Customer Reviews

Casablanca: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Of all the soundtrack recordings I own, this is the most unusual. Yes, it features Max Steiner's score and the various vocal renditions of standards as we saw and them in Rick's Cafe Americain...including Herman Hupfeld's "As Time Goes By." And although this isn't the first soundtrack to incorporate dialog from the film, it's the only one I have ever owned in this format.

The score by composer Steiner is reminiscent of his music for a movie also set in French North Africa (Algiers), with melodies and rhythms that evoke the desert and alien cultures of the region. Interpolating the French national anthem and (reluctantly) As Time Goes By, as well as snippets of Germany's national anthem, Steiner's music sets the tone for the conflict both out in the wider world at war and in Rick Blaine's disillusioned heart.

Adding punch and poignancy to Steiner's score are recordings of "Dooley" Wilson, the Warner Bros. Orchestra, and pianist Elliot Carpenter (the real ivories-tickler behind "Sam Waters'" playing) as they performs such wonderful numbers as "Knock on Wood," "It Had To Be You," "The Very Thought of You," "Frenesi," and, of course, the incomparable "As Time Goes By." And as a bonus, Casablanca fans will be thrilled to hear many of the great lines from the movie, spoken by Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, and other cast members. Some of these exchanges will make you smile, others will make you mist up. Others will help you settle bets ("See, no one in the movie ever, ever says, 'Play it again, Sam.'").

"Casablanca" is my favorite movie of all time. I felt extremely happy when I heard that an original soundtrack of Max Steiner's great score was to be released. However, my illusions became shattered when I bought this CD because almost all the dialogue from the movie was included on this Rhino release. I felt so disappointed at that. It would be better to buy the movie instead.

"Casablanca" is admired for its great cast and witty script, and the makers of this soundtrack wisely included the complete dialogue along with the music for several scenes, including the one of Laszlo trying to buy the letters of transit, the Germans singing Die Wacht Am Rhein, the patrons of Rick's American Cafe singing "La Marseillaise", Renault shutting the place up because he is shocked- shocked! to find that gambling is going on there, and Major Strausser (sp?) confronting Ilsa. This scene will never be surpassed. Also included with dialogue intact is the airport climax. As fun as it is to listen to that dialogue, the listener will also gain an appreciation for the music. Every note played in the movie is included, as well as several very well-chosen supplemental tracks: the above scenes with only the Max Steiner's score, and Dooley Wilson singing all of "As Time Goes By", which he never gets to do in the movie.

I bought this CD to replace a vinyl recording I had of Humphrey Bogart film scores - more than anything, I wanted the stirring and romantic music from Casablanca. Well...it's here, but my favorite parts are buried under a layer of dialogue from the film. Don't get me wrong, it's great dialogue. But if I wanted to listen to that, I'd just watch the movie. I'm hoping there's a CD available out there that lets Steiner's great music stand on its own.

The dialogue, the intrigue, and now the soundtrack. If you are a fan of the movie you should own the soundtrack. The great Max Steiner score is good company on a quiet evening.

Yes it's a great CD which brings back all the memories from this unforgetable movie but there is one omission.The tune played by an unknown female guitarist is not included.It's an Italian song titled "Tango delle rose"

as a rabid fan of Casablanca I almost died of joy when I received the soundtrack as a Christmas gift...and then this experience was repeated the first time I played it. The soundtrack, like the film, is absolutely perfect. fans of both music and Casablanca, and indeed good film in general, will adore this.

To me the most enjoyable thing about this cd is that it contains a complete version of Dooley Wilson singing As Time Goes By. I had been looking for this without success until now. Steiner's wonderful soundtrack is alive and well preserved on cd. the only thing some may not enjoy is that there is quite alot of dialogue from the film mixed in to some of the other tracks, so if that will bother you, you may think twice before purchasing. but iftyou enjoy the film as wholly as i do, you will absolutely love this cd!

A great soundtrack, you can almost watch the picture in your head.Lot's of extras, as well. I highly recommend!

There's been a trend over the last few years to include dialogue in movie soundtrack CDs (I think "Apollo 13" was the first). Well, "Casablanca" is the standard by which all these CDs should be judged. This CD hits all the highlights, and uses them wisely: it knows when to talk, and when to shut up and let Max Steiner carry the show. This CD is so well-constructed you don't even need to have seen the movie to understand the story (of course, if you haven't seen the movie, why would you get this CD?)

Kudos kudos kudos to everyone involved. Vive la liberte!