How The French Marseillais Played A Key Part Of U.S. Foreign Policy During WWII

The movie Casablanca is seen as a masterpiece of cinema. The pivotal scene where people in a bar defiantly sing “La Marseillaise” in front of stunned Nazi drinkers was actually a key masterpiece of U.S. war propaganda to encourage support for American involvement in World War II.

“La Marseillaise” is the French national anthem

“La Marseillaise” was written at the end of the 18th century at a key time in French history. People were looking to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic and there was a threat of invasion from Austro-Prussian forces. It was a call to arms to fight for a new France. It says “Aux Armes Citoyens, formez vos bataillons! Marchons, marchons!” (“Take up arms, citizens, form your battalions! March, march!”). It was penned in Marseille and sung by the army on the way to Paris, where it became known as “La Marseillaise.” It became the national anthem in 1795 but it was banned later when the monarchy was briefly restored and Napoleon was in power, because it was deemed too revolutionary. It was later reinstated as the official anthem in 1879 when France again became a republic. It has seven verses but only the first and sixth are usually sung.

The movie poster for Casablanca which was aimed to change hearts and minds about U.S. involvement in WWII

“La Marseillaise” features in a key scene in Casablanca

Casablanca is all about the U.S. attitude to the Nazis

Beneath the impossible romance, there lies a deeper psychology. Bogart’s character—Rick—is impartial, refuses to get political, and always stays neutral when he runs his bar; he is seemingly uncaring about the Nazis and their ways. He represents the U.S. people. However, as he meets Bergman again and as he falls once more in love, he makes a stand for her, the French resistance, and the freedom of Europe. He is meant to convince the Americans of the importance of supporting their European allies.

The scene with “La Marseillaise” was pivotal in changing attitudes

In the pivotal scene, a group of Nazis are singing German songs in Rick’s bar. A resistance fighter asks the band to play The Marseillaise. They look to Rick for permission and by giving his nod, he is essentially relinquishing his neutrality and demanding others support him too. The entire bar joins in to sing the song and the Nazis are drowned out.

Casablanca really helped to change US attitudes

Every movie produced during the Second World War had to be passed through the Office of War Information. For each film to be financed, it had to ensure that it would help win the war and that it would contribute something to the war effort. To this end, as with other movies at the time, Casablanca was instrumental in gaining American support for intervening in the war. The rest, as they say, is history.

“The Marseillais” was a key part of the movie Casablanca which was a key part of America’s PR campaign to win the war

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