An old Hollywood rumor, which claims Ronald Reagan was the original male lead inCasablanca, has a surprising backstory that predates even the movie itself. Prior to his ascent into politics and tenure as the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan was well-known for his work in movies. Though not exactly an A-list actor in the same vein asHollywood legend Humphrey Bogart, Reagan had been a star for quite some time, headlining a long list of films in the 1940s and 1950s. Much of his work was for Warner Bros, the studio that producedCasablancain 1943.
As a result of its resounding success, critical acclaim, and status as a household favorite for decades, it’s naturally been a source of public discourse for years. Rumors and all sorts of behind-the-scenes stories surround the making ofCasablancaand its cast. Among the most interesting ones pertains to Ronald Reagan, who had no involvement with the film. An old, unproven but widely circulated claim is that before Humphrey Bogart was tapped to play Rick Blaine, Warner Bros. had cast Reagan as the now-iconic character.
Ronald Reagan’s Connection To Casablanca Explained
Ronald Reagan’s Name Was Publicly Connected To Casablanca Before Bogart’s
There was never any real intention for Reagan to appear inCasablanca, but it’s important to note that this rumor didn’t originate out of thin air. In fact, the basis of the claim comes from the words of the studio itself, asWarner Bros. publicly attached Reagan’s name to the projecta year before it hit theaters. In 1942, Warner Bros. shared a press release throughThe Hollywood Reporter,announcing that Ronald Reagan and Ann Sheridan would be starring inCasablanca.
While this may create the impression that Reagan was meant to be involved, that was not the case. During this era in Hollywood, actors were contractually bound to work for specific studios, with both Reagan and Sheridan having deals in place with Warner Bros. at the time. As explained bySnopes, studios deemed it important for the actors' names to remain in the news so that they would stay relevant. Highlighting the duo of Reagan and Sheridan in particular, despite the factual inaccuracy, was considered beneficial since the two were starring inKings Row, which was an upcoming film when the press release was initially sent out in 1942.
Further proving this point is the fact thatReagan and Sheridan were also paraded as the leads ofAcross the Pacific(which coincidentally, wound up beinga Humphrey Bogart war movie) in a different press release.But just as it was withCasablanca, it was too early in the process for actors to have already been cast and Reagan never appeared in the film. It’s worth noting that this was not an unusual practice and instead was seen as a routine marketing move.
Why Ronald Reagan Would Have Been An Odd Pick For Rick Blaine
Ronald Reagan As Rick Blaine Wouldn’t Have Worked Anyway
Not only was there no truth to the rumor, but such a casting choice wouldn’t have made much sense at the time. Reagan was an undeniably talented actor, but it’s hard to imagine him being cast in a film as high-profile asCasablanca, especially at that point in his career. He had been in a few fairly successful films, but only recently had Warner Bros. begun to utilize him as a leading actor, but those were mostly comedies and much smaller projects. Nothing Reagan had done in 1942 would have justified the decision to cast him as the rugged, no-nonsenseRick Blaine inCasablanca.
The situation with Bogart was different. There were reasons to doubt that he was perfect for Rick Blaine as well since he lacked experience as a romantic lead, but his more was a much more prominent name in the early 1940s. He wasn’t the industry’s top star, but his starring roles in movies likeThe Maltese Falcon,They Drive by Night, andDark Victory, had elevated his status immensely sinceHumphrey Bogart’s regrettable string of bad gangster movies.
Humphrey Bogart Was Always The Clear Choice For Rick Blaine
Despite Rumors, No Other Actors Were Seriously Considered
Ronald Reagan is actually one of several names linked to the Rick Blaine character (George Raft being another), but based on what’s known about the production,the role going to Humphrey Bogart was never up for debate. Hal Wallis, who producedCasablanca, was adamant that Bogart play Rick. What’s more, contractual matters would have dictated that Wallis received the final word on the casting for the film. In other words, who got to play Rick and Elsa were always going to be Wallis' decisions, not Warner Bros.' Wallis was empowered by his contract to pick anyone working for the studio.
How things worked out, and the legacy thatCasablancahas maintained for decades as one of the greatest movies ever made, goes to show that Hall Wallis' instincts about Bogart were correct. Delivering one of the greatest performances of his career, Bogart made Rick Blaine a cinematic icon by conveying through quiet yet intense moments that the character is much more than “the tough guy” that he appears to be.
Casablanca
Cast
Casablanca is a classic film set in December 1941, starring Humphrey Bogart as a cynical American expatriate in Morocco. When he encounters a former lover, portrayed by Ingrid Bergman, complicated personal and political tensions arise amidst the backdrop of World War II.
