Biography of Ingrid Bergman

The confirmations of prestige

29 November 1915 29 August 1982 Ingrid Bergman was born in Stockholm (Sweden) on 29 August 1915, the only child of Swedish painter and photographer Justus Samuel Bergman and German Friedel Adler. When Ingris has just three years loses his mother, fact that will spend a lonely childhood alone with her father. At thirteen Ingrid finds herself an orphan of both parents and is adopted by relatives, who become her guardians. He studied at the Royal dramatic Theatre School Mathew (Royal Dramatic Theater) of Stockholm, then at the age of 20 years knows Peter Lindstrom, a dentist by profession, with which comes a love story. Peter introduces her to an Executive of the Swedish film industry (Svenskfilmindustri). Ingrid gets so a small part in "the Earl of old town" (Munkbrogreven, 1935). In his debut film Рunpublished in Italy-Ingrid Bergman plays the role of a waitress in a modest hotel in the old town of Stockholm. Thanks to this small part she was noticed by Director Gustaf Molander, trying to cast it in Sweden to make her great promise: in a few years, from 1935 to 1938, he played more than ten movies, including "faceless" (En Kvinnas Ansikte)-of which will be filmed a remake with Joan Crawford in the title role-and the famous "Intermezzo", filme which will be your Passport to Hollywood. In 1937 she married with Peter Lindstrom: the following year gave birth to her daughter Pia Friedal. Meanwhile the producer David o. Selznick intends to turn an American version of "Intermezzo". Ingrid Bergman is named in the United States and was offered a contract by dream: for the next seven years the Swedish actress would choose personally the scripts from acting, directors and partners. These were unusual for the time, but concessions and privileges that give a clear idea of the prestige that had reached the class of Ingrid Bergman in America, even before I put my foot. Selznick thought Ingrid Bergman as the possible successor to Greta Garbo, only ten years older than she, another Swedish diva (compatriot of Bergman) that after the transition from silent films to talkies had found in the descending phase of his career, so much so that in a few years he would retreat forever from the scene. Ingrid however rejects the proposal because he wants on the one hand supporting her husband's career is ending new studies undertaken to become a neurosurgeon, and devote himself to the little girl who is only one year old. Ingrid signs contract for one year, with the proviso of being able to return home if the movie will not succeed. It happens then that the remake of "Intermezzo" collects a huge consensus. The Bergman returns to Sweden to complete some other movies, then fly to the United States in 1940 with the whole family: after appearing in three blockbuster movies. In 1942 Selznick sells borrowed the actress at Warner for the realization of a low-budget film, next to Humphrey Bogart: the title is "Casablanca" movie intended to enter into the history of cinema, becoming a classic of all time. In 1943 the first Academy Award nomination for best actress for the film "for whom the bell tolls" ("For Whom the Bell Tolls, 1943). The following year he won the statuette for the thriller "anguish" (Gaslight, 1944). His third consecutive nomination for an Oscar as best actress comes to the interpretation of "the bells of St. Mary" ("The Bells of St. Mary's, 1945). In 1946 new CD "Notorious" (directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant): is the last film that Bergman runs under contract with Selznick. Husband convinces his wife that Selznick had widely Lindstrom exploited, grossing millions of dollars in Exchange for a fee of only 80 thousand dollars annually: Ingrid signature as well with a new production company to interpret "Arc de Triomphe", with Charles Boyer, the novel by Remarque. The movie, weak-willed and confused, will not have the expected success and the actress, who for years had applied unsuccessfully to Selznick to interpret on the screen the role of Joan of arc, decides that it is time to take a risk. Is an independent production company and at a cost of 5 million well (astronomical figure for the time), he made his "Joan of Arc" (Joan of Arc, 1948), full of glitzy costumes, characters and spectacular scenery. The film the fruit its fourth nomination, however it will be a spectacular failure. The double crisis with Lindstrom, of which one went chatting for some time, is becoming more acute and the disappointment of failure fuels the conviction of Bergman on the excessive importance that Hollywood gives the business side of film, at the expense of the artistic aspect. Boost by his friend Robert Capa, photojournalist known with whom weaves a brief affair, Ingrid is interested in the new wave of cinema that comes from Europe, and in particular Italian neorealism. After seeing "Rome open city" and "Paisan," writes a letter to the Italian director Roberto Rossellini-remained famous-where it stands ready to act for him. The letter included the passage "If you need a Swedish actress who speaks English very well, which has not forgotten her German, it does almost understand in French, and in Italian knows only" ti amo ", are ready to come to Italy to work with her." Rossellini doesn't miss an opportunity: he has a script in the drawer intended originally to the Italian actress Anna Magnani, his partner in life, and set in Stromboli. The Bergman is in Europe, engaged in the filming of "the sin of Capricorn" and Director rushes to Paris, where he manages to meet her and to propose the design of the film. Obtained in the meantime a loan from Howard Hughes, thanks to the fame of Bergman, Roberto Rossellini received a positive response by telegram: in March 1949 part machining "Stromboli". The set is besieged by photographers and journalists; begin to seep out rumors about the relationship between the Director and his interpreter. At the end of the year the Press publishes the news of the pregnancy of Bergman. For the American public is one huge scandal: Ingrid Bergman, hitherto considered a Saint, suddenly becomes an adulteress from stoning and the press calls Hollywood's apostle of degradation (Apostle of degradation of Hollywood), mounting a smear campaign against him. Dr. Lindstrom asks for a divorce and get custody of the daughter Pia, which in turn declares he never loved his mother. In 1950 Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman married Roberto Rossellini was born Jr, said Robbie: Roman clinic must act law enforcement to quell the throngs of paparazzi and curious. Meanwhile comes out in theaters the film "Stromboli": in Italy gets a good success, generated mostly by curiosity, while in the United States the film records a resounding fiasco, both unfavorable attitude of the media, both the pressures of funders of the film, which claimed a montage that did not reflect in any way the author's intentions. Ingrid Bergman in June 1952 gives birth to the twins Isotta Ingrid and Isabella. The actress slowly regaining the sympathies of the audience: the press portrays her in poses from housewife and mom happy and says he has finally found peace in Rome, although the film that continues to run under the direction of Roberto Rossellini (including "Europa ' 51" and "journey to Italy") are ignored by the public. In 1956 United States receives from a fabulous offer from the Fox, who offered her to play the lead role in a big-budget film about the survivor of the massacre of the family of the Tsar of Russia. With this role in the film titled "Anastasia" (1956, with Yul Brynner), Bergman makes his triumphant return to Hollywood after the scandal of the previous years, winning the Oscar for best actress award for the second time. The Union with the Director Roberto Rossellini meanwhile is in crisis: the Italian side to India to make a documentary and it comes back after sometime with a new companion, Sonali das Gupta. Ingrid Meanwhile continues to interpret blockbusters-the first two titles are "Indiscreet" and "the Inn of the sixth happiness", both from the 1958-and knows a theatrical Swede, Lars Schmidt, who would become her third husband (December 1958). In the following years alternate interpretations in American and European films, but at the same time he devoted himself to the theatre and on television. His third Academy Award-is the first outstanding supporting actress-for her role in "murder on the Orient Express" (Murder on the Orient Express, 1975, Sidney Lumet, with Albert Finney and Lauren Bacall), based on the story by Agatha Christie. By withdrawing the third statuette Ingrid declares publicly that, in his opinion, the Oscar should have gone to her friend Valentina Cortese, nominated for "day for night", by Fran̤ois Truffaut. In 1978 comes from Sweden the proposal to work with the most prestigious of his directors, Ingmar Bergman. Ingrid accepts with courage a twofold challenge: recovering from surgery and a heavy chemotherapy for breast cancer, decides to immerse himself in the difficult role of a cynical and selfish mother who put her career at affection for their children. "Autumn Sonata" (Autumn Sonata) is his latest film interpretation. Considered a test of acting between its best, for this will receive his seventh Oscar nomination. In 1980, as the disease gives signs of its resurgence, publishes a memoir written with Alan Burgess: "Ingrid Bergman-my story". In the 1981 Act for television in his latest work, a biography of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, which will receive a posthumous Emmy Award (1982) as "best actress". On August 29, 1982 in London, on his 67th birthday, Ingrid Bergman dies. The body is cremated in Sweden and the ashes are scattered with flowers on national waters; the URN, now empty, that contained, is located at Norra Begravningsplatsen (Northern Cemetery) in Stockholm. His modesty, Indro Montanelli was able to say, "Ingrid Bergman is perhaps the only person in the world that does not consider fully successful actress Ingrid Bergman and finally arrived".
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.