| SEPTEMBER 2005 INGRID BERGMAN |
| REVIEWS Intermezzo - 1939 Casablanca - 1942 For Whom the Bell Tolls - 1943 Gaslight - 1944 Spellbound - 1945 The Bells of Saint Mary's - 1945 Notorious - 1946 Joan of Arc - 1948 Anastasia - 1956 The Inn of the Sixth Happiness - 1958 and Autumn Sonata - 1978 |
Ingrid Bergman, considered one of the most beautiful actresses of the 1940s, was almost
refused entry into Hollywood because studios allegedly said she wasn't pretty enough. Of
course, back then the ideal Hollywood image was platinum blonde with a pout for a
smile...just like now. Fortunately, a few people in tinsel town saw her screen presence and
potential and she quickly became one of the most unique leading ladies of the golden age
of cinema.
Bergman was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1915. She lost her mother at the age of three
and her father died when she was only 12 years old. She lived with her aunt for a few scant
months, but she died too and soon Ingrid was living with an uncle. Her father's photography
shop kindled her interest in cameras and performance. In high school, she appeared as an
extra in films and pursued acting avidly.
Upon graduating, Bergman attended Stockholm's Royal Dramatic Theatre School. Her first
film was a Swedish motion picture called "Munkbrogreven," released in 1935 in Europe. In
the film, she played a hotel maid. However it was her second film, "Intermezzo," that won
her the attention of producer David O. Selznick, who immediately campaigned for her to star
in an American remake of the same film. While Selznick was working to get that off the
ground, Bergman made a number of other films in her native Sweden and in Germany.
refused entry into Hollywood because studios allegedly said she wasn't pretty enough. Of
course, back then the ideal Hollywood image was platinum blonde with a pout for a
smile...just like now. Fortunately, a few people in tinsel town saw her screen presence and
potential and she quickly became one of the most unique leading ladies of the golden age
of cinema.
Bergman was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1915. She lost her mother at the age of three
and her father died when she was only 12 years old. She lived with her aunt for a few scant
months, but she died too and soon Ingrid was living with an uncle. Her father's photography
shop kindled her interest in cameras and performance. In high school, she appeared as an
extra in films and pursued acting avidly.
Upon graduating, Bergman attended Stockholm's Royal Dramatic Theatre School. Her first
film was a Swedish motion picture called "Munkbrogreven," released in 1935 in Europe. In
the film, she played a hotel maid. However it was her second film, "Intermezzo," that won
her the attention of producer David O. Selznick, who immediately campaigned for her to star
in an American remake of the same film. While Selznick was working to get that off the
ground, Bergman made a number of other films in her native Sweden and in Germany.
| In the American version of "Intermezzo," Bergman's first American film, Anita struggles to decide if her affair should end. |
"Intermezzo," the American version, was released in 1939. Ingrid, starring alongside Leslie
Howard, recreated the story of the original film. It tells the story of a renowned violin star
who falls in love with his daughter's piano teacher, played by Bergman. They run away
together in the throes of passion, but they struggle wondering if it can possibly last. The
movie showcased all of Bergman's innate acting talents, including her entire emotional
range and her natural charisma on screen. It was the perfect premiere to American
audiences, and they loved her immediately.
Her most famous film would come three years later with "Casablanca." In it, Bergman plays
Ilsa, a woman who returns unexpectedly into the life of Rick Blaine, her old flame from Paris.
Rick, played by Humphrey Bogart, runs a nightclub in Morocco. She's attempting to
escape Casablanca with her husband and Czech freedom fighter, Victor Laszlo, from the
clutches of the Nazi Gestapo. The film would go down in history as an ultimate classic, and
Bergman's most famous role, but not her favorite. Off screen, Bogart and Bergman had no
real association and to the end of her life, Bergman was constantly asked about
"Casablanca" more than any other picture.
With "Casablanca," Bergman entered a golden age and rode a successful wave, starring in
a number of memorable movies. The year after "Casablanca," Bergman starred with Gary
Cooper in "For Whom the Bell Tolls," a Technicolor adaptation of the Ernest Hemingway
novel in which Spanish anti-fascist freedom fighters fight against all odds in the mountains
and romance blossoms between Bergman and Cooper even in the midst of great suffering.
By this point, no role was beyond Bergman's capabilities. She soon starred in the 1944
George Cukor thriller, "Gaslight," as a woman who thinks she's being tormented by demons
from her past. Is she going insane? This Victorian-era suspense masterpiece paired
Bergman with Charles Boyer and allowed her to work with veteran thespian Joseph Cotten
in a role that proved her ability to show psychological distress and emotional extremes with
complete authenticity. She won an Academy Award for this role.
In 1945, Bergman was put in two very different roles. In "Spellbound," under the direction of
suspense master Alfred Hitchcock, Bergman plays a psychiatrist trying to aid Gregory Peck
in recovering his lost memory and determining if he really is a murdered or merely a victim
of horrible circumstances. Later that year, she starred alongside Bing Crosby in "The Bells
of St. Mary's," in which she plays a nun of a Catholic school in an amicable rivalry with a
priest as they both strive to better the lives of the children and fund a new building for the
school.
Bergman re-teamed with Hitchcock again in 1946 for what is arguably one of Hitchcock's
greatest thrillers, "Notorious."
Howard, recreated the story of the original film. It tells the story of a renowned violin star
who falls in love with his daughter's piano teacher, played by Bergman. They run away
together in the throes of passion, but they struggle wondering if it can possibly last. The
movie showcased all of Bergman's innate acting talents, including her entire emotional
range and her natural charisma on screen. It was the perfect premiere to American
audiences, and they loved her immediately.
Her most famous film would come three years later with "Casablanca." In it, Bergman plays
Ilsa, a woman who returns unexpectedly into the life of Rick Blaine, her old flame from Paris.
Rick, played by Humphrey Bogart, runs a nightclub in Morocco. She's attempting to
escape Casablanca with her husband and Czech freedom fighter, Victor Laszlo, from the
clutches of the Nazi Gestapo. The film would go down in history as an ultimate classic, and
Bergman's most famous role, but not her favorite. Off screen, Bogart and Bergman had no
real association and to the end of her life, Bergman was constantly asked about
"Casablanca" more than any other picture.
With "Casablanca," Bergman entered a golden age and rode a successful wave, starring in
a number of memorable movies. The year after "Casablanca," Bergman starred with Gary
Cooper in "For Whom the Bell Tolls," a Technicolor adaptation of the Ernest Hemingway
novel in which Spanish anti-fascist freedom fighters fight against all odds in the mountains
and romance blossoms between Bergman and Cooper even in the midst of great suffering.
By this point, no role was beyond Bergman's capabilities. She soon starred in the 1944
George Cukor thriller, "Gaslight," as a woman who thinks she's being tormented by demons
from her past. Is she going insane? This Victorian-era suspense masterpiece paired
Bergman with Charles Boyer and allowed her to work with veteran thespian Joseph Cotten
in a role that proved her ability to show psychological distress and emotional extremes with
complete authenticity. She won an Academy Award for this role.
In 1945, Bergman was put in two very different roles. In "Spellbound," under the direction of
suspense master Alfred Hitchcock, Bergman plays a psychiatrist trying to aid Gregory Peck
in recovering his lost memory and determining if he really is a murdered or merely a victim
of horrible circumstances. Later that year, she starred alongside Bing Crosby in "The Bells
of St. Mary's," in which she plays a nun of a Catholic school in an amicable rivalry with a
priest as they both strive to better the lives of the children and fund a new building for the
school.
Bergman re-teamed with Hitchcock again in 1946 for what is arguably one of Hitchcock's
greatest thrillers, "Notorious."
| ABOVE: Ingrid Bergman in her most famous role, as Ilsa in "Casablanca," alongside Humphrey Bogart. BELOW: Bergman stars with Gary Cooper in "For Whom the Bell Tolls." |
In the film, Bergman plays a woman in love with an American agent, played by Cary Grant.
He coerces her into rekindling a relationship with a suspected Nazi fugitive in South
America. Soon, she is their spy on the inside, but can she survive the experience? At the
same time, Grant is in love with her and concerned for her safety. "Notorious" is not only
one of Hitchcock's best, but also one of Bergman's finest films.
Bergman would team up with Cooper again in "Saratoga Trunk" before doing a feature film,
"Joan of Arc," in 1948. The film was severely cut by the studio before its release and
panned as a result, a disappointment for Bergman as it was a very personal project for her.
Sadly, after this film marital problems in Bergman's personal life took a toll and soon she
was having an affair with Italian director Roberto Rossellini. In the midst of their affair, she
conceived a child out of wedlock and in the middle of divorce proceedings with her first
husband, Peter Lindstrom. The American public was appalled and she fell out of favor with
Hollywood for a time. During her unofficial exile, she made movies in Italy with Rossellini.
She returned to Hollywood in 1956 in the big budget drama, "Anastasia," in the legendary
story of the lost Russian princess returned to claim her birthright. The film won her a
second Oscar. Interestingly, her marriage to Rossellini was crumbling as rapidly as her
popularity was rekindled in the United States.
He coerces her into rekindling a relationship with a suspected Nazi fugitive in South
America. Soon, she is their spy on the inside, but can she survive the experience? At the
same time, Grant is in love with her and concerned for her safety. "Notorious" is not only
one of Hitchcock's best, but also one of Bergman's finest films.
Bergman would team up with Cooper again in "Saratoga Trunk" before doing a feature film,
"Joan of Arc," in 1948. The film was severely cut by the studio before its release and
panned as a result, a disappointment for Bergman as it was a very personal project for her.
Sadly, after this film marital problems in Bergman's personal life took a toll and soon she
was having an affair with Italian director Roberto Rossellini. In the midst of their affair, she
conceived a child out of wedlock and in the middle of divorce proceedings with her first
husband, Peter Lindstrom. The American public was appalled and she fell out of favor with
Hollywood for a time. During her unofficial exile, she made movies in Italy with Rossellini.
She returned to Hollywood in 1956 in the big budget drama, "Anastasia," in the legendary
story of the lost Russian princess returned to claim her birthright. The film won her a
second Oscar. Interestingly, her marriage to Rossellini was crumbling as rapidly as her
popularity was rekindled in the United States.
| Cary Grant supports an ill Ingrid Bergman in Alfred Hitchcock's "Notorious." |
This success would continue with another very personal project for
Bergman, "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness," in 1958 which tells the
true story of a woman who goes to China as a missionary only to
find herself trying to save orphans in a small village from the
Japanese invasion.
Soon after, Bergman found much success on the London stage and
in television. Bergman continued to pursue acting, earning her third
Academy Award in the 1974 murder-mystery, "Murder On the Orient
Express." Her relationships continued to be rocky. The next year,
she divorced her third husband, Lars Schmidt, a Swedish producer.
By this time, the aging actress discovered she had breast cancer.
However, that did not stop her from continuing to act, which was
according to her daughter, Pia Lindstrom, at a recent Turner
Classic Movie film festival in Athens, Georgia, the only time
Bergman was happy in life. She was an actress indelibly linked to
the world of drama.
Her final film paired her with another famous Bergman, director
Ingmar Bergman, in the 1978 movie "Autumn Sonata." The film is
oddly reflective of Bergman's own life. She plays an aging mother
who has been estranged from her daughters for many years and
goes to visit them in an emotional rediscovery. Bergman herself
was often removed from her children, wrapped up in her career and
her failed relationships.
In 1982, after winning an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her final
performance in the miniseries, "A Woman Called Golda," Bergman
died of cancer.
Bergman, "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness," in 1958 which tells the
true story of a woman who goes to China as a missionary only to
find herself trying to save orphans in a small village from the
Japanese invasion.
Soon after, Bergman found much success on the London stage and
in television. Bergman continued to pursue acting, earning her third
Academy Award in the 1974 murder-mystery, "Murder On the Orient
Express." Her relationships continued to be rocky. The next year,
she divorced her third husband, Lars Schmidt, a Swedish producer.
By this time, the aging actress discovered she had breast cancer.
However, that did not stop her from continuing to act, which was
according to her daughter, Pia Lindstrom, at a recent Turner
Classic Movie film festival in Athens, Georgia, the only time
Bergman was happy in life. She was an actress indelibly linked to
the world of drama.
Her final film paired her with another famous Bergman, director
Ingmar Bergman, in the 1978 movie "Autumn Sonata." The film is
oddly reflective of Bergman's own life. She plays an aging mother
who has been estranged from her daughters for many years and
goes to visit them in an emotional rediscovery. Bergman herself
was often removed from her children, wrapped up in her career and
her failed relationships.
In 1982, after winning an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her final
performance in the miniseries, "A Woman Called Golda," Bergman
died of cancer.
| ABOVE: Bergman and Yul Brynner in "Anastasia." BELOW: Bergman in "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness." |
| More information on Ingrid Bergman's life and career can be accessed at http://www.cmgww.com/stars/bergman/about/bio.htm. |