[Dixielandjazz] Dooley Wilson at: "As Time Goes By"

[luis daniel flores]

Dooley Wilson
Who could forget perhaps the most famous line in all of Casablanca. "Play it
agiain, Sam." Well, the line may have never appeared in the movie, but
Dooley Wilson would have been there to play it if it had. Arthur "Dooley"
Wilson was the only key member of the movie who had actually been to
Casablanca. He had faced the constraints of America's ethnic prejudices, and
formed a band to tour Europe called the Red Devils. They were a tremendous
hit throughout Europe, and in Casablanca they performed at an event honoring
WWI hero T.E. Lawrnece. Wilson returned to America and attempted to survive
as an actor. Eventually, he got a contract with Paramount for what he called
"pullman-porter" roles. Disgusted, Wilson was on the verge of leaving
Hollywood when Hal Wallis began the auditions for the role of Sam. Wilson
tested for the part, as did another black actor, Clarence Muse. Wallis
decided to go with Muse, because Wilson could not play the piano, but two
days after this decision, it was announced that Wilson would play the part.
Warner's agreed to pay Paramount, who held Wilson's contract, $500 for the
seven week shoot. Wilson only got $150 of that money



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