Tunisia).

Another important note: the role of Martinez/Ferrari was dramatically reworked and expanded from the original play to get Greenstreet to play him. Ugarte, on the other hand, was adapted largely intact.

That in mind, it's hard to imagine Lugosi or Price playing Ugarte; it seems a role that Lorre was born to play. (One of the reasons Casablanca is remembered so fondly: perfect casting.) Price would make a far better Ferrari, but he was a contract player for Fox, not Warners, so a loan-out agreement would be necessary. (As it probably would for Lugosi, who worked for Universal.)

Speaking of casting, you mentioned earlier that Dooley Wilson would not be playing Sam. I don't suppose you're considering implementing a famous casting WI and putting Ella Fitzgerald in the part? :D

Oops, I fixed the dating. Sorry.

Yeah, it does pain me a bit to change such a great film, but then again, i am speaking to a man who KILLED! MASH! Besides, a full Magnificent Ambersons exists, so I think I deserve something.

Martinez isn't changed for exactly the reasons you mentioned. There were more Spaniards in Morocco, and the TTL writers were more cognizant of that fact.

Bela was so easy to get because he wasn't regarded as a serious actor, just some Hungarian horror actor. The studio is fine with letting him go, at least with some compensation. (Of course, this butterflies away my favorite Bela Lugosi movie, Bowery at Midnight.

Also, I have my own choice for "The Rabbit" (Yes, that was Sam's name in the play!) although I very much like Ella Fitzgerald.
 
His success in Rick's helps Lugosi kick his heroin addiction.
This leads him to get the Lorrie part in Mask of Dimitros.

Yes, I will cover that. He'll do better than IOTL. I won't say exactly how, but I don't think he'll end up hobnobbing with Ed Wood (one of the many sad casualties of Operation Downfall.)
 
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