Music's Role in Rick's Sacred Little Moments

Through the first third of the film Casablanca, Rick doesn't seem to be a man who would consider much to be sacred in life. His attitude towards the violence in his bar along with the steadfast assurance that he "sticks his neck out for nobody," gives the audience an idea of his hardened worldview. But his reaction to Sam playing 'As Time Goes By' introduces the audience to a softer side of Rick, and the music that follows shows how much Rick really misses. 

As we move into the flashbacks of Rick and Ilsa's time in Paris, we immediately hear a brass orchestra introduce some old-timey, whimsical music as the happy couple drive through the streets of France,

danced, 

and bought a bag of nuts. 

Rick and Ilsa's time together in France is by far the brightest moments we see in the movie, and the musical score reflects all of this. However, once news of the Nazi's invasion reaches them, the music instantly grows much darker as the movie snaps back to reality. For Rick, his time with Ilsa in Paris had become sacred, it's what he wanted to build his entire life around and gave him meaning. But the Nazi takeover of Paris not only changes Paris, which is home to Ricks best memories, but is a catalyst for him to lose Ilsa as well. It isn't until he reads the note at the train that Rick becomes the hardened cynic we see at the beginning of the film, but this only occurs because he's finally lost the only thing he holds sacred, Ilsa,which then thrusts his life into chaos. Without any meaning in life or way to go, we see a Rick who chooses to treat woman, Nazi's, and his bar with an emotional detachment that reflects a lack of hope in life. That is until he hears 'As Time Goes By' play again, which, along with Ilsa and others, gives him a new hope and hero's purpose. By the end of the film, as Rick tells Ilsa to join Victor on the plane, he becomes at peace with the prospect of losing her, choosing to remember the brightness of Paris when they first met. Although he's lost his love, his new purpose of helping resist the Nazi's ushers in a new sacredness to Rick as the music plays from the beginning of his time in Paris.