Casablanca

[matataku_hoshi]

So tonight I sat down and watched Casablanca.  It was AMAZING, and definitely deserves its status as a great American film.   If you haven't seen it, I really do recommend it.  I can feel my willpower and common sense melting, although it's not completely gone yet.

This only makes me more excited about the Takarazuka version.  I suspect it could be a very talk-y show, but it suits the atmosphere.  And I wonder how they'll incorporate "As Time Goes By" and the other songs?  Or maybe they'll have to go with other songs if getting the original copyright is a problem?

Anyway, I decided to write down my casting predictions.  I always like doing these and going back later to see how I did.  (For the record, I'd like to brag that wao_wao  and I predicted long before the summary of Paradise Prince was released that Tomu would be an evil, corporate villain trying to get Tani to sell out and Micchan would play Tani's friend XD)

 

Rick Blaine (originally Humphrey Bogart): Our main character, a cynical American who runs a saloon in Casablanca.  This role we already know will be played by Yuuhi, and it’s perfect for her.

Ilsa Lund (originally Ingrid Berman): Rick’s past flame, who left him suddenly without explanation.  She’s also Laszlo’s wife.  We already know that Sumika will play this role.  Honestly, I’m not as bugged by Sumika’s promotion as some others, although there are definitely other musumeyaku who I would have picked before.  I’m a little worried that she’s too young for the role, but I’ll reserve judgment until I actually see her.  (Besides, I haven’t seen Sumika since the summer of 2008, and I’ve heard wonderful things about her role in Gin-chan no Koi).

Victor Laszlo (originally Paul Henreid): Ilsa’s husband and a Czech resistance leader.  This is very obviously the nibante role, and I’m positive Tomu will get it.

Past here it gets a little more tricky, but here goes…

Captain Louis Renault (originally Claude Rains): A corrupt French police captain.  My guess is that this will go to Hokushou Kairi.  Renault and Strasser have almost equal time, but Renault is a little more prominent.  Also, Micchan is in my opinion better suited to Renault and Yuumi Hiro to Strasser.  (And…to be completely selfish, I don’t want to see Micchan in a Nazi uniform -_-;)

Major Heinrich Strasser (originally Conrad Veidt): Nazi officer, wants to capture Laszlo.  Yuumi Hiro does well with villains and is my guess for this role.  If not, probably Micchan. *thinks about this for a moment* Micchan in a villainous role would be appealing, except for once again, I just don’t want to see Micchan wearing a swastika -_-;

Signor Ferrari (originally Sydney Greenstreet): A rival club owner.  The actor who plays this character in the original movie is a little older, so I’m guessing Kotobuki Tsukasa.

Signor Ugarte (originally Peter Lorre): A criminal who has obtained illegal (and much sought after) letters of transit.  He is captured by police and killed off camera early on in the film.  I’m thinking Toki Irisu, and hoping that she would get some crowd scenes later on.  If not her, then one of the members of the 88^th trio or Nagina Ruumi. 

Sam (originally Dooley Wilson): The black piano player at Rick’s saloon, and a longtime friend of Rick’s.  He’s credited further down, but he gets some good scenes and a lot of singing.  My choice would be Hasami Yuuya, as she is the most vocally talented of the 88^th trio.  I almost wonder if they would give Micchan this role because of all the vocals, but it seems too small.

Carl (originally S. Z. Sakall): A waiter at Rick’s saloon.  I’m guessing another member of the 88^th trio…maybe Harukaze Misato?  Didn’t she play a waiter in Bara ni Furu Ame as well? ;)  Kacha is another possibility.  Sascha is another person on Rick’s staff.  Same casting predictions. 

Annina Brandel (originally Joy Page): A married Bulgarian refugee.  Renault attempts to seduce her in exchange for exit visas for her and her husband, and we see her struggling with what to do.  This is a small role, but I thought it was a really cool one.  I’m guessing they’ll give it to Hanakage Arisu, or maybe Aihana Chisaki. 

Yvonne (originally Madeleine LeBeau): Rick’s soon discarded girlfriend.  Small role, and not as interesting as Annina in my opinion.  My guess is Aihana Chisaki, or possibly Hanakage Arisu. 

Berger (originally John Qualen): Laszlo’s resistance contact.  Pretty small role.  Once again, one of the 88ths or Kacha. 

After that the roles become pretty small.  There’s also an unnamed pickpocket (who may not even make it into the Zuka version) and Jan Brandel, Annina’s husband.  I’d give these to some of the various soragumi upperclassmen.  I’m sure there will be also lots of café staff, refugees, Nazis, and French polite officers running around in the background.

Now that I’ve written all of this, I’m sure that Takarazuka will go ahead and make all sorts of plot changes.  And even if they didn’t, I’d be amazed if I got my casting 100% right.  But I like putting these sorts of things on record and being able to go back later and see how I did ;)

 

 

Comments

[just-keep-on.livejournal.com]

I'm really looking forward to the top three and their interpretations of their characters - heck, I'm simply looking forward to this show in general! I also wonder what kind of changes they'll bring to this show; hopefully it won't be drastic and instead pay homage to the original.

Speaking of which, I'm highly amused by how many people haven't watched Casablanca! It's such a classic movie, no?

[jess-in-japan.livejournal.com]

I watched this recently and tried to do the same thing in my head too. But I was really troubled trying to figure out who would play Sam. It's not a *big* role, but it sure is a *good* role.

I can't wait to see how zuka is gonna cast this. And I agree with you, Yuuhi is perfect. And I think Sumika can pull her role off too.

[michiru42.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Junya Chitose is recently getting more attention, so she could get Yvonne or Annina; also, Suzuna Saya often gets little backup parts like that, so I can see her in the running, too. I hope Alice gets Yvonna, though, being the most interesting of the available musumeyaku parts...it'll be a good sign for her future if she does.