Ronald Reagan and Casablanca

Did you know that Ronald Reagan almost played the lead role in Casablanca during his film career? Most people are aware that Reagan was an actor before entering politics and eventually ascending to the position of President of the United States.

This interesting bit of cinematic trivia is frequently offered as an entertaining "what if" of Hollywood lore. What if Humphrey Bogart didn't get his most enduring part? Without him, would Casablanca have continued to be popular? Would Ronald Reagan be discouraged from entering politics if the movie was a success?

Reagan and Casablanca just isn't true, as it was before, but this time, we actually know how the myth was established. It was the consequence of a press release issued by the Warner Bros. PR department in early 1942, which announced that Ronald Reagan and Ann Sheridan would be in the film. Yet, it was still so early in the pre-production process that neither casting nor development on the screenplay had begun. The sole purpose of these press releases, which were very typical at the time and used only to promote the studio's stars, was to provide no actual information.

Although it is true that he initially preferred Ann Sheridan over Ingrid Bergman, producer Hal Wallis, who had the final say in casting, later claimed that he never really considered anyone else for the role.