EDITORIAL  FROM MARY

 

This Summer edition has been deliberately delayed until I returned from my adventure to North Wales, scene of the locations for “The Inn of the Sixth Happiness”. I spent a very happy and fruitful week there, finding actual locations and talking with people who were involved in the production. John Pritchard, who acted as Security Officer for Fox at the Sygun Copper Mine location, and his wife Olive, gave a whole afternoon to tell me about the filming. Olive gave me a shallow rice basket, which I am sure was handled by Ingrid – it was used in the scene on the mountain journey where they arrive at Pei Chu and find that it has been burned and the people have fled. But they do find a little rice from which to make soup. Both John and Olive told me some fascinating stories and I intend to incorporate them in my article. I shall now be able to write it, although I wasn’t able to finish all my researches. The cottage in which we stayed was just under the hillside where the walls of WangCheng were built and the view from the living room was across the valley where the Japanese bombers flew in. What an atmospheric place to live for a week!  I have added six new photos to my Snowdonia, North Wales album on my briefcase – do have a look at them.

I hope you will all enjoy this edition of Chronicle. Thanks again to Matt and to all our loyal contributors. Some people think the Internet is “impersonal”, but  I disagree. During the past three years I have made some firm friends over the Internet and have found that it is an ideal medium in which to keep Ingrid’s memory alive. Our Yahoo club is very lively and remains respectful to Ingrid. I would like to welcome all of the new members and I hope that they will come to Matt’s page and read Chronicle.

 

In case I have not been able to complete the Autumn edition by AUGUST 29^th, let us all set this INGRID DAY aside for something special: perhaps watching a favourite Ingrid film and meeting on the Yahoo messenger!!!!!!  Here I must also thank Pat Webb for creating a special stationery of The Ingrid Rose - -please use it for your e-mails on INGRID DAY.  [You can download it from Pat’s briefcase on our Yahoo club]

 

NEWS

 

We send our sympathy to Pia Lindstrom on the death of her father, Dr Petter Lindstrom, at his home at Sonoma, northern California, on May 24^th. He was 93.

 

Pia Lindstrom is now back working in television, after an absence of a few years. She is working on Fox’s “Good Day New York” as their theatre reviewer.  We send our congratulations to Pia and Jack Carley, who will marry this summer.

 

Isabella Rossellini has appeared on television in “Don Quixote”, but her great triumph this year has been the launch of her own cosmetics range, Manifesto. This is now available in Britain, exclusively from Harvey Nichols. If anyone would like information about mail order, please e-mail me. It’s a very practical range. I have bought two shades of the eye-lip- cheek colour: everything in one pot and there’s a useful mirror set in the base of the pot!

 

We still don’t know when “Hedda Gabler” and “The Human Voice” will be released on video, but it should be sometime this year.

 

There has been some discussion about a complete version of “Joan of Arc” being released on video and some of us have e-mailed AMC TV asking them to restore the film to its full glory and show it on television. Apparently over an hour is missing and it’s mainly the trial scene. This is a terrible desecration of good Ingrid acting – even in the one hundred minute version, which I own, the trial scene shows Ingrid’s acting at its very best. So we must continue to campaign for the restoration of the complete version of Ingrid’s great triumph. As Margaret Walsh has pointed out, Ingrid researched this role deeply and knew so much about Joan, which she asked to be incorporated in the movie. It should, therefore, be a priority for Ingrid fans to get it released in its original version, to the glory of Ingrid’s memory.

 

Walther Mathau, Ingrid’s co-star in “Cactus Flower” died on July 1^st, 2000, aged 79. He and Ingrid made an excellent team in this, one of Ingrid’s great comedy performances.

Sir John Gielgud, great British actor, died earlier this year and his infamous quotation about Ingrid was raked up in the press again: “Ingrid Bergman, a lovely lady who could speak five languages, but couldn’t act in any of them”. He was well-known for his waspish, barbed remarks, so we can only assume that he was joking. If he wasn’t – he was WRONG !!!!!!!!!

 

LUCY’S VISIT TO GATLINGBURG AND THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS: July 1999

EXCLUSIVE!

 

In Gatlinburg we went to the INN to see a lady named Wilma. Wilma Maples is her name and her husband who is deceased ( I assumed) built the inn in 1937. It looks lovely outside but looks very old but well kept inside. When we pulled into the parking lot an officer walked out and asked if we were booking a room...I jumped out of the explorer and said "I'm here to see Wilma". He looked at me and said, OH, OK. See, it is so crowded there people take advantage of any parking space they can get. Anyway, I was surprised he let me go and Steve stay parked there but he did. Well, when I walk in the place, I was kinda scared. These two little old ladies were working behind the desk and I asked to speak with Wilma thinking one of them were her, BUT NO, she inquired who I was and I told her it was about Ingrid and the movie "A WALK IN THE SPRING RAIN". She grabbed a bell and dinged it very hard and then said if she didnt answer she'd knock on her door. I was even more scared! She came right out of this room adjacent to the registery desk and asked if she could help me. Well I introduced myself and went straight to the facts about the movie. She was a very nice, sophisticated, elegant looking older lady, Mary. I started explaining why I needed this information and about my friend in England. She disappointed me at first saying Ingrid didnt stay at her INN but thought they had rented houses. Then she said "but I did meet her several times as they had several shots of the INN in the movie.!! I about died!! She also had a picture of Ingrid on her wall of celebrities who have stayed in the INN which had an inscription on it to Mrs. Maples. It was truly cool, Mary. She told me of a place where the movie was shot as well, that is called "CADES COVE". I begged Steve to take me there and Wilma even told me the name of the house to look for that Ingrid used as the house for her and her writer husband. It took us back over the mountains that we had just traveled through but a different route and he was getting very anxious and tired by now. We had already been to the Cherokee Indian Reservation that day and most of the day was gone. His intention was to really head on home. But once I found more information out, he let me have my way....bless him!! I was so excited!! I have to rewatch the movie to make sure of the sites I took pictues of. You know the one of the church and the funeral site? I was shooting away on the first church but found two more. And after seeing the third one, I thought that looked like it. I was frantic!! I am not sure either if I got the cabin that AQ lived in either. Some cabins were 1/4 to /2 mile trails to see them. Everyone was so tired we didnt want to walk all of them not sure. Cade Cove is a community type setting which is now an historical site for tourist. I am surprised they let Hollywood use it for a movie. I dont know the details there and never will but not near all of the houses are not in existence now from the early times because of the Civil War. I'm mixing the story here a bit but it does have a neat history to the small community. And Cade Cove is spread out so the acreage is quite a bit, not everyone is piled together. The early roads are still there as well. I'm sure you would have loved it.In the backround of this precious valley was the Smoky Mountains. It was truly lovely. I told Steve while driving us down the old roads....If Mary were here she'd be up there on your shoulders!! HA!

Lucy Trapp, Indiana, USA.  July 1999

 

What a fantastic and unique account from Lucy!!!! Thank you very much for sharing this experience with us. There’s a bit more about Lucy’s escapade in Gatlinburg, but I shall save it for next time!!!!!

 

 

INGRID’S” JOAN OF ARC” AND” THE MESSENGER” – A Comparison, by Margaret Walsh

 

Almost without exception, most films about Joan of Arc can be classed in one of two categories: those that follow closely the documents that are extant regarding the Maid and those that do not. The funny thing is that critics don’t like either one!

Luc Besson’s recent film which is called the Messenger in the US takes many liberties with the facts. Joan’s sister Catherine is murdered and raped afterwards; little Joan raids the tabernacle in her neighborhood church; her sword falls from heaven in a field; Joan’s firm conviction that her voices came from God and that her mission was inspired by Him appear less than clear at the end. Nevertheless, not being a documentary, the film has merit and is often moving and beautiful. Critics are taking delight in trashing it for the most part with special emphasis on trouncing Ms Jovovich, her lack of acting ability and even her looks.

In the US, Ingrid’s Joan hardly fared any better. Yet, she personally cajoled Wanger and Fleming into abandoning the Maxwell Anderson play-within-a-play framework, insisting that the entire film be based on historical documents and on Joan’s own words... much more so than the Besson film. Ingrid’s need to be true to her beloved Joan, whom she had admired from childhood, ultimately spelled doom for the film and for its company. Had her co-workers complied with all of her requests the results may have been different. Ingrid wanted to film in France; she preferred looking appropriately dirty and disheveled after the battle scenes. She fought for realism but that was not the Hollywood way! Critics unfairly compared Joan’s simple battle cries with those of Shakespeare’s Henry V. I have no doubt that Henry’s language on the battlefield never remotely resembled the Great Bard’s whereas Ingrid’s Joan was mouthing the very words that Joan used but the reviewers did not know it.

The Hollywood film from beginning to end adhered closely to the authentic Joan of Arc. Just about all of Joan’s deeds are recorded accurately. Most important of all, Ingrid, being herself a deeply spiritual person, knew instinctively that the essence of Saint Joan was her devotion to her God first and foremost and that is the way Ingrid played her role. Unfortunately, hearing voices, mystical experiences, praying, in a word, the spiritual dimension presents a threat to those critics who cringe at appearing less than realistic and modern.

Ingrid’s Joan of Arc was very well-received in France where movie-goers were familiar with the story. In fact, the French loved Ingrid for her portrayal of their patroness as Ingrid points out in her autobiography. She relates that every time she arrived in France, the French greeted her with: "Welcome home, Jeanne d’ Arc!"

Margaret Walsh

 

 

 

PERSONAL THOUGHTS ON “A WOMAN CALLED GOLDA” by Lucy Trapp

“A Woman Called Golda was supposed to be on again today and I found it on Encore which was only listed on the channel as True...well that is why I couldnt find it before. I did get it all recorded and was so happy I even found it and thought she was marvelous. although I knew of her condition. I think she played the part wonderfully although she didnt look so young and beautiful as all like her to be. I think she had a statement involed with this movie and I even think she had more than one as a matter of fact. I adored her dignity and state of being and what she stood for. I also applauded her for showing another side of her besides the glamour, she was always in the spotlight for her acting and that’s what she wanted most...to act!!! I still cant put my finger on it completely but yet I was thinking about it all through the movie. I am so happy I got to see it !! Do you understand? I feel it was about cancer and the end of her life as well as the woman Golda herself and the story behind that. I just felt so touched by it all that I can’t explain it. She was just wonderful, and true to heart. I just can’t explain it all. I also felt she wanted to say "good-bye" because she knew it was her time. Even if I am wrong, that is ok because I know what I felt. You have been following her a long time and maybe can see more into it than myself. What do you think? “

 

The above personal thoughts form part of an e-mail that Lucy sent to me. I felt her sentiments came so spontaneously from the heart that I wanted to include them in Chronicle.

 

AND FINALLY….We have a new member who lives in The People’s Republic of China. Her name is Xu Min. Here is a gem of information from a recent e-mail she sent me:

 

“Thank you for telling me the meaning of the "sixth happiness", now I know in fact the sixth happiness is LOVE. I heard of the "Five happinesses" , however, I can only remember three of them: long life, wealth and good luck. Nowadays, they are seldom talked of. I think if there is a happiness required to be added after the five happinesses, it must be LOVE!!! So, I think the title is absolutely right!!! "Jen Ai" in Chinese means "the true love" or "treasure". I didn't see the film, maybe the translation you got is acceptable.”

 

Min has now seen the film – about three times, I think! I sent her a copy, as I feel it’s a film she just HAD to see!!!!!

CHOICE OF POEM. Sonnet LXXX1 by William Shakespeare. Ingrid will be remembered when all of us are long forgotten.

 

Or I shall live your epitaph to make,

Or you survive when I in earth am rotten;

From hence your memory death cannot take,

Although in me each part will be forgotten.

Your name from hence immortal life shall have,

Though I, once gone, to all the world must die:

The earth can yield me but a common grave,

When you entombed in men’s eyes shall lie.

Your monument shall be my gentle verse,

Which eyes not yet created shall o’er-read;

And tongues to be your being shall rehearse,

When all the breathers of this world are dead;

You still shall live, - such virtue hath my pen-

Where breath most breathes, - even in the mouths of men.

 

I have taken the liberty of underlining the words which, I think, are most relevant to Ingrid and her immortality. Apologies to Shakespeare – I don’t think he would have minded!

 

I hope you all enjoy reading this Summer edition of The Ingrid Chronicle. If you would like to submit an article for a future edition please e-mail it to me;similarly if you have any comments on this magazine, please send them to me – Mary.   mhutchings@abling.co.uk