During the 1940s, for many soldiers and civilians alike, the movie theatre was the best form of escapism from the abject poverty the war had thrust upon Europe, as well as the heartbreak and tragedy that fell across the continent like rain. Casablanca, a romantic feature starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, was one of the favourites during that era and in that respect it comes as no surprise that the piano which appeared in the film has been valued at over £1m, reports the BBC.

The iconic piano, which appears in during the most romantic scene of the film in which Sam sings 'As Time Goes By', is to be sold at Sothebys in December. The last time it was sold it fetched $154,000 and was bought by a Japanese collector. That was back in 1988 though, and in the last 24 years the price has been hiked up a bit. The sentimental value attributed to the film and therefore to objects that appear in it clearly have had an enormous effect.

The scene in which it appears has been parodied by the 1978 movie The Cheap Detective and even The Muppets alongside others, and we all know mimicry is the greatest form of flattery. Casablanca's success is unfailing and has been voted one of the best films of all time, and similarly 'As Time Goes By' has also been voted one of the best songs of the 20th century. The sale marks the 70th anniversary of the film, and despite time going by, evidently this doesn't stop the popularity of Casablanca, or its piano.