Monday, August 31, 2009

Fantastic Ingrid Birthday Write Up


I just read a very well articulated post at The Film Experience about Ingrid, her life and her birthday. I suggest everyone check it out.
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and thanks for the fabulously Bergman-tastic comments.
Feel free to comment like that on a regular basis! Lol. Just kidding. Glad to have you all as readers and contributors! :)

Saturday, August 29, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INGRID! :)


It's the big day. A bittersweet celebration for all of us Ingrid Bergman fans.
Today marks the 94th anniversary of the birth of Ingrid Bergman as well as the 27th anniversary of her death.
In case you weren't aware, Ingrid Bergman died on her 67th birthday (not assuming you can't do math or decipher the previous statement, it's merely a lead in. lol).
Ingrid Freidel Bergman was born in Stockholm, Sweden on August 29th, 1915 to Justus and Freidel Bergman. Her mother died when she was 3 and her father died when she was 12. Though Ingrid faced personal troubles most of her life, she prospered into the --insert heavy opinion-- BEST actress of all time.
Ingrid loved acting more than anything. She loved the work, the feeling, the escape, the beauty, the families and every other aspect. She devoted her life to the art. This, of course, wasn't easy for many to understand and left many by the way side.
Ingrid's daughter, Pia, once described her mother as a "train on train tracks" claiming that once Ingrid made up her mind to do something, get on board or get out of the way.
I love this about Ingrid. No apologies. Just hard work.
Ingrid made over 50 films during her time on this earth. I often think of her as my guardian angel, or at least my guide through life. Whenever I can't figure something out I say "W.W.I.D.?" "What would Ingrid do?"
Even if it's outlandish or ridiculous, it can at least make me laugh. Plus, I think Ingrid would have understood this mentality. She looked to Joan of Arc in the same way (and probably would have blogged about it if technology had warranted such a task).
She is an eternal icon. Her face is captured for eternity in film, photographs and words. We know her voice and her looks, long after she has left us.
I am glad to have known Ingrid, if only through books, film and television. I am grateful for the communities of people she has guided me to (chances are, that's you I'm referring to, since you're reading my blog, lol.). I wish I had known her. Even if she were not the Ingrid I have built in my head, I'd still want it. Her ability to be an iconic star and yet so human is what draws me to her. Not to mention her spirit and insanely amazing acting ability.
Ingrid lived many ups and downs. In her films, her career and her life. This is what we celebrate here @ Ingrid Bergman Life and Films and I thank you all for your support.
It is amazing that she lived a full circled life. She entered and exited like a true actress; with grace, dignity and a performance no one will ever forget.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Lolita's Classics


Lolita recently submitted a logo that is now the one you see when you look at the top of this blog. It is lovely, truly capturing a vibe that is ingridly magnificent.
Another magnificent thing to look at is Lolita's Classics, her blog. This blog has an edgy appeal and Lolita is always working arduously to advance her blog and the blogs of others. If you haven't checked it out yet, do it now! :)

Friday, August 21, 2009

Contest


So I guess the contest isn't going to well-- so I'm going to re-vamp things. What I will do is:
  1. Put up the logo that I receive.
  2. Post a write up about their blog and who gave me the logo.
  3. Hope that this encourages others to make cool Ingrid logos.
  4. If this works, decide on the one I like best and put it up.
The first logo is the first one I have received and it's from Lolita!

I will be giving her a write up asap! :)

Sony Tour!

It's finally here! This is a muti-state blog. I've written parts of it in California and in Colorado. I'm currently on the road back to the East Coast to go back home and work....ENJOY!

I took the Sony Studios tour! It was a blast. My cousin Jess and I saw a bunch of things and actually saw a guy who played a part in Twilight. Now, I don't know anything about Twilight, but apparently he plays "James." Anyway there were plenty of Classic Film elements offered, so those I will address--as well as relating the whole thing to Ingrid (of course!).

I took a bunch of pictures for you all.


So if you watched my Sneak Preview you saw a bunch of apartment buildings that have been turned into offices.

As most of you know, when all of our favorites were roaming Hollywood (Culver City in this case), the studios would often put them up in apartments during shooting. This was a way to keep new stars safe, old stars around and keep others away. We walked by 4 buildings which I would like to note:
  • The first building (on the way in, it's the last in the video) is the Katharine Hepburn building. Kate the Great would stay here and the building was named after her because she used to throw lavash cocktail parties on the roof! I think that it is not out of character (or at least the character I have observed/built from interviews, documentaries, movies and books) for her to be the trend setter in the now, ever so popular, roof parties.
  • The second building was the Joan Crawford building. Here's some irony for you. Our lovable yet slightly off starlet has a former school house named after her. Mickey Rooney attended this school (they said not too much school work was actually completed here, lol) but I just find it funny that the woman whose life was the story in Mommy Dearest is has her name on a school house. Anyone else think this is funny?
  • The next building was the Spencer Tracy building. I just love him, so that was cool. Plus it was a door down from the Katharine Hepburn building... I wonder if there was any hanky-panky going on on the lot? Lol.
  • The last one was the Judy Garland building. Judy, Judy, Judy. She was a big deal for MGM, I mean if you count being the biggest star in their company a big deal, and this building is the homage on the lots. It is now inhabited by Happy Madison Productions. You might know this company because it is owned and operated by Adam Sandler and his friends. It was pretty cool to see Sandler's Cadillac golf cart in front of his office. That's how you know you've made it.
The tour guide was a nice guy. He said he's trying to be a screenwriter. He had some information about the studio, but really focused on the present day activity. He wasn't too knowledgeable about the classic film era. Jess and I had to correct him on Margaret Hamilton's name when he was talking about the Wizard of Oz.

Now, Audrey and Katharine fans... be warned... this may make you angry... he lumped the two Hepburns together. As if they were sisters. I was like, "BLASPHEMY!"

He's trying to be a screenwriter, so I wish him the best, but he should brush up on his Classic Film as not to piss off nerds like us! :)

So to tie this all in with Ingrid-- like I said I would--
Sony Studios was once, not only MGM, but also the home of Columbia and Columbia-Tri-Star Pictures. There's a huge sign for Columbia hanging over the lot and tons of MGM stuff as well (though MGM went from 400 acres to 44 when they built the hotel in Vegas...)
So, I've made a list of the Columbia Pictures films in which Ingrid starred and found an amazing page that hosts details about her movies and where you can find them now!

A Walk In Spring Rain (Columbia)

Cactus Flower (Columbia)

A Yellow Rolls Royce (MGM)

Goodbye Again (United Artists)

Arch of Triumph (United Artists)

Spellbound (United Artists)

Gaslight (MGM)

Adam Had Four Sons (Columbia)

Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde (MGM)

Rage in Heaven (MGM)

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Studio Tour Sneek Preview!

I am working on a post about the tour. I am pretty tired from a day of traveling and blah blah blah. I'm trying to get my stuff together for my cross country trip back home (not really looking forward to leaving California).

Anyway- here's that sneak preview.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

CONTEST

Entries Thus Far:
(Lolita's Logo)

SEND IN YOUR LOGOS! THEN WE'LL VOTE
(voting will be done in the comments--or I'll find a poll)


MGM Studio Tour



As I'm sitting here watching From Here To Eternity which has little to do with Ingrid or MGM-- it is a classic film and I do fully enjoy it.
I love Donna Reed. I actually almost went to her town to study fine arts for a summer. She's in one of my favorite movies, It's a Wonderful Life, and she was just amazing.
Montgomery Clift, Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, and of course, Deborah Kerr. With this group of all stars, how can one not like this film? "Reenlistment bluesssss..."
(This movie is best when watched with my Dad. lol)

Anyway, let me get to my exciting news!
On Monday morning I will be touring Sony Studios a.k.a. the former MGM studios! My Uncle Bob's niece, Cathie, works for Sony and she's setting up a tour for my cousin, Jess, her boyfriend, Matt and ME!

I am totally going to INGRIDLY nerd out!
Here's why:


Ingrid was loaned out to MGM to make Intermezzo, Saratoga Trunk, Goodbye Again and the DVD set that was just released containing her Hitchcock work was released by MGM.


I can't wait to hear what the tour guide has to say. Where people stood, what went on.
I can't wait to see tiny specs of what used to be.


You know that feeling? When you know something's been changed, yet, you can still sense that other people walked the halls before the renovation. I long for that.

I'll keep everyone posted and hopefully be able to take pictures! :)

My Video

I'm in the midst of writing a couple blogs for you, but I have also just finished a short of my own. It's for a contest that I'm entering held by Crunch Gyms.




Hope you enjoy it! Now back to more writing.
(Oh and if you get a chance, please go vote for my Howcast.com Video!)

TCM Classic Film Union


I don't know about you all but I'm slightly addicted to TCM CFU. I mean, it's a fantastic way to meet tons of classic film fans, find out what's going on on TCM and promote blogging!

I'd like to talk about a few people I've come in contact with via the CFU.
  • "AliciaHuberman"- Now obviously this name is an instant hit! Nothing like finding another Notorious fan lurking about CFU! Alicia... has a blog that, I think, everyone should check out. Go to http://kittenbiscuits.dreamwidth.org and read about classic film, film and opinion. AH loves classic film, the 40s, slapstick, and tons of other genres and wants the blog to be a forum for discussion and insight.
  • "Jonavo"...if you look up this screen name you will find a hilarious picture of Jon and Ingrid. Jon has replaced Humphrey Bogart's face with his own. This drew me in immediately-- you should all become his friends on CFU, just for that.
  • "Veejay"- Veejay has reminded me that adding a ton of friends can be problematic if you don't pay attention to them. This is a good point. I want to be able to talk to the general CFU crowd, but due to the slow uploading pages and sometimes the abundance of messages and profile comments--it catches up to you! Though this is a good point-- I am trying my best. Veejay has a grand assortment of friends and is a good friend to have when on CFU. Connections. Connections.
My list of friends has grown, and I'm hoping that this will help all of the blogs that I interact with on here. Hopefully we can all catch a few eyes and get some new classic film fans hooked to our styles!
So here's for all of you bloggers I know are on CFU-- Let's get our blogs noticed by people who LOVE classic film! --if I haven't friended you--leave a comment with your SN!
  • "Notoriousdreamteam"
  • "KateGabrielle"
  • "RupertAlistair"
  • "Caliana"
My SN on CFU is "IngridBergmanFan" and I would love for you to be part of my network there!

Friday, August 14, 2009

HelP ME WIN THIS FILMMAKING CONTEST~!

Please help me win this howcast.com video contest.

Go to MY VIDEO, join howcast and vote. It's free and it would be a huge feather in my cap. Thank you!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

LOGO CONTEST

If you complete a logo for the contest please send it to this fancy, sweet, amazing, Ingridly, Bergtastic, address: ingridbergmanfilms@gmail.com


Thank you!

Hope the contest is a success. Keep working on the logos! :)

Ingrid Sings "As Time Goes By"

I just found this gem on youtube.com! I'm not sure where or when she sang this and I don't trust the people in the comments (I know that Frank Sinatra helped her sing the song in the 1980 tribute, but he's nowhere on this audio)...so just enjoy it! :)

Graphic Design Contest

I WANT YOU TO HELP WITH THE LOOK OF THE BLOG!

I was just thinking that --since I know a lot of you are crafty classic movie fans as well as artists and creative people-- we should have a contest for a graphic design logo on the Ingrid Bergman Life and Times blog!

Submit your best work!

What we'll do is:
  • You submit a logo, somehow related to Ingrid and the blog, with the name of the blog or a clear reference to the blog.
  • I round up the entries and pick a number of them for us to vote into the header of the blog.
  • The best design makes it into the header, the 2nd place makes it into the side bar and the others become a wonderful gallery of work--to be used at a later time (I'll try and notify you when yours is up!)
  • It's a win win win contest... with time being the competitive element.
I know everyone has talent, let's see it!


Wednesday, August 12, 2009

A Matter of Time--In A Matter of Time

I'm working on watching A Matter of Time, which Kinga sent me so graciously.
Though this is an excuse ("make no excuses, play like a champion") I have been somewhat busy and haven't sat down to watch the whole thing. I plan on doing so and doing an analysis of the film.
Keep the Ingridly faith! lol.

Let me know how you like things around here and if anyone is participating in the graphic/logo contest!

Thanks :)

Sunday, August 9, 2009

The Movie Projector Blog

I recently stumbled upon The Movie Projector blog and I absolutely love it. I think it's a well organized blog, intensely and educatedly written.
Here is a link to the analysis of Autumn Sonata composed by R.D. Finch.

Thank you R.D. Finch for your blog.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICOLE!

A big "Ingridly" birthday wish to Nicole from Classic Hollywood Nerd! Though it is only 11 PM here in California-- I want to make my shout out LOUD and CLEARRRRR!

Hope you have a fantastic birthday filled with classic memories, tons of films, brand new DVD's, great wishes and, of course, CAKE!



Have a good one Nicole! :)

TCM Thread

I've posted a new topic of conversation (to try and get us all readers) on TCM.com

Hello everyone-
I just wanted to make you aware of the blog that write dedicated to Ingrid Bergman. I am in a ring of classic movie blogs and if anyone is interested in reading it, please visit
I would love for you to read, comment, inform me, discuss or contribute to our community and to my blog. I love classic film and I am a filmmaker--so all are welcome and encouraged!

Ingridly love to all TCM fans! :)
Alexis

PS
don't forget to friend each other on the TCM Union!! :)

Feel free to visit the topic/thread if you like or direct your TCM Union friends to the post. This may help all of us get some sweet readership--anything to help the classic film community!


Saturday, August 8, 2009

Check out "Hats Galore"

Check out this post at Classic Hollywood Nerd. It's about women and their hats and Ingrid is featured quite a bit.

I just want to tell Nicole, who runs Classic Hollywood Nerd, I am not trying to rip off your look. I just noticed we have a similar look going on. Hope it's the more the merrier not offending. Lol.

Keep working on your logos!! :)

Friday, August 7, 2009

Ingrid Reference

The book I'm reading, The Big Rewind by Nathan Rabin has an Ingrid reference in it!

The book is a memoir depicting Rabin's life, his struggles and triumphs all relating to pop culture and what has made him, him.

I have laughed my butt off through most of this book. Even in the worst of times, Rabin doesn't hesitate to throw in a joke or two or make a sweet reference that no geek, movie buff, television addict or book worm can resist.

On page 284, Rabin makes a reference to the 1944 film, Gaslight, starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. He says, "At one point Ridley referred to what we were doing to Zorianna as gaslighting, after the 1944 classic where Charles Boyer wages a subtle, persistent campaign to drive Ingrid Bergman insane."


I have been going on and on about this book for 2 weeks, trying to pace myself and not finish too quickly. I'm coming toward the end and I'm pretty sure Nathan Rabin probably thinks I'm stalking him on twitter because I keep tweeting about it. Oh well, you're now a hero in pop-culture yourself Mr. Rabin--deal with it!

I am a big fan of the website Rabin writes for, The A.V. Club and have suggested (via email) that Ingrid Bergman be a "Gateway to Geekery" article. Who knows, they might pick her!
I even used the word "Ingridly" in my email...pretty sweet...pretty classic.

Start working on your logos! :)


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Persian Ingrid Site

I had mentioned that I received a message from Mike about the layout. A message that I am ecstatic to have put into motion... I then checked out Mike's blog. It turns out, Mike, has a blog about Ingrid as well! The catch-- it's in Persian! I'm freaking happy about this! This means that not only are we reading in the western part of the world, but also acting "Ingridly" in the East too!

Though you may need a translator from Google or a text encoder-- check out Mike's website Here:


Thanks again Mike and thanks to everyone for reading and letting me know what you like/don't like! --it's always appreciated :)

KINGA RULES!!

Kinga has sent me a copy of A Matter of Time! I'm incredibly grateful for this outreach and generosity. I haven't been able to locate this film and Kinga had a copy, made a copy and sent it to me duty free! The DVD works and I am just now beginning to watch this film for the first time in English! I had seen clips in Italian, but this is fantastic to finally get to see it as it was filmed and as Ingrid worked on it.
Though I am aware that this film wasn't well received and that it's probably going to be pretty silly, I am still pumped. I also can't wait to see Isabella in her premier as well as Ingrid Isotta's makeup job!

I'll let you know what I think about the film itself later--after I finish watching it!

Thanks again to your devoted readership...and kindness!

<3

New Look

How do you like the new look?
I'm trying to keep things simple so that it allows the pictures, video and text to really pop. I've decided to change the look due to a comment I received:

"Thanks for your beautiful posts ans links. I always check your weblog. please change background color, if possible. reading white text on dark background is difficult. a gray one is better.

Ingridly love
Mike"

I am not sure if you find it hard to read. I actually like the dark background with light text, but then again, I get to write it the first time the opposite way.

I hope you all like the new look and suggestions are always welcome! :)

P.S.
Mike, I like that you said "Ingridly love," that's hilarious!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Reference


Made a reference to Ingrid on my other blog "Seriously?"
Check it out! :)


Sunday, August 2, 2009

Classic Forever Entry to Check Out


Be sure to read about the Rick v. Victor debate at Classic Forever. Millie puts forth quite the argument as to why Victor Laszlo is the better of the two. This is all of course referring to the love interests of Ilsa Lund, Ingrid Bergman's character in Casablanca.


:)

It's August!


August is here and it's Ingrid's month.This is the month of both the birth and death of my (and hopefully your) favorite film star.

I am currently watching the 1939 version of Intermezzo: A Love Story with Susan my employer/mentor/friend Sarah's mother. We were going to watch Notorious, but the DVD player wouldn't cooperate. Anyway, I am happy to start the month with this film. It was Ingrid's first U.S. film. It is essentially a redo of the 1936 Swedish version just incorporating new actors, producers, directors and remaking in English.

I love this film. The music is fantastic, the acting is wonderful and the story carries and doesn't lose anything over time. Leslie Howard was a fabulous actor and though it's hard to buy that he's Swedish, it isn't hard to think that he would woo Ingrid's character.

The film is the first glimpse of Ingrid in America. She walks into her first scene through the front door of the house. She is a young, beautiful, talented, headstrong pianist who loves the family she works for but falls in love with the man for whom she works.

The film is well shot, using trick techniques to make Leslie Howard into a concert (professional) violinist. Howard wasn't a musician and the close ups of his playing are actually made of 3 parts: Leslie Howard's face and chin, one violinist on the frets and another on the bow.

I am proud to say that Ingrid was an accomplished piano player. She said in her biography that it was perfectly natural for her to play piano because that's just what she did and what was expected of her. Ingrid's father wanted desperately for Ingrid to be a singer so the two just went hand in hand. Little did he know, she would only use these skills to accompany her true love; acting.

Ingrid is passionate and powerful when she plays the piano in this film. Though the sound was dubbed by Norma Boleslawski, her fingering is correct and her technique is pretty darn great.

There are a couple scenes where the P.O.V. is through the piano lid upright. This strange framing is utterly gorgeous. It focuses us on her emotions as well as sets a type of stage for the music. There is no escaping the inevitable love affair as well as the emotions and strength of the music itself.

I hope to fill the month with Ingrid films, though it will be hard due to my summer travels. I will be home on her birthday and I hope we can all pay homage.

About Me

My photo
An avid Ingrid Bergman fan, I am a student of her life and work as well as film, filmmaking and Classic Film in general. I have my M.F.A. in TV/Film Production from USC School of Cinematic Arts and have been making a living in the business they call show. Feel free to follow me on Twitter @alexis_morrell