Happy 100th Birthday Ingrid Bergman!

Happy Birthday Ingrid Bergman! Today would have been Ingrid's centennial birthday and the 33rd anniversary of her death. She was a woman who lived a full life and it turned out to be a full circle.

Here are some of my favorite Ingrid Bergman clips. Thank you Ms. Bergman for your constant inspiration and for all the amazing films you did. You were a true star.

Here is a wonderful interview with Michael Douglas, where Ingrid discusses acting like a dog with her father and her life as an actress. The elephant trunk part makes me laugh.

Here is my favorite scene from Autumn Sonata, Ingrid's last film on the silver screen. She knew how to play piano, and though the music was dubbed, the fingering and positioning were correct. I find this film and this scene in particular incredibly poignant and powerful. Liv Ullman and Ingmar Bergman (no relation) also being two amazing filmmakers and people who Ingrid not only worked with, but touched with her performance skills. 

Speaking of that influence, here is an interview with Liv Ullman in which she talks about Ingrid's work on Autumn Sonata and who Ingrid was as a person. She had a strong personality and was extremely honest, still marvelous to hear.

Here is a scene from Gaslight (1944). If you haven't seen this film, don't watch this clip. See the whole film. This was the first of her films I saw and I was hooked. Her performance overall is amazing, but in this scene she executes a moment by moment performance that not only won her an Oscar, but also is one of the best performances ever recorded. Working with Charles Boyer, Angela Lansbury and Joseph Cotton as well as directed by the great George Cukor. 

Here is Ingrid's first American film, a remake of the Swedish, Intermezzo. Again, we find her behind the ivories, tickling them in perfect fashion and creating a character so lovely and complicated one cannot look away. Also, it seems she never stops working with A-list talent, her love in this film being Lesley Howard. 

This is my favorite Ingrid Bergman film: Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious. Much like Casablanca, the historical timing and relevance of this film is insurmountable. They just made it in under the wire with discussions of South American Nazis and illegal activity with Uranium. Too close to the papers some might think, but it made perfect drama for this film. She works with Claude Rains and Cary Grant, two fantastic leading men and this film is so sexy and brilliant it almost hurts my brain. The key, the uranium, the drunken car ride and who can forget the kiss scene? 

Now I will leave you with a few other scenes that I love for various reasons, but I'm going to let them speak for themselves. There are so many fantastic films and clips of Ingrid Bergman and her performances can work completely on their own.

The Spellbound dream sequence.

The Cactus Flower dance scene. 

The champagne scene from her "comeback" film, Anastasia. 

Her iconic Ilsa and Sam scene from Casablanca.

Cary Grant and Ingrid's dance in Stanley Donan's film Indiscreet.

Ingrid's general performance in Roberto Rossellini's Stromboli

I could go on, but Youtube is limiting. I hope you all enjoy some Ingrid Bergman films today and remember her for the amazing career she had. She inspired me to become a filmmaker and to make things happen and I've always enjoyed writing this blog. Cheers to you Ingrid.

Ingrid's daughter Pia Lindstrom gives an Emmy acceptance speech for A Woman Called Golda, Ingrid had passed away just before this award was issued.

Ingrid Bergman's Centennial Month

August 29th will mark Ingrid Bergman's 100th birthday as well as the 33rd anniversary of her death. Cannes hosted her face on their billboards and programs this year, a gorgeous photo of her from the 1950s that was fresh, sleek and a perfect celebration of someone who contributed to that festival specifically.

Other institutions are also celebrating the genius, style and choices of Ms. Bergman. The New Yorker just posted an article by Richard Brody called "A Life of Her Own: Celebrating Ingrid Bergman’s centenary onscreen"  In which Ingrid is referred to as a "genius" and  someone who "excelled at playing strong-willed, independent-minded women; she herself was one, and she paid a higher price for her artistic ambition and personal freedom than did any other movie star." The article goes further into her history and the parts she played, but also lets us know that Ingrid will be celebrated at a few venues, which is the news I would like to share with everyone today.

Here are some events happening, celebrating the life and films of Ingrid Bergman. If you can attend any of these, please tweet any photos, videos or links to me @alexis_morrell on Twitter. I will retweet and post here, hashtag #IngridBergman and/or #IngridBergmanFilms. You can also share them on the Facebook Page: Ingrid Bergman Life and Films .


Retrospective at MOMA NYC Aug. 29-Sept. 10 called: Ingrid Bergman: A Centennial Celebration. "August 29 marks the 100th anniversary of Ingrid Bergman’s birth, an occasion MoMA will observe with a selection of films from her 50-year career—as chosen and, where possible, introduced by her children Pia Lindstrom, Roberto Rossellini, Jr., Isabella Rossellini, and Isotta Ingrid Rossellini..." To learn more about the exhibit and events, please visit: https://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/films/1592

BAMcinématek retrospective from September 12—29, 2015: BAM presents a stage and screen salute

to one of the most iconic actresses of the 20th century. For more information, please visit: http://www.bam.org/film/2015/ingrid-bergman

AFI Cultural Center Screenings: Throughout the months of August and September, AFI Cinemas in Silver Spring Maryland will be having screenings of Ingrid Bergman films. Check out showtimes and where to get tickets here: https://silver.afi.com/Browsing/EventsAndExperiences/EventDetails/0000000004

I will post more as I hear of them! 

9 Moments From Ingrid Bergman on her 99th Birthday

Aside from all the moments in Ingrid's work, there are a few that come to mind that are a bit out of the ordinary. This list changes, but I thought I'd give 9 of them to you on her 99th birthday!

9. The champagne scene from "Anastasia." Because all they serve there is champagne.

8. The dancing scene from "Cactus Flower." The film is scored by Johnny Williams (aka John Williams) and why aren't we still doing these moves? I am. I'm still doing these moves.

7. The patriotism scene from "Notorious." I've used this line too many times. It's fantastic, especially after a night of drinking and driving.

6. The bed scene from "Indiscreet." "When Harry Met Sally" totally stole this technique from Stanley Donen, but I'm not complaining. It's sexy, funny and WORKS.

5. The Chopin scene from "Autumn Sonata." This one isn't funny, but it's one of the most moving scenes in her work. Liv Ullmann, Ingmar Bergman and Ingrid Bergman all in the same room, plus Ingrid shows off how she can tickle the ivories. 

4. The dream sequence from "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." This is a colorized version, which normally I'm not a fan of, but in this case, it makes it more terrifying and creepy. Ivy is a hot mess, and I think that's great.   

3. The piano scene from "Intermezzo." Women can play piano faster than men can play violin. Also, never hire a hot piano teacher because she will steal your husband and your children will love her more.

2. The dancing scene from "Indiscreet." Cary Grant hopping around like an idiot and Ingrid pretending to be mad at him. Two words: Gold dress. 

1. The psychotic break scene from "Gaslight." You know you've earned your Oscar when they coin a phrase after your performance, and I'm not just "gaslighting" you about this one.  

Happy Birthday Ingrid Bergman!

Today marks the 99th birthday for our beloved Ingrid Bergman! It also is the 32nd anniversary of her death. That's right, if this is your first time reading one of my birthday posts, fun fact: Ingrid Bergman died on her 67th birthday.

Ingrid's life was one filled with as much drama as the parts she played on the screen. Her mother died when she was 3, her father died when she was 12 and her aunt died in Ingrid's arms 6 months following. She worked hard for her dreams. She studied theater, piano and singing and acting was always her calling. She was a beauty who knew how to work the system.

The drama didn't end there. She had a baby when she was 23 and was married to a dentist who followed her to Hollywood when her career took off and made her a star. She had affairs with powerful men, including Victor Fleming (75 years ago... You know, the guy who directed "The Wizard of Oz" and "Gone with the Wind" in the same year), Robert Capa (the guy who took those famous WWII Normandy photos and later died because he stepped on a land mine) and later she would end her marriage with Peter Lindstrom by fleeing the states for Italy with Roberto Rossellini.

She was declared "Persona Non Grata" on the US Senate floor and wouldn't return to the States until after a decade.

Her work spoke for itself and for her. It lives on, thankfully, and though her full-circle time on this earth expired, her films immortalized those beautiful moments on screen.

Personally, I feel Ingrid Bergman has been a humanized star. She is someone I've watched time and again bring life to the screen and she has always inspired me to follow my ambitions and dreams.

Today, I celebrate the life and work of Ingrid Bergman, though I carry her in my head and heart everyday to utilize part of her path to guide my own.

The world made a better place thanks to Ingrid's work, especially the cinematic world.

Happy Birthday, Ingrid!

"Casablanca" Screening TONIGHT!

Tonight, in 20 cities, "Casablanca" will screen on the silver screen!
I just obtained my FREE pass for the Los Angeles screening and can't wait to go!

Find out which cities are screening and get your free pass HERE!

TCM "Casablanca" Screenings in March!

On March 4th, TCM is bringing "Casablanca" back to the silver screen. If you haven't seen it that way, see it. It's amazing. Totally made for the big screen (because of course it was) and it will make your heart pound right out of your chest. The tears will stream out of your eyes. You will probably need a gin fizz or something fun afterwards.
Ten of the cities have been named:

CHICAGO • PHILADELPHIA • SAN FRANCISCO • BOSTON • WASHINGTON, DC

ATLANTA • DETROIT • SEATTLE • MIAMI • DENVER

You can go to the TCM 20th Anniversary site and vote for the next ten cities. Vote for where you can see the film!

Voting ends Feb 18th.

Ingrid On Netflix

Some of Ingrid Bergman's films can now be watched instantly on Netflix Instant Watch!
"The Inn of the Sixth Happiness"
was recently added to a wonderful collection of films. They used to have more of her films up, but I guess they're in a cycle. Anyway, keep an eye out for movies trickling into the streaming network, but until then, watch this one!