We Will Always Have Paris
Treat yourself to a Happy Valentine’s Day by watching Casablanca, the greatest movie of all time.
First released in 1942, the movie remains timeless. It is the perfect movie; with heroes and villains, razor-sharp dialogue, foreign intrigue, inspiring acting, real movie starts, memorable lines, and at the end, a touching love scene that will leave you moved even after a dozen viewings (my estimate of the number of times I have seen the movie). It is the greatest love story ever filmed.
The film was set against the backdrop of World War II. It first premiered only days after British and American troops invaded North Africa. The film was culturally and artistically relevant. One week after the film’s opening, allied troops invaded Casablanca.
It is said that the film’s writers did not know how the movie would end when filming started; but this mirrored reality, since nobody knew how World War II would end.
The film is set in Casablanca, Morocco where the French-controlled government allowed the Nazi Germany regime to play an unfettered and major role.
In my novel Roll the Dice, Tyler Sloan is a famous rock star, a member of the rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame, who leaves the stage to run for the United States Senate. The novel is set within the world of a political campaign. The book also explores Sloan’s yearning for a meaningful, female relationship. Most of us share this yearning, a quest for love and support from our significant other.
Sloan had recently turned fifty and had one, brief and unsuccessful marriage. Befitting his rock star status, Sloan had too numerous one-night stands, flings, and brief relationships. He longs for more, enter his younger, edgy, media advisor Bree Baker.
There is instant chemistry between Sloan and Baker. Yet, as opposed to his younger days, Sloan instinctively recognizes that Bree is different. This will not be a mere dalliance. Analogous to the twists and turns of his campaign, Sloan’s relationship with Bree is not on a straight line.
Casablanca’s protagonist is the mysterious Rick Blaine, played to perfection by Humphrey Bogart. Rick is haunted by his past love with Ilsa Lund, the stunning Ingrid Bergman. Unbeknown to Rick, Ilsa is now married to a heroic leader of the resistance.
Rick is tortured by his love for Ilsa, the true love of his life. His mind is haunted by their joyful time in Paris, although the two were stricken watching the Nazis march through the French capital. His sorrowful departure at the train station captures his anguish.
The movie has numerous immortal one-liners; “Round up the usual suspects,” “Here’s looking at you, kid,” and, “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” Although “Play it again Sam” was never exactly spoken in the film, the line is too memorable to ignore. Let’s call that myth the film history version of “fake news.” The film’s signature song, “As Time Goes By,” will cause your soul to ache.
My favorite, feigned ignorance line is stated by the Police Captain who utters, “I’m shocked, SHOCKED, to find that gambling is going on here (at Rick’s).” Concurrent with his outrage, the captain is stuffing his bribed proceeds from the roulette table into his pockets.
The dramatic final scenes have Rick informing Ilsa that he will not be flying out of Casablanca with her, that she must stay with her husband, but, “We’ll always have Paris.”
As Bogart famously lamented, this was one movie where, “the star did not get the girl.” Did Ilsa truly loved Rick? Was she motivated for the cause of freedom against the Nazis? If she sold her soul to stay with the resistance and not Rick, it was for a damn good cause.
Personally, I did encounter the worst Valentine’s Day gift a couple of decades ago in purchasing a gift for my wife. I went to a clothing store she favored and with the help of a sales assistant, purchased her an outfit.
The associate was impressed with my efforts and told me that she did not have such luck when it came to gifts from her beloved. She added rather brusquely that her boyfriend had given her the worst gift. I gingerly inquired as to what that may be, and she proceeded to snarl, “a garage door opener.” Gentlemen—take heed. A little more effort please.
Get Your Copy Today!
Roll the Dice
by: Wayne Avrashow
Political Thriller
November 28, 2017
What happens when one of America’s biggest rock stars leaves the Las Vegas stage to run for the United State Senate?
The ultimate celebrity candidate, Tyler Sloan is no stranger to politics – his estranged father was a California governor who narrowly lost a Presidential campaign. He runs as a political independent, refuses campaign contributions, and dismisses special interests and lobbyists.
Sloan is caught in a political campaign fraught with; sexual scandal, corruption and conflicting loyalties. Will he be able to navigate through political turbulence and his own past to win the race?
Editorial Reviews
“...hilarious, politically savvy...politics at its corrupt, dysfunctional, inspiring best.” ~ Kirkus Reviews (pre-publication review, “Best Manuscript” award winner)
"Avrashow’s book is an entertaining reveal of an unconventional candidate and campaign and it is filled with drama, hope and conflict,” ~ Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles 2005-2013
“In the tradition of Allen Drury and Richard Condon comes the next great author of political thrillers, Wayne Avrashow.” ~ Michael Levin, New York Times best-selling author
“A political thriller that draws on Avrashow’s considerable experience…a great read,” ~ Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles City Councilman (ret.) and Los Angeles County Supervisor (ret.)
“a riveting, totaling involving page-turner…Roll the Dice has all the elements to develop into a memorable film dramatization,” ~ Peter Saphier, executive at Universal and Paramount studios, o read and recommended the novel “Jaws” for production at Universal, co-Producer “Scarface”
“Intriguing spin on the phenomenon of celebrities-as-candidates.” ~ Bob Ronka, Los Angeles City Councilman (Ret.)
About the Author:
Wayne Avrashow was the campaign manager for two successful Los Angeles City Council campaigns and a Deputy/Chief of Staff to those two elected City Council members. He served as a senior advisor for a successful city-wide referendum in the City of Los Angeles, co-authored ballot arguments on Los Angeles County-wide measures, served as Chairman for a Los Angeles County ballot measure, and was a Los Angeles government Commissioner for nearly twenty years. He currently serves as a Board Member of the Yaroslavsky Institute, a public policy institute founded by long time Southern California elected official, and now UCLA professor, Zev Yaroslavsky.
His background in politics, government, business, and law provides unique insight into the machinations and characters that populate political campaigns.
Wayne is a practicing attorney who specializes in government advocacy, real estate, and business law. Formerly, he was an officer in two real estate development firms. As a lawyer-lobbyist, he has represented clients before numerous California municipalities and in Nevada and Idaho. He has lectured at his law school and taught at Woodbury University in Los Angeles. He has also authored numerous op-ed articles that appeared in daily newspapers, legal, business, and real estate publications. In addition, he is the author of a self-published book for the legal community, Success at Mediation—10 Strategic Tools for Attorneys.
Social Media:
