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Got it. Audie Murphy as Serpico ! The original lead as Rick in Casablanca was Ronald Reagan.

I think he would have just as good as Bogart considering he once was a song and dance man.

saw him dance with carole lombard in bolero,they should reshow it[bbc2]

I think you're right, nosey. I always thought Bogart a touch overrated and actors like Raft underrated. I think he would have made a terrific Sam Spade.

Nope---Scorpio was the killer in Dirty Harry, played by Andy Robinson.

Reagan and Ann Sheridan are often cited as the original leads for Casablanca, but there are now claims that the studio wanted Bogart all along. Bogie was brilliant as Spade, not quite as good as Philip Marlowe and positively creepy as Captain Queeg. George Raft wouldn't have recognised a decent film role if his life depended on it. Sometimes the magic is all in the casting, and the chemistry therein. Can anyone think of a better cast than Bogart, Lorre, Greenstreet and Mary Astor?

Nice one Caractacus. No, the story about Ronnie for the lead as Rick is true. Casablanca was originally planned as a low-budget potboiler. The war in Europe changed that as the company made it a big budget 'prestige' film and then dumped Ronnie for Bogie.

You're right about Raft's lack of judgement. But his persona I think would have been more faithful to Hammett's Spade. Bogart comes over as too nice and the aggression too contrived. I also agree that he was not brilliant as Marlowe ; the best for me is Dick Powell in 'Farewell My Lovely'. Of course both are a long way from Chandler's first choice. Cary Grant.

And Bogart's best ever screen performance in my view is his Queeg in 'The Caine Mutiny'.