"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 Film Festival 2012

Hello Everyone-

I hope you're having a wonderful spring!

I have been going to screenings at the TCM Film Festival, once again... Just returned from the screening of Casablanca at Grauman's Chinese Theater. It was the 70th Anniversary renovated edition. I'll definitely post about the festival and the screenings as soon as I finish attending!

If you're at the Festival, please post a comment or tweet at me @alexis_morrell on twitter.

You can also follow the festival @tcmfilmfest

"Here's looking at you kid..."

Casablanca Part 2: Lost in Morocco

Another post about Casablanca's screenings on Wed...

I received an email from another devout Classic Film/Ingrid fan, Geoff Renstrom, asking to promote the screenings of Casablanca... Here's the note. Be sure to see the film and visit their website!

"Hello,

Plan on a night filled with suspense, intrigue romance, and fantastic lines. That’s right; Casablanca is headed back to the big screen for a 70^thanniversary celebration. Join your favorite characters Rick and Ilsa for this timeless classic, a part of cinema history.

NCM Fathom, Turner Classic Movies, and Warner Bros are coming together again to present Turner Classic Movies Presents Casablanca 70th Anniversary Event in select movie theaters nationwide on Wednesday, March 21st at 7:00PM (local time).

The event will begin with Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne taking audiences behind the scenes of this epic love story in a special original production showcasing stories from those who were on set and those who simply admire this timeless classic. Audiences will then be able to see again on the silver screen this beautiful and timeless classic.

We hope you’ll spread the word about this fantastic event by sharing information about Turner Classic Movies Presents Casablanca 70th Anniversary Event with your readers through mediums such as blog posts, newsletters, Facebook and Twitter. For more downloadable tools and additional details about Casablanca, including information on participating movie theaters and tickets, visit www.fathomevents.com

Please let us know if we can provide any other information to facilitate your outreach. Thank you for your support.

----

Geoff Renstrom

Pure Brand Communications"

The website holds details about tickets, contests, prizes and other Casablanca themed fun! Be sure to check it out and report back to the blog!

Can't wait to hear about all of your movie adventures and I'll hopefully have time to post about mine! :)

Casablanca 70th Anniversary Celebrations!

Hi everyone!
Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. My life has been going in a fantastic direction lately and I've been completely overwhelmed with work (Graduate school, filmmaking, writing, and watching!)



I'm sure some of you have receieved updates from TCM about the 70th anniversary screenings of Casablanca this week...

"The quintessential Hollywood love story returns to the big screen this spring as Turner Classic Movies Presents Casablanca 70th Anniversary Event on Wednesday, March 21, at 7 pm local time, with special matinees in select theaters. Movie audiences in theaters nationwide will be able to experience the time-honored classic in a stunning digital presentation by NCM Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Warner Home Video. The event will be introduced by TCM host Robert Osborne who will discuss Casablanca's enduring legacy and reveal some of its fascinating behind-the-scenes stories. Casablancastarred Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid and became one of the most romantic films in the history of cinema. It won three Academy Awards in 1944 including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

Tickets for Turner Classic Movies Presents Casablanca 70th Anniversary Event are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. The event will be broadcast to nearly 500 select movie theaters across the country through NCM's exclusive Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

Movie critic Leonard Maltin calls Casablanca "the best Hollywood movie of all time." The American Film Institute (AFI) voted it the screen's greatest love story and the No. 3 film of all time. The film's characters, dialogue and music have all become iconic in Hollywood movie history.

"There are few things more thrilling for movie lovers than being able to experience a true classic like Casablanca the way it was originally intended: on the big screen," said Dennis Adamovich, senior vice president of brand and digital activation for TCM, TNT and TBS. "We're proud to take part in this exciting event as we extend the magic of Turner Classic Movies to theaters across the country."

Casablanca: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if you're wanted by the Nazis. Such a man is Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Bogart), a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one - especially Victor's wife Ilsa (Bergman), the ex-lover who broke his heart. Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo's transport out of the country and bitter Rick must decide what counts more - personal happiness or countless lives hanging in the balance.

"Like many, I have fond memories of watching Casablanca with my family," said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of Fathom Events. "Fans of this timeless cinematic treasure won't want to miss this one-time opportunity to experience Casablanca on the big screen once again as Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman take us back to the golden age of Hollywood."

Turner Classic Movies Presents Casablanca 70th Anniversary Event is the third recent classic anniversary event presented in theaters by NCM Fathom Events including the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz and 50th anniversary of West Side Story.

Warner Home Video will release Casablanca 70th Anniversary Edition on March 27 featuring a 3-Disc limited and numbered gift set including the remastered feature on both Blu-ray and DVD with more than 14 hours of bonus material. The keepsake box also includes a compilation of three comprehensive feature length documentaries, a hard-cover 62-page book with never-before-seen on-set photography, sketches and production history, a reproduction of the original 1942 French theatrical poster as well as a collectible set of drink coasters."

I'm not sure why it's happening right now, since we all know that it premiered in November and January of 1942 and 1943... But... We'll take it, right?

If you can make it, be sure to comment on the blog! It would be great to hear about everyone's adventures and experiences...

NYTimes Article About "Casablanca" : 1943

I stumbled upon this article about Casablanca and Ingrid's relationship to Hollywood. It's a very interesting article and since it's during WWII and about a movie that would change cinematic and parts of general history, I think it's worth reading.

Here is a link to the NYTimes site and if you can't access it, here it is (as a quote, I DO NOT OWN THIS MATERIAL):

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New York Times Article Link

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December 26, 1943

'CASABLANCA'

Ingrid Bergman: In, but Not of, Hollywood

By The New York Times

HOLLYWOOD — "Ingrid Bergman is the realest thing in these diggings," said an ordinarily caustic Hollywood columnist. The first time you see her you understand the reason for his description of her. She has brought into this capital of artificiality the simplicity and charm of her native Sweden. Unpainted fingernails, skin that doesn't look like icing on a cake, a natural manner, unpretentious clothes - these usual things make her unusual among Hollywood stars. Miss Bergman's career is marked by no publicity escapades. No stories of outbursts of artistic temperament are told about her. She is rarely seen in those select night clubs where other screen celebrities parade like manikins at a fashion show. The young doctor to whom she was married before she came here is still her husband and from time to time she brings her 5-year-old daughter Pia on the lot with her. Despite her success she remains the unassuming, serious-minded young woman she was when, after much hesitation, she made up her mind to come to this country.

Not long after she arrived, the studio wanted to make some stills of her and the photographer suggested that she raise her skirt ''just a trifle.'' She looked at him, smiled, and remarked: ''But I came here to act, not to dance.'' Some months ago Madame Chiang Kai-shek visited the studio where Miss Bergman was working. All the other stars were dolled up in their best to be presented to the first lady of China. Miss Bergman appeared hatless, dressed in a tailored suit and wearing broad, flat-heeled shoes.

She is not beautiful in the Hollywood sense of the word. The glamour which surrounds her is the glamour of youth and health. Her charm is not dependent upon beauticians and her attractive face would serve better as an ad for a tonic than as one for a cosmetic. It has been used for neither, for she does not believe in endorsing any products.

No one would pick her out as a movie queen. She has stood unrecognized for half an hour waiting on line to see one of her own pictures.

Miss Bergman was working on her new film when, between shots, she posed for me. As Paula in a screen version of ''Angel Street,'' called now ''Gaslight,'' she was dressed in a tight-fitting bustled gown of the Seventies. Her long blond hair fell about her shoulders from beneath a tiny sailor hat. It was surprising how little make-up she had on. Her face is round, her cheek bones well-formed. No lipstick altered the natural contour of her mouth and scant mascara reinforced the long lashes which shade her clear blue eyes. There was none of that unreal look about her which so many actresses feel it is necessary to put on before the camera.

Apart from her appearance, what makes her distinctive is her outlook upon life. About her is none of the gaiety ordinarily associated with this place. Although she believes that her private life is no concern of the public, she had not been posing for me long before she told me about her father, who was a photographer and also an artist.

''He always wanted to make a painting of me,'' she said, ''but he never could get me to pose long enough. I was too restless. All I have by him is a sketch he made when I did not know what he was doing. I am sorry now, but I am one of those people who simply can't sit down and do nothing.

''Even now as I am sitting here I am beginning to worry about my next scene and wondering if I shall know my lines. That is the only thing I don't like about acting: the constant dread I have of forgetting my part. I am what you call a quick study and I can learn my lines under the most trying circumstances. I trained myself to do this when I was a child.

''After my father and mother died, they relatives with whom I lived did not want me to become an actress, but I was constantly studying poems and reciting them for myself in my own room. So that they would not know what I was doing, I kept a phonograph going to drown out my voice.

''Would you mind if I just ran over a few pages of my next scene?'' she asked and so saying she began reading them, her full lips moving as she did so.

In a short time she laid the script aside. It was then I asked what kind of parts she liked the best.

''Serious ones,'' she replied, raising her naturally arched eyebrows. She had been posing in profile. Now, she turned her face toward me as she answered my question.

''Although people seemed to like me in 'Casablanca,' I cared for myself less in that part than in the serious roles I have played. It was for this reason that I was so delighted when, after I saw Mr. Hemingway, he wanted me to play Maria in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls.'

''But you must not forget,'' she said, ''that I come from Sweden and we Swedes are very different from Americans. By nature we are a more serious-minded people. Perhaps it is the ruggedness of the country and the rigors of our climate that make us so. We are not frivolous. The lighter side of life is less important. We even take our pleasures gravely.

''This sober approach to life is evident in all our arts. Our paintings have comparatively little light-heartedness in them and the sunlight they depict is a cold sunlight. One of our most popular authors is that tragic playwright Strindberg whose works never caught on here. I you have ever read his 'Fraulein Julie' you will realize that he does not write the kind of plays that Americans would flock to. Yet I would love to play that part.

''Even our humor is different from yours. There is always a note of fantasy about it. Carl Milles expresses it in some of his sculpture. His quaint dolphins and strange mermen and mermaids are typical of the lighter side of our country and even his dancing girls portray a spirit of meditation.

''Now you understand why I like serious parts better and why my favorite American authors are Hemingway and Steinbeck.''

She went on to compare Hollywood with Rasunda where Swedish films are made. She said that when she came here she just stared about like a ''silly goose,'' although she had been acting in Sweden for some time.

Her first screen appearance took place a quarter of a century ago - she was a year old at the time - when her father made a movie of her birthday party. He continued to take pictures of such parties up to the time of his death when she was 13. She is now doing the same thing for her daughter.

''I always wanted to be an actress,'' she said, ''but my father, who sang well himself, wanted me to be a singer. So to please him I studied singing for three years, but got nowhere. All the time, however, I was acting for my own pleasure. I ransacked the attic for old clothes which I put on while I recited.''

At school in Stockholm her dramatic talent was recognized and when she was 17 she won a scholarship in the Royal Dramatic School. At the end of a year she was on the road to fame and one of her pictures, ''A Woman's Face,'' was voted the best film of 1938 at an international exposition.

Even before, her reputation had spread to this country. Hollywood saw another Garbo in her and tried to lure her here. But the tall young blond actress refused to come. She was doing well, she did not need any more money than she was making and besides she was married to Dr. Lindstrom, then a young dentists. To leave Sweden would mean breaking home ties. It was not until four years ago last April that she arrived here with a nice fat contract.

When she reached Hollywood she realized that she did not fit with its goings-on. She slipped away early from a party given in her honor and went to her room a puzzled young woman.

Notwithstanding all she had heard about the place there were surprises when she started in on her first picture. The extravagances of the studio appalled her. She could not understand the reason for the number of retakes. Buying fresh flowers daily for a scene when paper ones, to her mind, would serve, seemed like throwing money away.

She said nothing and kept much to herself - often a method of becoming unpopular. But strangely enough it did not work that way in her case. People realized that she was shy and strange here and they did not mistake her shyness for standoffishness. When an actress goes to a supermarket and wheels a basketful of provisions up to the checking desk, people are not likely to regard her as upstage.

After she had finished her first picture, ''Intermezzo,'' she went back to Sweden. The next year she returned, followed soon by her husband, who had by then decided to give up dentistry for medicine. They took a small house in Rochester, N.Y., where he attended medical school. Whenever she was not working on a picture or appearing on the stage she flew there. There was but on trouble. Her admirers of both sexes ran her and her husband ragged. They could not even go skating without a gallery.

Ever since she appeared in ''Casablanca,'' Miss Bergman has had an apartment in Beverly Hills where she lives with her daughter. Dr. Lindstrom is an intern in a San Francisco hospital. Nevertheless Miss Bergman is still the housewife and her husband the master of the house.

Like the proverbial busman who goes for a ride on his day off, Miss Bergman goes in for making movies as a hobby. She carries a small movie camera about her and has it near her even when she is working. When I had finished my drawing of her she asked me to pose with it so that she might take a picture. There was something almost childlike about her as she did this.

According to those who have worked with her, she never shows any signs of artistic tantrums. Between shots she can often be seen sitting quietly in her dressing room, reading a novel. She is untiring and seems to radiate a cheerfulness which affects not only her director and fellow actors but also the others at work on the set. Most of ''For Whom the Bell Tolls'' was filmed at an elevation of 8,000 feet. She alone seemed to be unaffected by the altitude. When making an OWI picture in Minnesota she skied to location and laughed at the other members of the company who complained of the cold.

Gregory Ratoff, a hard man to work for, laid aside his boisterous manner when he directed her pictures; he also confessed that at the end of the day he was exhausted while she was still as fresh as when she started. Practically every one of her directors says she is one of the best readers of lines working for the screen and that she is more willing to adopt suggestion than any other star.

Although she accepts criticism and apologizes if she slips on a line, she is more or less set in her ideas about costumes. She refuses to adopt Hollywood's ideas of what she should wear in her pictures, and many a startling gown has been discarded for a simple dress of her own choosing. She is just as positive in her notions concerning make-up and she applies it herself.

''Acting,'' she told me, ''is a hard job which I enjoy. After I have studied my part and get the feel of it, I spend a tremendous amount of time in building up the characterization. I study every sentence, because every work and sentence must add something to the development of the character.

''I work so hard before the camera and on the stage that I have neither the desire nor the energy to act in my private life. There I prefer to be myself and forget all about audiences and look after my family.''

Event Through USC SCA

"Out Of The Archives" is an event happening now at USC SCA (aka, where I go to school). There is a huge collection of USC Warner Bros. Archives, stills from films, including Casablanca, on display from today September 16th through December 12th. The event is taking place at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (you might know them for the "Oscars") in the Academy Grand Lobby Gallery . Admission is free-- so if you're in the Los Angeles area, you should check it out! There are also rare photos of Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, among others.

I'm hoping to get a free minute to get over there and see the photos... this semester has been insanely busy! Hope everyone is doing well.

Ingridly love,

Alexis

TCM FIlm Festival Day 1

Hello all!

Tonight was the first night of the 1st TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, CA and it was marvelous!

I went with my friend Alex and he and I saw Monkey Business and Casablanca.

Monkey Business stars Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers and Marilyn Monroe, was directed by Howard Hawk and it is a blast. I hadn't seen it in a few years and it cracked me up as well as brought back some great memories of watching it with my Dad.

Casablanca, was better than I had imagined. To see Ingrid's talent and beauty on the big screen was breathtaking. It was a complete experience. It was like traveling back in time in a comfy theater seat, with popcorn fuel and soda pop dreams. Her tears for Rick and Laszlo were as big as me! I seriously almost cried when she asked Sam to play "As Time Goes By."

I also clapped and sang along to "Knock on Wood." LOL. I think they should tour with this film and we should make it like the Rocky Horror Picture Show-- everyone participate and dress up... but don't dress like a Nazi. That wouldn't be tasteful.

Well I'm tired- so I can't report much more, except that everyone should see an Ingrid Bergman film or a classic film on the big screen before they die. It's pure bliss.

Here are some pictures from today and tomorrow I think I will be wearing my floppy brown hat and my blue and gold dress.* If you are at the festival, please say hello-- or send an email to ingridbergmanfilms@gmail.com and let me know if you're going to a screening. It would be great to have some pictures with readers and to meet you!

Marquee at Mann's Chinese 6.

PURE HOLLYWOOD. LOL

Alex and Me (he's a brilliant filmmaker who is in my class at USC SCA)

(Me next to the Casablanca image on the map at Mann's Chinese 6 Theater)

(This is the red carpet we couldn't get to because our passes are just "Classic" lol)

Oh - PS - Peter Bogdanovich introduced Monkey Business and Ben Mankiewicz introducedCasablanca- both were hilarious and know their stuff. Entertaining and informative! :)

*Change of plans with the clothing... but I'll definitely have my floppy hat. I'll probably tweet what I'm wearing and which screening I'm at, if anyone is there.

Movies Unlimited: Movie Fan Fare

I am extremely happy today! Ingrid Bergman Life and Films has been re-posted and promoted by "Movies Unlimited: Movie Fan Fare"!!!

I was contacted by Chris Cummins from the website and he said the following:

"Hello,

We would love to repost your Casablanca: A History piece (http://ingridbergmanfilms.blogspot.com/2009/11/casablanca-history.html). The only changed we would make would be that we would include a new piece of art as the header image and insert a retail link to the film on our retail site. (www.moviesunlimited.com). If either of these changes is a problem, please let me know.

Additionally, at the bottom of your piece we would like to include a brief bio of you. Could we use the one from your website, or would you like to write a new 1-2 line bio for us? Either way is fine. We will give you a link at the bottom of the page as well. At this point, we would like to run the piece in approximately 2 weeks, we can email you when we know exactly when. Again, a million thanks for sharing this piece with us. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Chris"

Of course I said a giant "YES!" to the situation. Lol.

I am truly honored to have my blog represented in such a fashion. It's a feather in the cap of Ingrid Bergman as well. As long as she remains in discussions and around us, I'm doing my job!

The blog is almost a year old and you all have made it such fun to have an environment in which Ingrid is loved and respected.

Thank you Movies Unlimited and thank you for reading :)

Looney Tunes: "Carrotblanca"

Someone on Tumblr.com posted a picture of Looney Tune's "Carrotblanca," so I had to find it on youtube.com

Amazing. Hilarious. Stunningly accurate. All of the jokes are right on target. The quotes are just close enough to be funny and it's Looney Tunes...who can refuse?!

I hope you enjoy this short blissful parody as much as I have. I hope to write soon. Just let me finish some homework and I'll try and get to it! :)

61 followers! Yey!

PS if you want more Ingrid consistantly, please follow my tumblr.com account or follow me on twitter... also-- comments make everyone happy! :)

Casablanca: A History

On December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the play, Everybody Goes to Rick's, was purchased by Warner Bros. Producer Hal Wallis for (USD) $20,000. This was the most money ever spent on an un-produced play and would start on of the most perfectly timed cinematic events in film history.

The original story was discovered by Irene Lee, the story department head who felt like it had potential.

There is always talk about the way Casablanca was written, I'll try and bring forth what seems to be the way it ended up the way it did.

The title was changed from Everybody Goes to Rick's to Casablanca because it was catchy and relevant. People at the time would have seen the word "Casablanca" in the news and were mostly aware of where it is.

The original story break down was: "The heroine in the play was Lois, a wanton American and classic femme noire. Her earlier affair with Rick in Paris had broken up his marriage, and as the story opens she arrives in Casablanca as the mistress, not the wife, of Resistance leader Victor Laszlo." (The Genius of the System, 315)

Aeneas Mackenzie and Wally Kline worked on a treatment in January of 1942, but their rendition was changed because Wallis was unhappy with the Lois character. Wallis took the two writers off the film in February 1942 and hired Casey Robinson who was a notable melodrama writer. During this month, the Epstein twins (Philip and Julius) were officially hired for the job. It was also at this time that Louis Renault (Claude Rains' character) was reworked to be an ally of Rick's at certain points of the story.

Robinson received no formal recognition for his writing because he refused to share billing. He therefore was left out of the credits and eventually out of the Oscar run.

Robinson is who we can credit with changing Lois into Ilsa, the innocent European played by Ingrid Bergman.

Thanks to the trade of Warner Bros.' Olivia de Havilland for David O. Selznick's Ingrid Bergman, Ingrid was cast on April 24, 1942. Selznick, who thought it was good for Ingrid's image to be in a pro-United States, war-time film (due to "possibility of Sweden's alliance with Germany and Italy" [Notorious: the Ingrid Bergman Story, 122]) traded Ingrid for $125,000 of which she received her standard salary of $3500. (122) Humphrey Bogart also didn't profit much out of his starring in the film, only earning his Warner Bros.' allotted salary of $2,750.

Ingrid wrote her friend Ruth Roberts on the subject of being cast for Casablanca, "The picture is called Casablanca and I really don't know what it's all about." (122)

Ingrid joined the production (physically in Hollywood) on May 2, 1942.

Now, watch this video for Ingrid's take on how the script was done and how confused she was- then we can continue with the myths and different casting things that went on during the pre-through-post production times:

Though Ingrid felt like the writing was confusing as well as the direction, it wasn't uncommon in those times, as well as on some sets today, to have a lot of things changed or not finished. Though this movie was unique in the fact that they didn't know what ending they were going to use until they shot the version we see today. There were a lot of rewrites and a lot of undecided factors- including who Ilsa would follow in the end. Some books suggest that her performance was enhanced by the fact that just like her character, she was in an internal turmoil between the men.

The collaboration was that of an open one. Everyone contributed ideas. Some of the more famous lines like "Here's looking at you kid." were actually brought to the film or the writer's attention by Humphrey Bogart.

Back to the historical significance and wonderful timing:

• The movie's initiation was the day after "Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7, 1942)"
• The film was named for it's geographical location, much like the Hedy Lemar/Charles Boyer film Algiers which audiences would have related to the times and settings they already were familiar with (thanks to the news and reels).
• The film went into general release (January 1943) just as the Allies opened a summit conference in Casablanca. Adding to curiosity, relevance, ticket sales and popularity.
• Was seen as the first film to show "America's commitment to the war" (The Genius of the System, 317).
• In April of 1942 Howard Koch (one of the credited writers) was told to increase talk of Rick's political standings as well as occupation in Casablanca in the script. This was all at a time when it was a part of France but was infiltrated by all types of people (as seen in the film).
• Hal Wallis was going to make many retakes and shoot more scenes but was halted by various events including, not being able to reshoot with Ingrid who had cut her hair for For Whom The Bell Tolls and because when they were about to reshoot, the Allies landed in Casablanca for the North African campaign.
• This story was one of the first, if not the first, to re-write United States melodrama towards benefitting the war. The leads were to give up certain understood notions like ending up together, being only with one another and selfishly disregarding others for sacrificing self for the greater good (i.e. Ilsa goes off with Laszlo and Rick stays to fight for the country he initially couldn't care less about).

The film was released on November 26, 1942- which was a pushed premier date because it was another timing issue. They felt it would be better off considering the Allies were doing well and everyone was getting involved. Plus no one knew what could happen next...

Just a couple of other tid-bits:

• As Time Goes By was almost cut from the movie completely. They found that they'd have to reshoot all the scenes with it, including major bar scenes and scenes with Ingrid, so they left it in. It was an unexpected, now iconic, hit.
• Both in November of '42 and January '43 Casablanca was a hit. Ingrid never understood this until she saw the film later in life. She was admittedly focused on her next film.
• "Even when spoken by supporting actors, the dialog is filled with innuendoes, ambiguities and ironies. In fact, many of the men and women playing waiters, refugees or nameless customers were Europeans who had emigrated to Hollywood to escape Nazism. Neverously hopeful, coldly indifferent or patient and resigned the presence of minor characrters intensifies the oppressive atmosphere of the film"-Reclams Filmklassiker (100 Greatest Films of All Time, 210)
• Paul Henreid was not sure he wanted to play the 2nd man in this film because he was concerned about typecasting as well as playing second fiddle to the stars and not being remembered.
• On their relationship, Ingrid stated about Bogie that "I kissed Bogie, but I never got to know him." (Ingrid, 82)
• The line at the end of the film "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" was added in post production and was written by Hal Wallis. It is ranked #20 on the AFI's Top 100 Movie Quotes.

Casablanca. 1942. 102 Minutes. B&W. Drama.

OSCARS: Best Picture (Hal B. Wallis), Best Director (Michael Curtiz), Best Screenplay (Julius J. Epstein, Phillip G. Epstein and Howard Koch).

Attempting Casablanca--Oh Good Grief!

Due to Casablanca's overwhelming success over the past 67 years, I have to respect this and do my research accordingly.

I have tons of resources to help me out. I plan on giving you facts, quotes, historical data as well as background on the movie then doing a play-by-play of the film itself. The p.b.p. may be mixes of opinion, comments, sarcasm, film commentary, definition of what's going on as well as anything else I can conjure up. Hopefully everyone's cool with that. If you have disagreements, that's fine, I expect it. It's the #2 film of all time (AFI Top 100 Movies) so I expect everyone to have seen it as well as have opinions about the film.

Now I must get to my research, but I will leave you with this to get all engines revving!

Casablanca Parodies

I have realized that the posts I've made today have all revolved around Casablanca. This is assuming everyone has seen it since you're here @ Ingrid Bergman Life and Films.

I want to now point you in the direction of Casablanca parodies that I have found on the internet. Feel free to point me in the direction of any other ones you know about, please! :)

These are all pretty ridiculous, but I think they're funny and related to the theme of the day. Lol.

Enjoy, lightheartedly.

!0 Year Old Classic Hollywood Prodigy

Friday night I was having dinner with the people I live with and their friends. Their friends have 3 children, one of whom, Thomas, is really into classic film!

The catch is: Thomas is 10.

This kid knows a ton about Classic Film. He has his favorites and is a total WWII buff. He and I had talked about Indiana Jones before, but on this particular evening he brought up Casablanca.

Thomas told me that he has a poster of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, from Casablanca, in his room.

I thought this was amazing. The kid could list off tons of movies including Gunga Din and The Maltese Falcon.

He was most interested in how the studio system conducted business, including the breakdown of the system and buy outs. Smart kid.

Thomas has a blog. Yes, can you believe it? He, a 10 year old, has a blog and it's about Classic Film. Well, let me be more specific; his blog is about Legos and Hollywood.

I have known about these shorts that Lego's does, involving recreating scenes and summaries of iconic films with Lego pieces. Thomas has made a blog discussing his favorite films, the Lego recreations, and it includes photos, write ups and video!

If you'd like to check out Thomas' work, blog, opinion or become one of his followers, please visit Legos-Hollywood. Keep in mind that he is 10, but also, that he is trying to learn all he can about film and the system.

Thomas, if you read this-- Check out this book that Sarah Case gave me for my birthday last year-- it's called Boom and Bust: American Cinema in the 1940s (click on the link and it will take you to what it looks like and prices on amazon.com). It might be a bit of an advanced read, but it explains the studio system, who bought who in the 40s and how it all worked. A dry, textual read, but extremely. informative.

Oh, anyone else can click that as well... just thought I'd tell Thomas first! :)

So True

My friend Adi sent me this page of her Marketing text book. The comment below the poster says,

"Consumers often feel dissonance when purchasing products or services. It is that uncomfortable feeling of mixed emotions-- the movie makes me said, but I love Bogart and Bergman."

Not only was it really cool of Adi to send me this photo, but it's also incredibly true. We overcome the knowledge of emotions that may cause us to be temporarily uncomfortable in order to see the better parts of things, including our favorite stars, directors and scenes. This short statement is making a simple analogy to try to appeal to the Marketing students who might read the text, but within this simple analogy is a deeper appeal to people who enjoy what is actually pictured.

We know that in order to be worth while, a film has to have conflict. In order for us to love Casablanca, there have to be parts which we don't necessarily love. A few key moments in Casablanca for example, most people say, "I would have done this..." or "I would have done that..." but what makes the film great, is that the moments of dissonance occur.

Granted, I'm taking this statement and running. I mean I'm sure the writer of the text was not thinking, "Oh, I'm sure some Classic Film geek will be blogging about this some day so I better refer to Casablanca in order to have my work vaguely referred." Doubtful.

Conflict and drama rely on the juxtaposition of emotions, situations, people, personalities or really any two things. Sometimes, more than two. I am not a big fan of the word juxtaposition when I am describing films. Though, I feel that we all use it from time to time, I just feel it an "any film person's" word and slightly pretentious. I digress.

The contrast, though it may make us uncomfortable, irritable, angry, sad or the opposite of those things, it is needed. You would never be happy if you didn't know un-happy. You would never know agitation without desire.

When a film has a blend of ups and downs, timed correctly and rightfully administered, it is inescapable and memorable.

When I film is too bland or too rough towards the senses, chances are, it will lose you at some point, you'll check your watch or reject what is being offered.

Casablanca is a film where you cannot look away. It never asks you if you're alright with the situation, but it captures you and won't let go.

The film has it's own initial contrast, which I constantly bring up because the irony is too good: The film itself was a happy accident. The actors weren't pleased with the movie while filming, the writers didn't have an ending (they shot two because they couldn't figure out what was best on paper), many people threatened, or thought about leaving... and yet it ended up #2 on AFI's Top 100 movies of all time.

The end result was worth the dissonance. So, don't reject dissonance until it completely loses you. Whatever is around the corner might be the best thing you could imagine.

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! :)

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.

Please visit her post "The Lesser Loved That I Love More: Rick Blaine vs. Victor Laszlo"

:)

Warner Bros. Casablanca Pirating Ad!

I was just put Season 5 of Nip/Tuck into my DVD drive of my computer and all the sudden-- INGRID WAS ON SCREEN!
I thought it was a part of the show, but it was a pirating PSA put before the show from Warner Bros.
It's hilarious and wonderful!

Here it is!



I love it when this happens! Don't you? Tell me about times where your favorite Ingrid things, or just favorite things in general mix together and give you a happy surprise! :)

Casablanca-- Bunny style

Check out this 30 second rendition of Casablanca played by cartoon bunnies!

Casablanca 30 Second Bunnies