The piano from the film Casablanca. UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR $602,500
One of the world’s favourite film props, the piano from the 1942 film Casablanca comes up at Sotheby’s in New York on December 14. The romance between Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) is movingly established during the famous flashback scene in Paris at La Belle Aurore. The Paris piano on which Sam plays “As Time Goes By” – the key prop in the scene – is estimated at $800,000/1.2 million.
The American Film Institute has ranked Casablanca the most romantic movie of all time and the most quotable. Casablanca won three Oscars in 1943 for Best Picture, Best Writing (Screenplay) and Best Director, with Oscar nominations in five other categories, including Best Score.
UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR $602,500. It was last auctioned in 1988 when a Japanese collector bought it for $154,000. Other notable film memorabilia prices include James Bond’s Aston Martin which sold for $4.6 million, Marilyn Monroe’s White Dress which made $5.6 million and Dorothy’s red slippers from The Wizard of Oz which made $612,000.