Welcome to the latest issue and to the SPRING!  This is a great time for Ingrid fans – we remember in “Intermezzo” how she hummed “The Rustle of Spring” as she and Leslie Howard watched the last ice of winter being swept away by the river; how she then played the piece on the piano with such passion that Thomas Stenborg criticised her, saying that she was playing it as if it were “the climax of a great symphony”. For her, it epitomised her new-found love for the violinist Holger Brandt [Leslie Howard].

It’s also in the title of Ingrid’s lovely film “A Walk In the Spring Rain”.

Going back to “Intermezzo”, the last time it was aired on a satellite channel here was after a repeat of “Ingrid Remembered” and, I quote, it gave it as “starring” Edna Best and Leslie Howard –no mention of Ingrid! And no comment from me!

In the “Radio Times” for January 20^th there was a feature “Teach Yourself Ingrid Bergman”. Each week they feature a film star thus – though it’s usually one of the many modern “stars”, who all blur together in my mind – and probably in most of yours too. Occasionally they feature an all time great – we have had Cary Grant, Gary Gooper etc. I was waiting for Ingrid. Now, when they have at last featured her, they have made the inevitable mistakes. One rather funny example is her first film, which is named as: “The Count of the Old Monk’s Bridge” –being an amalgamation of the two titles under which it was known! It states that Ingrid’s father was a “struggling artist” – I let that go, for he was indeed an artist, but his photographic shop was successful and I think the description was not accurate. Worse, though, is what is written under the sub-heading “Scandals” [note it’s in the plural!]. The article bluntly states that, after her marriage to Lars Schmidt, Ingrid had “flings” with Omar Sharif, Yul Brynner and Larry Adler. I wrote a letter to the “Radio Times”, putting them right about these invidious suggestions. I mentioned that Ingrid did have a brief affair with Larry Adler in 1945,and that this was, obviously, before she met Roberto Rossellini. I also stated categorically that she did NOT have “flings” with either Yul Brynner or Omar Sharif. This letter was intended to inform the public  as to the truth about Ingrid – needless to say, they didn’t bother to publish it.

ARCH OF TRIUMPH

Ingrid was featured in the above mentioned “Teach Yourself” series, because “Arch of Triumph” is being shown this week on BBC 2. The “Radio Times” itself has this comment on the film:

“This adaptation of an Erich Maria Remarque bestseller was a costly failure. There’s no chemistry between stars Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer, most of Charles Laughton’s scenes must have ended up on the cutting rooom floor because he’s so bad as a Nazi, the overall pace is deadly, and the re-creation of Paris is totally without atmosphere” Thank you very much TS, whoever you are!!!!!!!

The “Daily Mail” is kinder and gives the film three stars [quite unusual here, where five stars are almost unheard of and, of Ingrid’s films, only given to “Casablanca”]:

“Lewis Milestone, director of “All Quiet On The Western Front”   returned to the work of Erich Maria Remarque for this melancholy tale of two displaced people living on borrowed time in Paris just before the Occupations, Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman head a flawless cast.”  And:

“Some evocative images of Paris just before the outbreak of World War II provide a stunning backdrop for the melancholy romance between poetic Austrian refugee Charles Boyer and a luminous young Ingrid Bergman.”

[My italics at the end!!!!]

MY LETTER TO THE DAILY MAIL

At the beginning of March I wrote the following letter [and sent the accompanying photography] to the Daily Mail and it was published! Photos of Madonna without make-up had been printed in the paper, alongside one of her in full “war paint”. She looked like a different person and this prompted me to write, contrasting her with Ingrid:

Sir,

The photographs of Madonna, looking a fright without make-up [Mail, Monday March 19th] only serve to show that today's so-called "stars" need lashings of mascara, false eyelashes, eye liner, the works, to make them look beautiful. Is that true beauty? In the photo of Madonna wearing all her make-up she looks like a different person.

Look at the late, great, Ingrid Bergman! She had a natural, glowing beauty, which needed no make-up. My photograph shows her in 1957, at 42 [Madonna's age], having had four children, including twins. Here she is on holiday in Italy with all of them, Pia, [then aged 19], Robertino, seven, and the twins, Isabella {left} and Ingrid, five. Miss Bergman was recognisable anywhere, because she rarely wore any make-up and was just herself.

Yours faithfully,

Mary Hutchings

Wellington, Somerset.

AT LAST – A PICTURE OF INGRID IN “ANNA CHRISTIE”! DANIEL HENDLER WON THE PHOTO ON EBAY AND THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT:

Well, it happens t I won that ebay auction, and I was really interested, because at the very first view of the picture I had the same feeling that it was taken from "Anna Christie". In fact, it is a very big photo and in the reverse it can be read "San Francisco, August 1941". That seems to confirm that it IS an original photo from that production, indeed. The play opened at the Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, California on July 30-31 and August 1-2, 1941. Later on was performed at the Curran Theatre, San Francisco, August 4, 1941 (the photo was probably taken then) and in September it was finally seen at the Maplewood Theatre, Maplewood, New Jersey. Donald Spoto refers to that particular performance in San Francisco on page 116 of his book "Notorious". Quote: "During the run of the play at the Curran Theater, San Francisco, Ingrid received an invitation from Carlotta Monterey O'Neill to join the playwright for Sunday lunch at Tao House, his home on a great cliff overlooking the ocean. 'He took me to his study', Ingrid remembered, 'and he had nine plays lying around. He was going to do his famous saga of an American family through one hundred fifty years - a cycle about America's growth and especially its greed, how we ruin our lives with greed'. O'Neill then said he wanted Ingrid to be part of a repertory company, in which she and the other players would appear in one city in one role and another in the next. But when he said this project would require a six-year commitment, the conversation went no further. Her obligations to Selznick could not be ignored, nor would she wish to do so". Some twenty five years later, she would appear on a posthumous production of O'Neill's "More Stately Mansions", closing a circle that had been left opened for about a quarter of a century.
I will try to scan this picture to the club albums, so that everybody will enjoy it.
Best regards, Daniel.

A VERY SPECIAL EXPERIENCE!

Ariana went to see “Notorious” on the big screen in Hollywood and here is her lively account of the great occasion. I think the pieces about the home movies are particularly fascinating.

I went to go see "Notorious" on the big screen this past Thursday .I would like to tell you about my experience in seeing it.

I got to the theatre about fifteen minutes before the film was supposed to begin.My mom bought me a soda and some nachos.When I entered the screening room,my eyes popped wide open.It was the most beautiful theatres' I had ever seen.It looked like those old movie palaces.There was a big balcony,and two box balconies.The theatre was packed by the time the film was going to begin.There was going to be a panel discussion about "Notorious". There were four people.Hitchcock's daughter,Patricia,was there.The author of the book "Memo From ,David O.Selznick" and another author of the book "Hitchcock At Work".They were just discussing about the making of the film.Patricia Hitchcock said that "Notorious" was her favorite film.One of the authors,who was the host of the discussion,said that Disney Co. will be releasing a new DVD version of the film.

Before the film began,they showed some home movies that were taken at RKO Studios during the making of the film.The home movies were in color,but only lasted 90 seconds.There was Ingrid,Cary Grant,Hitchcock,and even Gregory Peck on the short movies.Ingrid was seen walking with Hitchcock and a group of people.She was also walking around with Cary.Throughout the home movie Ingrid had a serious expression on her face.She grinned once to the camera,but never showed her beautiful smile.To me she looked different,because probably I don't see her often in color.

The film began with the original RKO Studios mark of that radio antenna,that Selznick trademark didn't come up.When Cary and Ingrid's name appeared the audience began clapping.The audience clapped several times during the film.People laughed at parts that I didn't think funny till now.Everyone was roaring with laughter when Ingrid was cutting the chicken in her apartment.People were on the edge of their seats,gasping, during the scene where Ingrid and Cary kiss outside the wine cellar.I think that everyone was glad about what was going to happen to Claude Rains at the end.The film's sound and picture were restored.Some scenes on my video cassette of "Notorious" have like scratches and dark spots on them that pop every time.In the film that was shown there is nothing like that.I could also hear stuff that the characters are saying that I never heard before.There was also a clip added to the film.When Cary comes back the next morning after the party Ingrid threw in Miami,he tells her about the I.G. Farben Industries that is in Brazil.This clip was cut out of the film in it's original release.And it is the first time that it has been shown in the film.I think the Farben group had something to do with the Nazi's during World War 2.

When me and my mom got out of the theatre,she began asking me questions about the film's MacGuffin.Which is of course, the uranium ore in the wine bottles.She wanted to know what it was used for,what it is,and so forth.I began laughing and said to her ,"Ma,forget about the uranium.That isn't what the film is about.It's really a love story."


                                                      Best Regards,
                                                     Ariana Guerrero

 

DEEP INSIGHT INTO SOME OF INGRID’S GREATEST FILMS, BY SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A FAN FOR LONGER THAN MOST OF US: DIANE BONACCI.

         Before I speak about her films, I want to say that the mere
presence of
Ingrid Bergman in a  movie - any movie - fascinates me. I have never
missed seeing any of her American films.  After a few moments of any one
of her movies,
the viewer becomes an ardent fan. I never met anyone who didn't love her.
         Ingrid has an irresistible power to capture her audience, not
 mentioning her alluring qualities which make her extremely interesting
 and charming. She is statuesque -  tall and slender, possessing royal dignity.
         The following are only  ten of her movies I will comment on.
These are
 my views and mine alone.       

 


 
> 1.  THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS;    This is a splendid film for the
> whole family to see and appreciate.  Shot in Wales, Ingrid, as usual,
> captures her audience. Her beauty, charming manner and  magnetic
> presence are evident throughout this film.  Ingrid has a marvelous cast
> to work with, which includes Robert Donat (Award winner for Goodbye Mr.
> Chips). He is superb as The Mandarin. It is  a pleasure to see these two
> great stars perform together (Donat died after the completion of this
> film). Curt Jurgens is outstanding and, I might add, one of Ingrid's
> best leading men. The finale is compelling.  I would also go so far as
> to say that this is Ingrid's best film ever!!!!  Despite the fact that
> tall, regal Ingrid has the role of Gladys Aylward, the "small one" - Who
> Cares?!!!!   I vote this the best picture and the best musical score for 1958.
>        
>
> 2.  ANASTASIA;    This is another splendid film. Excellently acted, the
> cast includes Helen Hayes and Yul Brynner.  It is absorbing to watch
> Hayes and Bergman perform together.  In this beautiful movie, there is a
> scene where Ingrid Bergman,  as Anastasia, is trying to convince Helen
> Hayes, who plays her Grandmama, that she  is her granddaughter. The
> electricity between these two women, especially in this climatic scene,
> is never to be forgotten. I am mesmerized seeing these pros at work.
>         I especially enjoyed watching Yul and Ingrid dance together.  Ingrid
> wore exceptionally  beautiful costumes.  Does she look like royalty?
> Indeed she does.  Ingrid was born to play Anastasia which won her a
> second Academy Award in 1956.
>
>
> 3. JOAN OF ARC:  I love this movie because the story is built around
> Joan. Ingrid had always wanted to do Joan of Arc, and it truly became
> her show. This is a stupendous film and Ingrid is a radiant Joan - her
> body is boyish and tall, her legs slim and long. Ingrid gives an
> extremely moving performance. The Joan of Arc in this film is
> historically accurate. There are schools today that use Ingrid's Joan of
> Arc in their classroom  because of its accuracy.  Much of the credit
> goes to Ingrid as she was very careful about having the history of Joan
> correctly portrayed. To me that is very important. Released in 1948,
> some critics called this a bad film, saying it was dull. Because of WWII
> and its effects, the producers were unable to film on location in
> France, thus it was made on the studio lot and one set piece followed
> another. Perhaps that made it "dull" to them.
>         It pleased me to see Ingrid's name come up first in huge letters
> covering the entire screen.  Then the title of the film followed.  Thank
> you, Director Victor Fleming - But then of course,  he was in love with
> Ingrid.  Is there anybody that isn't? Today this film is considered a
> classic.  Ingrid was nominated for an Academy Award for "Joan"  but
> didn't win.  I would have definitely given her the Best Actress Award. 
>
>
> 4. SARATOGA TRUNK;  Saratoga is not too far from where I live in Upstate
> New York, so it was very interesting for me to hear of the cities along
> the railroad trunk line that Gary Cooper (Clint Maroon) helped combine
> against his rivals. Ingrid played a notorious woman  (Clio Dulane) who
> comes back to New Orleans and falls for a Texas gambler (Cooper).  I
> just love Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman together.  Their electricity
> is evident in every scene.  I especially loved the scene where they were
> sitting at the dining table saying nothing, just staring at one another.
> She, in a beautiful, white gown and he in a handsome white cowboy
> outfit, sitting there with his long legs sprawled out, looking at her
> adoringly.  What chemistry! What love!
>         The reviews in 1945 were not favorable, however.  Those who did the
> reviews should review the film again to see if the criticism is still
> valid.  I'm sure it would be different.  At that time, and also today, I
> would rate this film high on my list of Ingrid films.  Ingrid's beauty
> aside, her talent was evident in scene after scene.  She was
> sad, mean, witty, snobbish, flirtatious, delightfully funny,  loving,
> tender, sorrowful, distressed, happy, etc. You name it, she was all
> those things and more. -And so convincing. She made her character come
> alive!   What an actress!!  I have watched Saratoga Trunk many times. 
>
>
> 5. INDISCREET:     I could watch this movie five times a day - Ingrid's
> first comedy role. 
> She and Cary Grant , true professionals, make this 1958  romantic comedy
> a big hit. 
> Grant is another perfect leading man for Ingrid. They certainly are a
> handsome couple.   I love the  beautiful clothes Ingrid wears in this
> movie and also the London setting of the story.  Ingrid is a charming
> comedienne.  I got a big kick out of her line: 
> "How dare he make love to  me and not be a married  man!"   
>  Another was: 
> "I  am the wrong-get-ist women'.   Cecil Parker and Phyllis Calvert are
> perfect in their parts and  extremely entertaining.  David Kossoff and Megs Jenkins
> were also excellent as the Chauffeur and the Maid/Housekeeper.  With a
> small cast and the story taken from the stage play, "Kind Sir," you needed the
>  beautifuland talented Ingrid Bergman to carry it on film.  Co-starring her with
> Cary Grant made it even more enjoyable and entertaining.  This is my
> favorite Ingrid comedy!
>
>
> 6. NOTORIOUS:    I love this Hitchcock movie thriller, as I always love
> Ingrid with Cary Grant.  It's hard to say how this pair got past the
> censors in 1946  when they engaged in a protracted kissing scene.  It
> was the most beautiful kissing scene I have ever witnessed in my entire
> life. No kissing scene, especially today, can compare to it.  It was
> brilliantly done. ( I wrote extensively on this particular scene and
> posted it on the Bergmania site earlier. Be sure to read it!).  Madame
> Konstantin was excellent in her part as Ingrid's mother-in-law.  But,
> please, deliver me from Claude Rains. He was an excellent actor, no
> question about it, but to have Ingrid married to him, is hard to take
> (despite the fact she married him only to spy on him). I would  liked to
> have seen Louis Calhern, the Head Government Agent,  take Claude Rains'
> part as the Nazi Spy and Claude Rains take Louis Calhern's part. 
>         The scene that impressed me so much was when Claude Rains introduced
> Ingrid to his Nazi colleagues  This was a unique handkissing scene.
> Watching the faces of  each of these men  kiss Ingrid's hand was worth
> the whole movie.  Under Hitchcock's brilliant direction, the camera
> focused only on each man's face as he kissed Ingrid's hand.  A beautiful
> scene, brilliantly done. Ingrid's performance in this was one of  her
> best works!
>
> 7.  FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS:    There is a lot of dialogue which some
> would find hard to take today in this 1943 movie about the Spanish
> loyalists in the civil war of 1936-39. But if you are an Ingrid Bergman
> fan, it would not matter to you in the least. Gary Cooper is my favorite
> leading man for Ingrid.  They were excellent together in this movie.
> Ingrid was young - a  28-year-old  -  a glowing beauty in her first
> technicolor film.  -And her famous short haircut added to the full
> impact of her beauty.
> I love watching this film  because there are many poignant moments
> between the two stars . Ingrid's farewell scene to her lover was
> shattering to watch .  As "Maria"  she is forced to leave her lover
> "Roberto"  (it seems to me I've heard that name before),  because he had
> been shot in the leg and was unable to ride his horse.  Ingrid's acting
> was something wonderful to see.  She was nominated for an Academy Award.
> 
>
>        
> 8.  BELLS OF ST.  MARY''S:       Ingrid brings extraordinary versatility
> to this  role of a nun.   Yes, even as a nun, Ingrid  is radiantly
> beautiful.   I just love watching Ingrid, as Sister Benedict, coach a
> frail  boy in the  manly art of self-defense. This movie, released in
> 1945, is one of my favorite Ingrid films because the viewer looks
> forward to every scene. There  is never a dull moment.  Also I list it
> among my favorites because it is a movie for the whole family.  A
> classic today, "Bells" is played in the US every year during the
> yuletide season.  The tradition keeps Ingrid Bergman's memory alive in
> the minds of youngsters and thereby her legend will always live on.  
>        
> 9.  CASABLANCA:     I have watched this film many many times.  I can
> turn off the sound and do the lines myself.  I 'm  not a Humphrey Bogart
> fan, but I  must admit Bogie was excellent as Rick, the cafe owner, who
> was madly in love with Ilsa, played by Ingrid Bergman.  The role of
> Ilsa, however, is another story.  An actress had to be perfect for this
> role, and so it  was that only Ingrid Bergman could play Ilsa and make
> the movie the huge success that it became. Ingrid was only 27 when she
> played Ilsa., She played the role with all her appealing beauty and
> authority, illuminating every scene in which she appeared.  Every man
> that looked at Ilsa was awed by her radiance.  I defy anyone to name any
> other actress with comparable qualities! 
>         We Bergman fans are certainly lucky!  Of all the gin joints in all the
> towns in all the world, Ingrid walked into this one.  It was named  the
> Best Picture of 1943 and, since then, has become one of the cult Super
> Classics of  the American cinema!      
>
> 10.  GASLIGHT:  Ingrid's performance in this - another of my favorite
> films - is riveting. 
> Yet it is a movie that I both love and hate at the same time.
> I love it  because I enjoy seeing Ingrid in anything.  I hate it because I did not like
> watching her being driven mad by her husband, played by Charles Boyer.
> Ingrid plays her sympathetic and emotional role with such force the viewer is totally
>  engrossed. I  was amused at  the numerous times Boyer kept raising his eyebrows, not      
>  mentioning the way he pronounced the name of the maid, "Nancy", played by Angela Lansbury. 
> It always came out sounding like, "Na'cy".  It was a pleasure seeing him go off to jail at the
> end of the movie. I would like to have seen James Mason play Ingrid's husband.
> -And  would also liked to have seen more of Joseph Cotton.
>         Ingrid won her first Academy Award in 1944 for her superb performance
> in this movie. Well deserved.
>
>                                 ----------------------------
>
>
>  I  must stop now, I've just run out of loving  adjectives and glorious superlatives!
>
> Diane C. Bonacci
> Syracuse, NYN

I hope you all enjoy reading these original and refreshing comments on Ingrid’s films. They give us a lot to think about.

Thank you for Ingrid fans who contributed to this issue. The critiques of the various films express the authors’ views. I am merely the editor. We do need more contributions, more original thoughts on Ingrid’s eventful  life and her thought-provoking films, so please keep e-mailing them to me.

My new e-mail address is: Mary@ingrid67.freeserve.co.uk

QUOTE OF THE QUARTER:

“She’s an angel…..Brother, she is bulletproof. There has never been another figure like her before the camera”

Victor Fleming, during the filming of “Joan of Arc”