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! 

"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!

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!

2014 Ford Fiesta Movement

Hello Everyone!

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a very long time... I am wrapping up my final semester at USC School of Cinematic Arts and I am involved in a bunch of projects... Not leaving me much time to write about Ingrid Bergman too much.
I plan on attending the 2013 TCM Film Festival and hope that you will too! It's always fun and generally there's one or two Ingrid Bergman films... Let's hope it happens again!

I am writing this post because I am applying to be a part of the "Ford Fiesta Movement" again! Ford gives out 100 cars for 8 months to people who are film savvy, creative and have a web presence. I did this in 2009 and would love the chance to do it again!

Here is my video... If you like it, please "like" it on Youtube and Subscribe!



I also have a Facebook Page for it: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ford-Fiesta-Movement-Alexis-Page-/66806812366

You can also follow me on Twitter @alexis_morrell
And on Instagram @lex112884

Thank you for reading!
-Alexis

Happy Birthday and RIP Ingrid Bergman

30 years ago, today, Ingrid Bergman passed away from cancer.
97 years ago, today, Ingrid Bergman was born in Sweden.

A full circle life that was, luckily, caught on camera and immortalized for everyone, including those of us who weren't around during her lifespan.

A letter:

Dear Ingrid Bergman,

Thank you for existing. Your 67 years on this earth were filled with very public joys and pains. You made films with some of the most historically famous filmmakers of all time; Hitchcock, Jack Cardiff, Roberto Rossellini, Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Michael Curtiz, among others. You worked with some of the most recognizable faces in the "Golden Days" of the industry; Gregory Peck, Cary Grant, Lana Turner, Spencer Tracy, Joseph Cotton, Liza Manelli, Mel Ferrer, Anthony Perkins, Yves Montand, Humphrey Bogart, Claude Rains and many more. If you showed this resume to anyone, they'd faint.

We, your fans, are glad that you existed. We now have the technology and capability to watch you on Netflix, pop in a DVD and see your films or buy VHS copies of hard to find movies from amazon.com. Longtailing is a wonderful thing. You weren't here to witness the internet... Probably in your best interest.

Your humanity was one of the first revealed to the public. You made some choices in life that remind us that no one in infallible and people have to live with their decisions. None of us care. We all love you.

I personally am grateful for your existence because I am trying to work in the film/TV industry and having you as a guiding light is always an inspiration. It sounds crazy, but you've helped me over the years and always have given me an excuse to write, laugh and cry. Thank you for this.

Happy Birthday Ingrid. You are a shining star that forever burns on celluloid.

And The Winner Is...

TOM!

Tom created the "Broachin' On Ingrid" logo and with 50% of the votes, he wins Taschen's photo book of Ingrid!

Here is Tom's acceptance speech. Congrats again!

"Thanks Alexis! I had fun working on your banner. I don't know if I have a speech, but I could share some Ingrid love! She's one of my favorite actresses. Though I haven't seen any of her Swedish films yet, I have two favorite English-language performances of hers. The first is Casablanca, and the other is A Woman Called Golda, her final filmed performance. Also, I just watched For Whom the Bell Tolls last weekend and loved her in it. Can't wait to read the biography, it sounds like a good one. I want to learn more about her early career and life. And am following your blog! Love it!!" On a different note, I will be moving right after Christmas, from Maryland to California...because of this, my post about Casablanca may be REALLY delayed. I will hopefully do it sometime this week... but I apologize for this extreme delay. I have the first part written, and if you'd like the play by play in sections, let me know and I'll post it as such. Thanks for your support and submissions- they're all fantastic logos and will be used!

Ingrid Bergman Life and Films Logo Contest???

Should we have another Ingrid Bergman Life and Films logo contest? I was thinking about having an Ingrid prize this time... any thoughts?

I know that participation wasn't that high last time, but I did end up with a beautiful logo from Lolita... so it was definitely worth it...

Comment and let me know... I'll also put up another poll to see if anyone's interested.

Next Movie Post

I know that the last post for a movie was quite long and took me a while to actually get up there but I'd like to know if you want me to do another Ingrid film review?

I was thinking the next one could be of one of the following:

Autumn Sonata

Casablanca

or

The Bells of St. Mary's

Let's have a vote! Let me know what movie you'd like to see...

Please vote in the poll on the side bar or leave a comment-- better yet--DO BOTH! :)

Thanks for your readership and your contributions

<3>

Walpurgis Night

Does anyone have or has anyone seen Walpurgis Night? I just found it on ebay but I'm not sure of the quality and can't get it right now. I'm curious as to how difficult it will be to find again... if anyone knows, please let me know! :)

Goldstein Reviews Write Up

One of my future USC SCA Trojans has written a doozie of a write up for my blog! Will Goldstein pens the blog Goldstein Reveiws-Balanced Film Commentary and this blog covers various aspects of film; reviewing, must-sees, classic hits, etc. It is a well articulated commentary based on Will's opinions but also his education in film. His point of view leaves room for argument and like any good author, he entices the reader to bring their POV to the table in an open forum. His blog is entertaining and informative--I suggest checking it out.

The write up about Ingrid Bergman Life and Films can be found here: For Those Interested in the Classics, Read On...

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! :)

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! :)

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!

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! :)

A.V. Club Review "Autumn Sonata"

I was looking around the A.V. Club and found this review of Autumn Sonata. I think it is a fantastic review and reveals my sentiments in perfect context.

Autumn Sonata (VHS&DVD) By Keith Phillips March 29, 2002.

When it was released in 1978, Ingmar Bergman's Autumn Sonatareceived positive to indifferent reviews, written off by many as a minor work from a great director. In the grand scheme of things, that may be a fair assessment, but it must have been quite a golden age if a film this strong warranted dismissal. Like many of the later films of Bergman (and, for that matter, Fellini, Kurosawa, Truffaut, Godard, and others), Autumn Sonata has been only sporadically available on video, and then sometimes in inferior incarnations. Now, however, viewers finally have the opportunity to reappraise it in this fine restored form. A chamber piece for a handful of actors, Autumn Sonata stars frequent Bergman collaborator Liv Ullmann and first-time Bergman star Ingrid Bergman as a mother and daughter who reunite after seven years to spend a long, dark night turning over their differences. With cinematographer Sven Nykvist, the director turns the film's theatrical elements—the soliloquies, the long exchanges—into virtues, creating a film that's alternately warm, claustrophobic, and brutally raw, telling the story largely through long close-ups and close, two-character compositions. It doesn't hurt that they're given the remarkable performances of Ullmann and Ingrid Bergman to work with. Sonata would be the latter's last big screen role; she was already aware of the cancer that would kill her four years later, a fact revealed on the insightful DVD commentary track by Scandinavian film scholar Peter Cowie. Her performance as a famous concert pianist whose humanity comes through more in her art than in her life—there's more than a touch of her character in Woody Allen's Sweet And Lowdown—reveals a well of sadness perfectly in tune with the movie as a whole. With the burden of high expectations lifted, Autumn Sonata can finally be seen as an austerely beautiful meditation on death and the not-always-realized possibility of reconciliation across generations.

Thanks Millie!!

Thanks Millie from Classic Forever. She awarded me the

This is what she posted (HUGE compliments to a lot of us!)

"The beyond cool and amazing Lolita of Lolita's Classics gave me a blog award...um...almost two weeks ago....

Anyways, I now wanted to officially accept this lovely honor, and pass it on!

And, I wanted to profusely thank Lolita for the award. Because getting an award from someone so knowledgeable and amazing is really such a lovely thing...and so good for the blog esteem! And, if I could I really would give the award right back at you...in fact I think I will! It yours again Lolita ;-D!

The people I give the award to are all lovely (with lovely blogs) for different reasons:

Sarah of Cinema Splendor because: she's a dear old friend and I love to visit her blog so much. She's quite funny and clever...but also more than that. I know that when I visit her blog it can cheer me up when I'm sad or make me even more happy when I'm already happy! Going to her blog is like going to a party...the best party ever!

Harley of Dreaming in Black and White because: Harley is Harley. She's funny, sarcastic, and very intelligent. Her blog is like a second home. She loves so many of the same people/things I do (although not for the same reasons...which can cause much arguing! ;-D). Only problem is, she has this really weird crush on Shia Labeouf.......;-D

DKoren of Sidewalk Crossings because: DKoren get's the award for most encouraging blogger. DKoren always leaves a comment on my posts...especially the posts that no one else in their right mind would comment on (example: Michael Callen looking exactly like American Idol Kris Allen). And, when I do a review of Cat Ballou and give Lee Marvin a smashing critique DKoren pops into comment and say that my review was very funny. And slightly mentions that Lee Marvin is a favorite performance of their's...but that I still did an amazing review! That's just DKoren for you! Also, Sidewalk Crossings is an amazing, well-written blog!

Nicole of Classic Hollywood Nerd because: Nicole and her blog are way too underrated! This girl should have at least a thousand followers! Each post from her is original, knowledgeable, concise, lucid (my blog and writing are not), and just plain wonderful! She also comments on my blog all the time...so sweet! Everything about her blog is creative, her ingenious themes and series are amazing...and I should know, because I recently subconsciously stole a series title from her!

Kate-(with a hyphen 'cause she's that cool)Gabrielle of Silents and Talkiesbecause: I don't really know what to say. I'm speechless when I write about Kate. Kate and her blogs are really way too amazing. I recently got to do a guest blogger post for her blog which was admittedly not too good, but Kate never said anything like that! She encouraged me, and drew a most amazing portrait of Ingrid Bergman for it, and then she mailed me the drawing. And well, she's so kind and generous (look at all those contests she does)! All of her paintings, drawings, and Flapperdoodles leave me speechless! Well, I better stop writing because this will get too long...but really Kate is that amazing!

Alexis of Ingrid Bergman Life and Films because: is there anyone who knows more about Ingrid Bergman? Is there anyone who writes better about Ingrid Bergman? Is there anyone who's funnier and also adores Ingrid Bergman? I think not. Alexis is truly amazing.

That's it for this award!

Thanks again to the inimitable Lolita!"

Thank you Millie! This is a giant feather in my hat! Fully appreciated! :)

Please Vote for my Video-- AGAIN

So howcast.com somehow LOST my video entry. I was glad that I checked back, disappointed that they lost my entry, but HAPPY because I misspelled "safety" in my original, so this gives me a much-needed second chance!

So can you please view and vote again? Even Views help!

Click on this video to go to my howcast.com page and view and vote! :)

Thank you!

<3

21 Followers!

I have 21 "Followers" as of today! I am very excited!

Every one of you has helped me to be inspired to write about our favorite leading lady, Ingrid Bergman.

I am working on some new posts with new information and I have just submitted a request to be added to the Official Ingrid Bergman page!

Hopefully we'll be on their Tributes Page soon enough!

Thanks again for your support and feel free to tell your friends!

<3>

Favorite Photo Library!

The "Favorite Photo Library" is now officially on the side bar! Feel free to email me photos or let me know what you want in the library and I'll try and make it happen! 

Thank you for all of your wonderful photos and I may bring back video blogging again! 

Update!

Hello Everyone--
I know that it seems like I'm avoiding the blog--I'm NOT! I PROMISE!

I am just letting the photos flow in for a bit, then I will be putting them all in a special place! That's the surprise of course! I just have to work on it a bit. Please be patient and I'll work on some other posts as well!

Hope everyone is doing well! Don't forget to post your photos! :)