From The Editor:

From England our sympathy goes out to all Americans following the senseless and evil terrorist attacks on September 11^th. All I can say is that we are one hundred per cent with the USA and will do all we can to prevent any more of these vile acts. As Ingrid fans, we can think about her final, great role as Golda Meir, who was, along with Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, one of the strongest and most charismatic leaders of the twentieth century. Despite having to face war in Israel, she dearly wanted lasting peace. Her dream has yet to be fulfilled. May I also say, that our hearts are with our friends in Israel, especially one friend, who is a member of our Yahoo club.

NEWS OF PIA LINDSTROM:  Contributed by Michelle Fryou

PIA TO MODERATE AT CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN THE ARTS/MEDIA

Professional Women Dedicate Confab to Arts/Media Ageism

Earlier this year, Elsa Rael, president of the New York Coalition of Professional Women in the Arts & Media, conceived an idea for the group's first all-day conference: a realistic look at how today's older women can continue to flourish professionally in a society that places so much value in being young. To produce the conference, Rael turned to one of the coalition's board members, Shari Upbin, an experienced theatre producer, who has helped the organization realize VINTAge 2001. As Upbin tells it, the gathering scheduled for Sat., Oct. 13, at John Jay College Theater will actually be more than a conference. It will be a mission.

When Rael, who Upbin calls "my mentor," asked her to take the confab's production reins, "I started to do some research on the subject of ageism in arts and media," recalls Upbin. "I was shocked to find that so many of our older actors, directors, writers weren't getting work. Having been a dancer and choreographer, I knew about how we dancers had to reinvent ourselves as we got older, because the body does tricks on us. But I found that so many actresses were not getting parts; then there got to be not enough roles, and prejudices on the parts of TV producers and the people who make decisions. I found that people were shockingly defined by age rather than experience and ability."

Her research also showed that by 2014, "for the first time in the world there will be more older people than younger," and, Upbin feels, a change in attitude has already started to rise. "The older baby boomers are feeling the effects and saying, 'Hey, we're not going to take this any more. We're not going to the movies and see Sean Connery with a teenybopper. We're tired of that.' And I think the younger people are getting tired of it as well. A reality check is what this is all about."

VINTAge 2001 will assure that reality check as professionals, ranging from stars to executives, gather for programs covering topics such as positive solutions to ageism; career changes; significance of image; health concerns; and attaining financial stability.

The day-long gathering will feature a gallery of entertainment's elite veterans. Valerie Harper will be the day's guest speaker; Pia Lindstrom will moderate. The plethora of panelists will include Phyllis Newman, Jane Powell, Marian Seldes, Tisa Chang, Donna McKechnie, Gretchen Cryer, Frances Sternhagen, Tovah Feldsuh, Eileen Fulton, Graziella Danielle, Micki Grant, Lynn Ahrens, Richard Dubin, and Carol Hall.

Whew! At press time, Upbin even got the word that Lainie Kazan would bring her silver voice to entertain.

Along with the keynote addresses, panels, and entertainment, how about breakfast, lunch and later a wine and cheese networking reception?

The tone of the whole affair, notes Upbin, is "not to get out of the industry, but to shift gears. Keep on course, believe in your dreams, but be realistic about who you are." And, keeping that upbeat attitude, she adds of the conference, "You never know what you can get from coming here. You can learn, you can eat, meet the stars, and, who knows, maybe get your next job by coming down."

Sandi Durell has worked as associate producer on the conference, which costs $65, including the eats. The John Jay College Theater is located at 899 Tenth Ave. at 58th Street. Reservations and info on VINTAge 2001 at the coalition's hotline: (212) 592-4511; e-mail nycoalition@hotmail.com, or visit the website at www.vint-age.org. Day-of registration begins at 8:30 am at the theatre.

-- Roger Armbrust
   Backstage.com

Here’s an email I received on September 3^rd.It came out of the blue and was very welcome. Thank you, Nadine:

Bravo!  You presented an outstanding review of the film, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness.  Thank you.  I feel that it was honest and not overdone; although you are evidently a devout fan as am I.  I was first smitten at Christmas time in 1945 when I went to see her in The Bells of St. Mary's as Sister Benedict.  I had seen her in at least 4 movies before that and liked her acting but it was her role as the teaching nun that impressed me most.  I had also liked her as Maria in For Whom The Bell Tolls but it was The Bells of St. Mary's that I responded to.  I became a faithful fan and saw all of her movies and was certain she was the best actress without a doubt.  I remained loyal to her even when the press and the American public including the U.S. Congress vilified her for wanting love.  She was portrayed through the years as the actress with the clean, wholesome image.  So when she proved to be human the public felt betrayed and turned against her not wanting us young people to be influenced by her behavior.  How unfair they were, not to mention hypocritical.  I feel that we lost many years of what could have been many wonderful films had she been allowed to continue making films for the U.S. market.  This was exemplified by such out standing films and performances as Anastasia and The Inn of the Sixth Happiness.  I was very fortunate in being in a position to see her perform on stage in Los Angeles and found that her presence on the stage held peoples attention at all times.  She was a fantastic actress, highly underrated and very beautiful.  At least we have some films on tape that allow us to view her movies when we feel a desire to see her again.

HERE IS A TOTALLY UNEXPECTED LETTER I RECEIVED ON SEPTEMBER 7^TH!

Mary,
My Grandmother left to my Mother
a very beautiful oil painting of Ingrid
from the movie Gas Light.  The painting
stands approximately 7 feet tall and is
about 3 feet wide.  The artist is from
the Western part of Massachusetts,
and was painted approx. 50 years ago.
She would like to find a purchaser for this
fine piece of art.  Being a member of this club
has enlightened my soul and has given me even
greater appreciation for our wonderful Ingrid.
Please respond with Ideas and suggestions
for finding a home for this work of art.

Sincerely,
 

Ralph E. Rozell, Jr.

This email from Ian Rowe came after he had surfed the net for a site on Snowdonia. He and his family came over to Britain from Australia  twice and visited Scotland and North Wales, where they went to the summit of Snowdon via the delightful railway.  [See below for Ian’s second email]

Mary,

I have just discovered the Snowdon web site and read your guestbook query about The Inn of The Sixth Happiness and I guess by now you have had a reply. However, just in case you haven't the following extract from a web site may be of interest.

The locations in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales make a convincing and beautiful backdrop, doubling as Shaanxi Province, in northern China. Well done to the director, Mark Robson, and to cinematographer, Freddie Young -- and indeed to everyone who helped to make this unique film not just a film, more a way of life. At least for me! But special thanks to the great Ingrid Bergman!

Regards from Australia,

Ian Rowe

Dear Mary,

Glad to hear that you got my e-mail O.K. and that it was of some use to you.

My wife, Wendy and I have had 2 lengthy trips to Britain in 1988 and 1997.

We have a disabled adult daughter in a wheelchair and in 1988 we hired a car and toured for 8 weeks from Land's End to John O' Groats. During that visit we stayed in Colwyn Bay and it was there we went up Mt Snowdon on the train. It was a beautiful day but by the time we got to the top you could hardly see anything in the mist. As it was the tourist season the train was fairly full and seeing the wheelchair the driver kindly put the 3 of us in with him so we had a great view. It was interesting to hear him talk to the employees at the way stations in Welsh and then he would turn to us and speak in English without missing a beat.

In 1997 we left our daughter at home in respite accommodation and whilst staying at Llangollen we went back to Llanberis but this time took the lake railway.

Our other stay in Wales was at Wolfcastle and we enjoyed going out to Caldey Island from there.

We thoroughly enjoyed our 2 trips to Britain and have wonderful memories of all the places we visited. I love getting on the internet and looking up different British web sites although it does whet your appetite to return which is a bit difficult for us.

I hope I haven't bored you with my visit on Wales but I love talking about anything to do with our visits to Britain.

Kind regards,

Ian

A SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION BY NANCY HAZELWOOD, who translated it from the Italian:

ISABELLA BETWEEN COMMITMENTS AND PROJECTS

The actress, Isabella Rossellini, between commitments and projects, has an appointment at the Teatro San Carlo (Naples) where she will act in "Persephone".

Report by Teresa Mancini.

"Isabella Rossellini? She's perfect, she has her mother's beauty and her father's intelligence." These are the words of Luciano De Crescenzo.

And the similarity of Isabella to her mother actually makes an indefinable effect, becoming more obvious as the years go by.

Cordial and always in good spirits, Isabella (48), fresh and with a smile of eternal youth, also has many memories of her father, the great director Roberto Rossellini.

"My father loved the sea so much and has passed on this passion to his children". Isabella says, who has recently been given honorary townsmanship of Maiori, the splendid locality on the Amalfi coast, which is also godmother to the first cinematic work of the great auteur of  'Open City'.

"We had a house between Amalfi and Conca dei Marini (Marine valley) - the actress adds - " I enjoyed myself a lot when we took the boat out. My parents always told of how much they loved these places and how lovely it was to spend their summers there. My father made four films around the Amalfi coast."

Isabella however several years ago decided to move away from Italy. "I try and come back when I can, but now I live in New York" In compensation, it seems, her Manhattan apartment is furnished in perfect Italian style. However the radiant Isabella doesn't forget her origins and has hidden a secret. "I will return to Italy with a show next year she announces. The 19^th of January, I will be in the San Carlo in Naples to open the theatrical season with "Persephone" by Stravinsky. The comparison with my mother Ingrid? Unquestionable obviously. Fifty years ago she was at the San Carlo as a fantastic Joan of Arc. But I've never done theatre at all. Persephone will be a recital.

Isabella admits to preferring the cinema, where "If you make a mistake, you can cover it up with another take" even though her career took off thanks to fashion and advertising. (She was the face of Lancôme for a long time)

" To become a model is to become immediately familiar, in a certain way it's helped me do cinema in America where there's always been a certain resistance against foreign actors.

After her first important film "Il Prato" (The Meadow) by the Taviani brothers, true success came in the USA in 1986 with the role of a nightclub singer with sadomasochistic tendencies in 'Blue Velvet. Directed by her ex-companion David Lynch, who also had her almost unrecognisable in the film 'Wild at Heart'.

To date in her movie and television career, she has in her hat more than thirty titles. She says very satisfactorily what a privilege it is to have a route studded with minor characters because "You don't become hysterical like you do when you have the leading role."

She was married to the director Martin Scorsese and then to the model Johnathon Wiedemann. She is now twice divorced and also had a finished and tormented love story with Gary Oldman. Rosellini has two children, Elettra and Roberto.

"I'm very shy" - she says of herself - "but I've always felt at ease in front of the camera or on the catwalk. Do I feel more Italian like my father or Swedish like mamma Ingrid? Let's say I have two personalities: One Nordic and one Mediterranean. A nice mix without doubt.

I do hope you have enjoyed reading the autumn edition of The Ingrid Chronicle. If you would like to comment on it and/or send a contribution to the next issue, please write to me, Mary :

Mary@ingrid67.freeserve.co.uk