The Significance of "Tango Delle Rose"
With all the musical attention in Casablanca centered around the notable "As Time Go By," one may lose sight (or hearing, rather) of the other uses of music in the film. Perhaps flying clear under the radar is the song "Tango Delle Rose" performed by the exotic Italian guitarist/singer at Rick's Cafe Americano (pictured below). If the viewer had understood Italian, he or she would have listened to a song about two lovers who fall passionately in love, but their love is quickly and abruptly terminated, leaving the man grieving for his lost love. These 'coincidences' hardly happen by accident in films such as Casablanca, but unfortunately they are relatively under-appreciated. The lyrics of the song are included below (this is a rough translation by my good friend Google Translate):
There, there among the roses and the flowers
the romance began
and were kisses,
daring caresses
then the madness of passion."I love you," she whispers
and a fiery kiss makes her tremble.
And his sweet love
whispers evermore like this:
"Love me! Kiss me with passion!
Take me! Hold me with ardor!
Gather me! My life is like a flower:
early blooms and dies soon.
It's all for you my heart!
But, it was a sad day
and their love ended
like a rose
killed by frost
its beauty soon withered.
Crowds in the garden of roses
melts in vain in his grief.
He cries and as it was then
sings to lost love.
For those of you interested in listening to Gigliola Cinquetti's version of the song click here.
Upon reading the lyrics, it is apparent that the song completely coincides with Rick and Ilsa's romance. Among the roses and flowers of beautiful Paris they fall into a fervent and intense love. Of course we may deduce the ending of the story- Ilsa's leaving and Rick's subsequent grieving. This song was so important a foreshadowing in the director's eyes that he had it played directly before the viewer hears "As Time Goes By" for the first time. Furthermore, this song lays the simple foundation of seeing Paris as a hierophany and of seeing Rick and Ilsa's journey to Casablanca as a pilgrimage.
"We'll always have Paris."
This line, nearly as over-said as the famous "Here's looking at you, kid," marks Paris (more specifically, unoccupied France) as a place set apart from the rest of Rick and Ilsa's world. This place where 'romance began and [there] were kisses, daring caresses, [and] then the madness of passion' took form has been transformed by a supernatural power (the power of love, as cheesy as that sounds), thus marking unoccupied France as a hierophany. Once the profane enters this now sacred space (those pesky Nazis!), the hierophany is shattered.
Ilsa listening to "Tango Delle Rose" as seen by Sam.
"When I began to investigate pilgrimages more closely, I came to
see that they might well constitute objectively a connected net-
work of processes each involving a journey to and from a particular
site. Such sites were places where, according to believers, some
manifestation of divine or supernatural power had occurred,
what Eliade would call a "hierophany."- Victor Turner**
Some may say that America is the destination of the pilgrimage, or maybe even Casablanca the city, but I say nay- the subsequent pilgrimage that Rick and Ilsa partake separately is one BACK to unoccupied France (so technically yes, Casablanca, but not for the sake of this argument). According to Victor Turner, a pilgrimage is not a journey necessarily of religion, but more generally of journey to a place, more specifically, a hierophany. In making the journey to Casablanca, Rick and Ilsa are given the chance once more to experience their passionate love. Once again unoccupied France is transformed into a hierophany and in a never-ending cycle their journey becomes their pilgrimage.
However, the story that is played out in Paris becomes one played out in Casablanca, as "Tango Delle Rose" becomes relevant once more (bit of a redundant storyline, eh?). Love is found and love is lost. Ilsa leaves Rick again as she is about to start a new journey of her own and just as Rick fades out into the fog he confirms that he too will be starting a new journey. Who knows- maybe their paths will cross one more and "Tango Delle Rose" will finally be irrelevant to their romance.
She's just not that into you, Laszlo.
I agree that the pilgrimage is not necessarily to a country or city, but maybe just a journey resulting in Rick and Isla meeting once again. Perhaps because they are each other's centers, or axis mundi. I also appreciate you pointing out "Tango Delle Rose" because it better shows the reality of their relationship, versus "As Time Goes By" which underlines the happier memories.
ReplyDelete10/10!
ReplyDelete"Tango Delle Rose" is most definitely masked by the overwhelming popularity of "As Time Goes By," and your astute observation gives a different yet equally important perspective on Rick and Ilsa's relationship. They do indeed fall under the archetype of star-crossed lovers, as they loved and lost one another on more than one occasion. I find it interesting that this song that essentially outlines the plot of the movie for us is performed in Italian, a language that is probably unknown by a majority of this film's viewers. For those people, it simply sounds like a beautiful song. This gilded meaning also parallels Rick and Ilsa's relationship--something very beautiful and powerful at first glance, but much darker and ill-fated underneath the surface.
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your interesting analysis of the use of "Tango Delle Rose" in the film. All the other songs in the movie have significance--obviously "As Time Goes By" does, and the two national anthems that are sung result in a powerfully emotional scene that is symbolic of the larger clash between Germans and the resistance. I knew that "Tango Delle Rose" must be important as well. I appreciate the translation from Italian, and I'm impressed at how well the lyrics correspond to the film's ill-fated romance.
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI love this take on the music in Casablanca. I agree with you in saying that their pilgrimage really is not to America, but rather, back to Paris. However, this pilgrimage would be mental, emotional, and above all, liminal- not physical. In fact, I don't know if they could or even should ever go back together to Paris physically because the circumstances would be totally alien. They have become different people, with different hardships, and different perspectives on life than they were when they were together in Paris years before. They are in constant pilgrimage, traveling to their true destination point.