Golden Age of Hollywood
Ingrid Bergman
One of the most talented and beautiful actresses Hollywood ever saw, Ingrid Bergman, was born on August 29, 1915 in Stockholm, Sweden. While she is, understandably, best-remembered for her iconic movie Casablanca, Ingrid’s filmography is filled with outstanding films and one extraordinary performance after another.
Happy Heavenly birthday to this beautiful and iconic actress!
Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck
We all have our favorite Alfred Hitchcock films (or as we almost always call them, our “favorite Hitchcocks”). My top two favorites usually aren’t anyone else’s top two favorites… not that I mind in the least.. leaves more of them for me! What are these rare Hitchcock favorites?
It isn’t surprising that they each star a dynamic lead actor (Ray Milland and Gregory Peck) and a mesmerizing leading lady (Grace Kelly and Ingrid Bergman).
“Ingrid was warm and wonderful. She was very, very young, and she had a fresh quality, but she had more confidence than I did. No wonder. She was beautiful, more beautiful in person than on the screen.” ~ Gregory Peck
You can find Spellbound on Amazon (link to the dvd on Amazon). Amazon also has a great number of Hitchcock collections – many of which include Spellbound.
Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck, Spellbound
An onscreen couple I don’t think any of us talk nearly enough about is Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman. The two teamed up for the wonderful Hitchcock film Spellbound and their chemistry certainly lived up to the title, as they do, in fact, leave you spellbound.
If you’ve never seen this Hitchcock, I hope you’ll find it soon. It’s one of my top two favorite Hitchcock films (along with Dial M for Murder).
You can find Spellbound on Amazon (link to the dvd on Amazon). Amazon also has a great number of Hitchcock collections – many of which include Spellbound.
Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant, Notorious
There’s something extra fun about two powerhouse stars teaming up for a film – seeing them interacting onscreen together is a special kind of magic, isn’t it?
Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant are outstanding in the 1946 film Notorious. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this is one memorable movie.
Find Notorious on Amazon.
Humphrey Bogart, Claude Rains, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid
If you were to ask me to name a perfect movie, one of the first films that would come out of my mouth would be Casablanca. Four of the reasons it’s such a perfect film are looking at you here, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Paul Henreid, and Humphrey Bogart.
These four stars work absolute magic in this film – with each playing their role to perfection. Throw in Sydney Greenstreet (he’s always wonderful, isn’t he??!!) and it’s one of the greatest casts ever assembled.
Paul Henreid, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains
Casablanca is one of the films that made me fall in love with old Hollywood many, many years ago and I love it even more today than I did then. It’s a timeless, wonderful film and, with that, I do believe I’m going to grab a cup of hot cocoa and sit in the den with a couple of my cats and escape into their world for a few hours.
I’ll tell Ingrid, Humphrey, Paul, Claude, and Sydney you said, “Hi.”
Ingrid Bergman as Ivy in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
One of the things that I get the biggest kick out of is becoming totally infatuated with a star I had never really gotten past the friends stage with. When you watch a LOT of classic movies, it tends to happen. As I’ve often said on this blog, one of the problems for me is that I tend to watch movies staring my absolute favorites… so I often miss stars that would easily become favorites if I simply gave them a chance!
Ironically Ingrid Bergman is a perfect example. While I had seen a few of her movies (Casablanca and Rage in Heaven), I hadn’t witnessed the full range of her talent and magnetism. I recently came face to face with both in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and she BOLTED into my top five favorite actresses. I went from “liking her perfectly fine” to “Got to get my hands on every Ingrid Bergman movie made!”
True to form, I watched Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) because it starred a personal favorite (Lana Turner – who is also wonderful in this movie). I expected to love Lana – after all, I’ve always loved Lana! – but I didn’t expect for another star to steal the movie right out from under her!
Shhh, don’t tell Lana.
Ingrid Bergman stars as Ivy in the movie and every single second she’s on the screen is magical. She absolutely takes your breath away – and you don’t mind it a bit. Playfulness, fear, flirtation, heartache… she squeezes all that can be squeezed from each emotion and then some.
In short, it’s just a joy to behold. It’s performances like this that remind us why we love movies as much as we do – especially the classic ones because they have the best stories to tell and, in my opinion, tell them best.
The 1941 version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde isn’t, if I’m being honest, the most handsome soldier in line. Is it good? Yes. Great? Well… that’s a tough one. Ingrid Bergman (Ivy) and Lana Turner (Beatrix) are great. They’re wonderful, make no mistake about it.
The story is also great. That’s why it consistently stands the test of time. Everyone will always know and talk about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
So what keeps me from calling the movie, itself, great? I hate to say anything negative about a wonderful actor that I think the world of (Spencer Tracy), but his portrayal of Mr. Hyde is pretty distracting. The makeup – over the top. The expressions – over the top. Naturally, these are only my opinions but if someone had reigned him and the makeup department in a bit, this would have been (without question) a great movie.
Oddly enough, Spencer is fantastic as Dr. Jekyll. He’s the charming, wonderful, warm actor we all know and love.
Then comes that cursed, creepy Dr. Hyde!
Having said all of this, it is most definitely a movie worth watching. The performance of the two actresses, alone, should make this a movie you either watch or re-watch right away.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some (Ingrid Bergman DVDs) shopping to do on Amazon!
A Scene from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde:
The beauty above is Silent Film star Mildred Davis. She was a frequent co-star (and longtime wife) of legendary actor Harold Lloyd. She’s one of my favorite silent film actresses and one I can’t understand not being a household name!
Another personal absolute favorite of mine is Barbara Stanwyck. Not only was she beautiful and outrageously talented, she was exceptionally bright, charismatic, and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!
There’s nothing quite like watching a movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Whether it’s a Musical, Western, Comedy, Romance, Film Noir, or Drama – if it’s on, I’m not too far away… with popcorn and raspberry tea in hand and a couple of cats nearby.
Below are a few Old Hollywood movie reviews I’ve done on the blog. There are, as you’d imagine, a lot more to come. – Joi (“Joy”)
We’re in the Money (Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell)
The Naked Spur (James Stewart, Janet Leigh)
The Prince and the Showgirl (Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier)
The White Sister (Helen Hayes, Clark Gable)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar)
Rio Bravo (John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan)
El Dorado (John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Michele Carey)
Rio Grande (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara)
Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein (What is it With Me and These Movies??)
The Stooge (Jerry Lewis’ favorite Lewis and Martin Movie… for good reason.)
Critic’s Choice (Hilarious movie starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball)
To Please a Lady (Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck team up in a fast track movie)
Grand Hotel (Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore)
Hearts Divided (Marion Davies, Dick Powell)
The Quiet Man (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald)
More Old Hollywood Movie Reviews
Find out just how much I (truly) Love Lucy in the Lucille Ball category. I’m warning you, I call it an obsession for a very good reason…
