Subdeacon Joe Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 Another Facebook find. In the film Casablanca’s “battle of the anthems” scene, some actors seem truly moved as they sing La Marseillaise. Is what we see on the screen genuine emotion captured on the first take, or just good acting repeated over several takes? Thanks for the A2A; I did a little digging into this a few years ago after hearing Ebert attribute some of the emotion in this scene to how many of the actors were affected by the Nazis. Here’s the detail I was able to find: Paul Henreid - ‘Victor Laszlo’. Austrian, half-Jewish, left Austria in 1935 as an avid anti-Fascist. Conrad Veidt - ‘Major Strasser’. German, married a Jewish woman and fled Germany after the Nazis took power. Had it written into his contracts that he would only play Nazis if they were villains, and donated much of his income to anti-Nazi causes. Trivia: was the highest-paid actor in the movie! Peter Lorre - ‘Ugarte’. Hungarian, of Jewish descent, was a star in Germany but fled after the Nazis came to power. S.Z. Sakall. - ‘Carl’. Hungarian, was a star there and Austria but fled after Hungary joined the Axis in 1940. All 3 of his sisters died in the concentration camps. Madeleine Lebeau. ‘Yvonne’. French. Fled the Nazis after the fall of France, had only arrived in Hollywood a little before filming. Trude Berliner. ‘Baccarat player’. German, Jewish, fled Germany after the Nazis came to power. Lotte Palfi Andor. ‘woman selling diamonds’. German, Jewish, fled Germany after the Nazis came to power. Helmut Dantine. ‘Jan Brandel’. Austrian anti-fascist, was imprisoned in a concentration camp: was able to flee to the US due to family influence. Marcel Dalio. ‘Emil - Croupier at Rick's’. French, Jewish, a star in French cinema, married to Madeleine Lebeau above. Fled with her, got by in Hollywood via bit parts like this. [Edit]Thanks to Karen Kinsey for pointing me to several more: Louis Arco. ‘Refugee at Rick's’. Austrian, fled after the Nazis came to power. Ilka Grüning. ‘Mrs. Leuchtag’. Austrian, fled after the Nazis came to power. Ludwig Stössel. ‘Mr. Leuchtag’. Austrian, fled after the Nazis came to power. Hans Heinrich von Twardowski. ‘German officer with Yvonne’. German, fled shortly before the Nazis came to power. Wolfgang Zilzer. ‘Man with expired papers’. Married to Lotte Andor (above). American-born, moved to Germany at age 4, of Jewish heritage, was able to make it back to the States at age 36 in 1937. Curt Bois. ‘Pickpocket’ (above, in the middle; he’s warning the Englishman about pickpockets, while picking his pocket). German, Jewish, fled Germany after the Nazis came to power. Read more>>> https://tinyurl.com/5n8n4rpj 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Hair, SASS #29557 Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 I've read that the tears during this scene were very real. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 It wasn't really "the battle of the anthems", because the Germans were singing the Watch on the Rhine, not Germany over All. And I don't exactly agree with some of the translation here. But this is very good. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted March 28 Author Share Posted March 28 1 hour ago, Alpo said: It wasn't really "the battle of the anthems", because the Germans were singing the Watch on the Rhine, not Germany over All. That was one of Nazi Germany anthems, the other was the Horst Wessel Lied, which, in my opinion, would have been the more likely to be sung by those officers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted March 28 Author Share Posted March 28 Rather ironic, the choice of the song the Germans were singing. The original title of the French National Anthem was “Chant de guerre de l'armée du Rhin” that is, War Song of the Army of the Rhine. About the invasion of France by Prussian and Austrian armies in 1792. Arise, children of the Fatherland, The day of glory has arrived! Against us stands tyranny Her bloody standard has been raised, (repeated) Do you hear, in the countryside, The roar of those ferocious soldiers? They come right into your arms To tear the throats of your sons, your wives! Refrain: To arms, citizens, Form your battalions, Let's March, let's march! So that an impure blood waters our furrows! What does this horde of slaves Of traitors and invented kings want? For whom have these vile chains These irons, been long prepared? (repeated) Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage What furious action it must arouse! It is for us they dare plan A return to the old slavery! Refrain What! Foreign cohorts! Would make the law in our homes! What! These mercenary phalanxes Would strike down our proud warriors! (repeated) Great God! By chained hands Our brows would yield under the yoke Vile despots would themselves become The masters of our destinies! Refrain Tremble, tyrants and you traitors The shame of all parties, Tremble! Your parricidal schemes Will finally receive their prize! (repeated) Everyone is a soldier to combat you, If they fall, our young heroes, Will be produced anew from the ground, Ready to fight against you! Refrain Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors, Bear or hold back your blows! Spare those sorry victims, For regretfully arming against us (repeated) But these bloodthirsty despots These accomplices of Bouillé All these tigers who, mercilessly, Tear apart their mother's breast! Refrain Sacred love of the Fatherland, Lead, support our avenging arms Liberty, cherished Liberty Fight with your defenders! (repeated) Under our flags may victory Hurry to your manly accents So that your expiring enemies See your triumph and our glory! Refrain Children's verse: We shall enter the (military) career When our elders are no longer there There we shall find their dust And the trace of their virtues (repeated) Much less keen to survive them Than to share their coffins We shall have the sublime pride To avenge or follow them. Refrain Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! Contre nous de la tyrannie L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis) Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces féroces soldats ? Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes ! Refrain : Aux armes, citoyens, Formez vos bataillons, Marchons, marchons ! Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons ! Que veut cette horde d'esclaves, De traîtres, de rois conjurés ? Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis) Français, pour nous, ah ! quel outrage Quels transports il doit exciter! C'est nous qu'on ose méditer De rendre à l'antique esclavage ! Refrain Quoi ! des cohortes étrangères Feraient la loi dans nos foyers ! Quoi ! Ces phalanges mercenaires Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers! (bis) Grand Dieu ! Par des mains enchaînées Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient De vils despotes deviendraient Les maîtres de nos destinées ! Refrain Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides L'opprobre de tous les partis, Tremblez ! vos projets parricides Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix ! (bis) Tout est soldat pour vous combattre, S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros, La terre en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre ! Refrain Français, en guerriers magnanimes, Portez ou retenez vos coups ! Épargnez ces tristes victimes, À regret s'armant contre nous. (bis) Mais ces despotes sanguinaires, Mais ces complices de Bouillé, Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié, Déchirent le sein de leur mère ! Refrain Amour sacré de la Patrie, Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs Liberté, Liberté chérie, Combats avec tes défenseurs ! (bis) Sous nos drapeaux que la victoire Accoure à tes mâles accents, Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire ! Refrain Couplet des enfants:[e] Nous entrerons dans la carrière Quand nos aînés n'y seront plus, Nous y trouverons leur poussière Et la trace de leurs vertus (bis) Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Que de partager leur cercueil, Nous aurons le sublime orgueil De les venger ou de les suivre. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Spur Jake SASS #7728 Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Casablanca is one of my all time favorite movies. I have probably watched it 30 or more times. I have the Blue Ray version. This info just makes watching it much more enjoyable. Has to be in the top 10 greatest movies of all time. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 i loved that movie as well , that was a really neat scene 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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