"It's from Casablanca. I've been waiting all my life to use that line." - Woody Allen, "Play It Again, Sam"

In a recent interview, film buffs were treated to a rare glimpse into the mind of a cinematic genius as Woody Allen reminisced about his iconic 1972 film, "Play It Again, Sam." The movie, a romantic comedy that pays homage to the classic 1942 film "Casablanca," has become a cult classic, with its witty dialogue and humorous references to the Humphrey Bogart movie continuing to captivate audiences to this day.

When asked about one of the film's most memorable lines, "It's from Casablanca. I've been waiting all my life to use that line," Allen chuckled, recalling the moment when he first penned the now-famous phrase. "I was a huge fan of 'Casablanca' even back then, and I knew I had to find a way to work it into the script," he explained. "The line just came to me one day, and I knew it was perfect."

For those unfamiliar with the movie, "Play It Again, Sam" tells the story of Allan Felix, a film critic who is recently divorced and struggling to navigate the dating scene. As he navigates his way through a series of awkward encounters and humorous misadventures, Allan finds himself drawn into a world of nostalgia, frequently breaking into conversations about his favorite films, including, of course, "Casablanca."

As Allen recalled, the film was a labor of love, with the director and writer pouring his heart and soul into every aspect of the production. "I was obsessed with 'Casablanca' at the time, and I think that's part of why 'Play It Again, Sam' turned out the way it did," he said. "I just loved the idea of taking this iconic film and using it as a kind of jumping-off point for my own story."

One of the key themes of "Play It Again, Sam" is the power of cinema to shape our perceptions and inform our experiences. Throughout the film, Allan Felix is shown to be heavily influenced by the movies he's seen, often drawing on them as a source of inspiration and comfort. As Allen noted, this was a deliberate choice, reflecting his own love of film and his desire to explore the ways in which it can affect us.

"I think 'Play It Again, Sam' is ultimately a film about the power of movies to shape our lives," Allen said. "We're all influenced by the things we see and experience, and for me, 'Casablanca' was this touchstone, this iconic film that I just couldn't get enough of."

The film's use of "Casablanca" as a kind of narrative thread has been widely praised, with many critics noting the clever way in which Allen weaves references to the classic film throughout the story. As one reviewer noted at the time of the film's release, "Woody Allen's love of 'Casablanca' is infectious, and 'Play It Again, Sam' is a must-see for anyone who's ever been captivated by the magic of the movies."

For Allen, the enduring popularity of "Play It Again, Sam" remains a source of delight and surprise. "I'm just thrilled that people continue to respond to the film all these years later," he said. "I think it's a testament to the power of 'Casablanca' and the way it continues to captivate audiences to this day."