Saratoga Trunk (1945).

Saratoga Trunk (1945). Written by Edna Ferber and Casey Robinson, based on Ferber's best-selling novel of the same name. Cast: Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, Florence Bates, and Flora Robson, who was nominated for a Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance.

The illegitimate daughter Clio Dulaine, of an aristocratic New Orleans Creole man and a light-skinned Creole woman, returns from Paris to her birthplace, Rampart Street. Wanting, to get even with her fathers family for sending her and her mother to Paris. After, her mother accidently killed her husband.

Clio,arrives with her maid, Angelique and her dwarf manservant, Cupidon. They fix up a rundown house on Rampart Street.

At the marketplace, Clio stops for a bowl of jambalaya, there she meets Texan Clint Maroon, who is also eating lunch. Clint, offers to drive Clio to the cathedral in his carriage, but ... Angelique, does not like the idea and prevents her from going with him.

After the service, Clio, Angelique and Cupidon, decide to have breakfast at Begue's, the Dulaines favorite restaurant. There she tells the maitre d' that she is a relative of the Dulaines and he sits her at the table reserved for the Dulaines. When, the Dulaines arrive, they recognize her and leave. Clint and Clio, meet again at the restaurant and he drives her home. Clio and Clint, are attracted to each other and begin a romance.

Clio, who is so obsessed with her plans for revenge, destroys their relationship, with her odd behavior. She wants to marry a rich and powerful man to prove that she is as good as her father's family. Clint, has his own problems and is out for revenge on the railroaders who ruined his father.

Clio, wanting to embarrass the Dulaines, every chance she gets, sees the perfect opportunity to sabotage the society debut of her half-sister Charlotte Therese. The Dulaines, are willing to do anything to get rid of her and offer to pay her $10,000, to destroy the Rampart Street house and bury her mother in a New Orleans cemetery.

Later, Clio joins Clint in Saratoga Springs, where she sets her sights on wealthy railroad heir Bartholomew Van Steed. The hotel is completely booked, Clint, who is now calling himself Colonel Maroon, offers Clio two rooms in his suite. Later, Clint explains to her that Bart owns a railroad, the Saratoga Trunk, that is now worth millions. Railroader Raymond Soule, the same man who ruined Clint's father, is now trying to steal the railroad from Bart.

Clio, comes up with the idea to poses as the widow of a French count and is backed up by a fast thinking socialite Mrs. Coventry Bellop, who dislikes Van Steed's mother. Clio, quickly wins Bart's heart.

Clint, offers to help Bart, save the Saratoga Trunk from Soule, for shares in the railroad. When Clio learns that Bart is paying Clint to do his dirty work, she calls him a coward. Bart, now knows the truth about who she really is, but.. wants to marry her anyway.

During the costume ball, Clint and Cupidon, who saves Clint life, arrives seriously wounded after a train wreck and fight with Soule's men. Will Clio realizes before it is too late, that she loves Clint too much to marry another man?

Fun Facts:

It was shot in late February 1943 to late June 1943 but because of the overload of war related films they held the release to 1945. Share this The word "Trunk" refers to a branch railroad line - a 'trunk' line - in this case, to Binghamton, New York on the Delaware and Hudson.

Due to wartime rationing shortages, most of the vegetables in the New Orleans market scene were fake.

Jack L. Warner purchased the rights to the novel with the hopes to star Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn. But scheduling conflicts with both performers caused them to turn down the project.

Warners had hoped to possibly borrow Lena Horne from MGM for the role of Clio, but the studio refused to loan her out.

Two songs were published based on themes from the Max Steiner score: "As Long As I Live" and "Goin' Home", both with lyrics by Charles Tobias.

For the climactic train wreck scene, director Sam Wood used two complete trains, including 2 locomotives and 12 cars. Six cameras were used to film the scene where the trains meet in a head-on collision.

I have seen this film a couple of times and thought Ingrid, is at her best. I did have a little sympathy for Ingrids character, even though she was a little ruthless at times. Gary Cooper, is wonderful playing the handsome Texan Bachelor/Gambler, Clint. I do not think Gary Copper, can give a bad performance.

I loved the scene where Bergman, walks to the Saratoge Springs, to get some of the "sulfur" water and after she drinks it, she forces herself not to make a face and says " how good it is and that she must have more ".

The climactic train wreck scene, is amazingly well done.

Dame Flora McKenzie Robson, DBE (28 March 1902 – 7 July 1984) was an English actress, renowned as a character actress, who played roles ranging from queens to villainesses.

She was educated at the Palmers Green High School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Her father discovered that Flora had a talent for recitation and, from the age of five, she was taken around by horse and carriage to recite, and to compete in recitations.

 This established a pattern that remained with her. Robson made her stage debut in 1921, at aged 19. She specialised in character roles, notably that of Queen Elizabeth I in both Fire Over England (1937) and The Sea Hawk (1940).

At the age of 32, Robson played the Empress Elizabeth in Alexander Korda's Catherine the Great (1934). She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ingrid Bergman's servant in Saratoga Trunk (1945).

That same year audiences in the U.K. and the U.S. watched her hypnotic performance as nursemaid and royal confidante Ftatateeta, to Vivien Leigh's Queen Cleopatra, in the screen adaptation of George Bernhard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra (1945).

After the war, demonstrating her range, she appeared in Holiday Camp (1947), the first of a series of films which featured the very ordinary Huggett family; as Sister Philippa in Black Narcissus (1947); as a magistrate in Goodtime Girl (1948); as a prospective Labour MP in Frieda (1947); and in costume melodrama, Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948).

Her other film roles included the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland (1972), Livia in the abortively-attempted I, Claudius (1937), Miss Milchrest in Murder at the Gallop (1963). She acted late into life, latterly for American television films, including a lavish production of A Tale of Two Cities (in which she played Miss Pross).

 She also gave performances for British television, including The Shrimp and the Anemone. She also continued to act in the West End, in such plays as Ring Round the Moon, The Importance of Being Earnest and Three Sisters. Robson essentially retired from the theatre in the early 1970s, her last role being as a Stygian Witch in the fantasy adventure Clash of the Titans in 1981.

A very young Dame Flora McKenzie Robson

Pawsome Pet Pictures - Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman and her little duckies

Happy Birthday Ingrid Bergman (1915 - 1982)

Happy Birthday to the legendary Ingrid Bergman. Her many classic films include Casablanca, Notorious, Gaslight, The Bells Of St. Mary, Anastasia, and Joan Of Arc. She is survived by her 4 children including actress Isabella Rossellini.

Notorious (1946)

One of my favorite films and another winner from ace director Alfred Hitchcock. Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman) is the daughter of a German spy who just recently committed suicide while serving his prison sentence. Alicia takes to drinking and men before she is approached by government agent T.R. Devlin (a smooth Cary Grant) to take on a job. The task is for Alicia to spy on her father's Nazi friends, who are operating out of Rio de Janiero. Of course along the way Alicia and Devlin become attracted to each other. Notorious is a solid romantic thriller with both Grant and Bergman giving top notch performances. Also good is Claude Rains as wealthy German businessman Alexander Sebastian, who Alicia ends up romancing and even marrying to get as close as possible to him and all his secrets. A very well made film, which is no surprise since it's done by the master of suspense, Hitchcock. A good film to watch in honor of Ingrid's day on TCM.

Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman, was a Swedish actress noted for her starring roles in American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute. She is best remembered for her role as Ilsa Lund in Casablanca (1942), a World War II drama co-starring Humphrey Bogart. Another one of my favorite Ingid Bergman films: Gaslight(1944).


Mystery-thriller film adapted from Patrick Hamilton's play performed as Angel Street on Broadway in 1941. It was the second version to be filmed; the first, released in Great Britain, had been made four years earlier. This 1944 version of the story was directed by George Cukor. Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, Joseph Cotten, and eighteen-year-old Angela Lansbury in her screen debut.

After her Aunt Alice Alquist, a famous opera singer, is found murdered in their London home at No. 9 Thornton Square, Paula Alquist moves to Italy.

Ten years later, Paula tells her voice teacher, Maestro Guardi, that she has put her past behind her and is now in love with Gregory Anton, a pianist who she has known for two weeks.

While on their honeymoon in Lake Como, Gregory tells Paula that he would love to live in a fashionable London square. Wanting to please her husband, Paula says that they should move into her aunt's house in Thornton Square. Not long after they move into No. 9, Paula's memories begin to overwhelm her. Gregory thinks it is best that all of her aunt's things be stored in the attic. Paula finds a letter in her aunt's sheet music, dated two days before her murder, in which Sergius Bauer, begs to see her aunt. When Paula say Bauer's name, Gregory grabs the letter from her.

Three months later, as they are leaving for a Tower of London tour, Gregory gives Paula his great-grandmother's brooch, but warns her not to wear it until the clasp has been fixed. Paula, puts the brooch in her purse. During the tour, Paula senses that the brooch is missing. While walking toward the Crown Jewels exhibit, Paula is greeted by Brian Cameron, who had been a fan of Alice's and mistook her for her aunt. Gregory is suspicious of Brian, even though Paula says that she has never met him.

Back at home, Paula tells Gregory that she lost the brooch, and he accuses her of being forgetful. Later that night, after Gregory has left the house, Paula sees the gaslights in her bedroom flicker and hears footsteps overhead.

Two months later, Brian appears in Thornton Square and questions Paula's neighbor. Brian looks up and sees Paula standing in her front door. When Nancy Oliver, a young maid hired by Gregory, asks Paula where she is going, the insecure Paula goes back inside the house. Suspicious by Paula's odd behavior, Brian, a Scotland Yard detective, reads the police file on Alice's unsolved murder and learns that the crown jewels, which had been given secretly to Alice, disappeared on the night of the murder. Believing that Paula is in danger, Brian assigns Williams, a constable, to keep an eye on No. 9. Overtime, Paula is confused by Gregory's manipulations. Is Paula going crazy, or is she being haunted by her dead aunt's spirit...or is it something far more sinister?

I thought Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer were amazing. Bergman performs her character's emotions so perfectly you feel her pain. And Charles Boyer is pure evil in this one. One of the best scenes was at the reception, when Gregory tells Paula he lost his watch, and then finds it in her purse.

Ingrid Bergman wins her very first Academy Award (Oscar) for MGM's Gaslight (1944). Her 1st of 3 oscar's. Presented by Jennifer Jones.

CASABLANCA (1942).

Casablanca (1942) romantic /drama. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid and featuring Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre. Set during World War II.

During World War II, Casablanca, Morocco is full of refugees fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe. Two German couriers carrying priceless visas to leave the country signed by General DeGaulle, are murdered and the visas stolen. The police are on a search to find the important documents, before they get in the hands of Victor Lazlo, a Czech resistance leader. Renault and Strasser search for the killer at Rick's Cafe Americain, a fancy nightclub run by American ex-patriot Richard Blaine. Ugarte, a dealer, asked Rick to hold the stolen visas for him, saying that he has a buyer for them and plans to leave Casablanca. When Renault suggest he not interfere with Ugarte's arrest, Rick says "I stick my neck out for nobody." He makes a bet with Renault, that Lazlo will leave Casablanca even though the German's try to stop him. After Ugarte arrest, Lazlo and Ilsa Lund, enters Rick's Cafe. Ilsa sees the piano player Sam, Ilsa asks him to play "As Time Goes By." Rick, is back in his office making contact with the underground, comes out to stop him. Rick remembers his past love affair with Ilsa in Paris. After catching up on old times, the Nazis invade Paris. Ilsa wants him to leave the city. He refuses to go without her, and she agrees to meet him at the train station. But she sends a note in her place. Sam and Rick leave just in time.

Will Rick be able to choose between his love for Ilsa, or help her Resistance leader husband escape from the city of Casablanca to continue the fight against the Nazis?

Fun fact:

The movie's line "I stick my neck out for nobody." was voted as the #42 of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" by Premiere in 2007.

I thought Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman had wonderful on screen chemistry. I'm surprised that they did not do more films together. The line that sticks out the most for me, is when Bogart says "There are parts of New York I wouldn't advise you to invade." And what makes this line so memorable is that Humphrey Bogart starred in another movie was the basis for the film, "All Through The Night".

Madeleine LeBeau (born on 10 June 1923). Lebeau made her Hollywood debut in, Hold Back the Dawn (1941). The following year, she landed a role in Errol Flynn movie Gentleman Jim.

Later that year she landed the role of Yvonne, Rick’s jilted mistress, in Casablanca. After Casablanca, she performed in two more American films: Paris After Dark (1943)and Music for Millions.

After the end of World War II, LeBeau returned to France and continued her acting career. In 1947, she appeared in Les Chouans (The Royalists). In 1950, LeBeau traveled to Great Britain to perform in a movie, Cage of Gold.

She would appear in 20 more movies, mainly French, including Brigitte Bardot's Une Parisienne (1957), and Federico Fellini's 8½ (Otto e mezzo, 1963). LeBeau's last two movies were Spanish productions in 1965.

CACTUS FLOWER (1969) and GOLDIE HAWN FUN FACTS.

Goldie Hawn, was born November 21, 1945 in Washinton D.C. to Laura Steinhoff a jewelry shop/dance school owner and Edward Rutledge Hawn, a band musician. She has one sister, Patricia. By the age of three Goldie was taking ballet and tap dance lessons, and by the time she turned ten, she was dancing in the chorus of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo production of "The Nutcracker". At 19 she was a ballet instructor. She became a film director and producer, whose career has spanned four decades. Hawn is best known for her performances in Private Benjamin, Foul Play, Wildcats, Overboard, Bird on a Wire, Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club, and The Banger Sisters. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1969 film Cactus Flower. She is also the mother of actors Oliver Hudson and Kate Hudson. Hawn has a relationship with her long-time boyfriend, actor Kurt Russell since 1983.

Fun facts:

Her father, Edward Rutledge Hawn, is descended from Edward Rutledge, the youngest person to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Goldie Hawn, Founder of the Bright Light Foundation for Children.

I've always felt Goldie Hawn to be an underrated actress. A couple of my favorite Goldie films Butterflies are Free, Shampoo, Overboard, The First Wives Club. She is one of my favorite comediennes.

CACTUS FLOWER (1969). Comedy directed by Gene Saks. Cast: Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, and Goldie Hawn. The film is based from an earlier Broadway stage play, written by Abe Burrows, which in turn was based upon the French play Fleur de cactus. The film was the seventh highest grossing film of 1970.

Middle-aged/Bachelor and dentist Julian Winston, falsely confesses to Toni a free spirited flower child, that he is married and the father of three children. Toni heartbroken, for being stood up once again.. attempts a half hearted suicide. Her bohemian neighbor smells the gas and saves her life. Upset by Toni's attempt on her life, Julian decides it's time to marry her. Julian tells Tony that he is getting a divorce from his nonexistent wife. He quickly comes up with a plan using his spinster assistant, Stephanie Dickinson, who secretly has loved him for 10 years.

Ingrid Bergman's performance is another reason why this film works. Who knew she could let loose? One of my favorite lines in the film is when Toni says to Julian (after he becomes concerned about her wearing Hot pants to work.) " not to worry..nobody around here looks. Most of our customers are classic..".

Fun Fact:

The three kids seen behind the GTO in the GM 5th Avenue showroom during Walter Matthau and Goldie Hawn's NY walkabout are David and Jenny Matthau. See if you can spot them.

Video: Movie trailer.

http://community.livejournal.com/carole_and_co/52706.html

Click to read more info on Goldie. :)

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1941)

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde(1941). Spencer Tracy plays Dr. Jekyll, who believes each person has a good side and a dark side, which can be controlled with the proper chemicals. After mixing together a drink that transforms him into his alter ego, Mr. Hyde, goes on a wild night on the town. Lust, quickly turns to homicidal rage as Dr. Jekyll loses control of the experiment.

I thought Spencer's character was wonderful in his addiction to transformation from good Dr. Jekyll to evil Dr. Hyde. One of the reasons I enjoyed seeing this version of the story is the young, beautiful Ingrid Bergman. (A year from filming Casablanca.) Bergman was wonderful playing the destitute barmaid. Lana Turner, was also wonderful in her Ziegfeld character. The story is told by Jekyll, rather than Hyde.



Fun facts:

Spencer Tracy turned up at Clark Gable and Carole Lombard's second wedding anniversary party wearing his make up as Mr Hyde.

Victor Fleming was the Director. Who also directed : Gone With The Wind (1939), The Wizard of OZ (1939), and The Good Earth (1937).

Sara Allgood (October 15, 1879– September 13, 1950). She performed in early Hitchcock films, such as Blackmail (1929), Juno and the Paycock (1930) and Sabotage (1936).

Allgood was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 1941 for her role as Beth Morgan in the film, How Green Was My Valley(1941), but lost to Mary Astor.

She also had memorable roles in the 1941 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, It Happened in Flatbush (1942), Jane Eyre (1944), The Keys of the Kingdom (1944), The Spiral Staircase (1946), The Fabulous Dorseys (1947) and the original Cheaper by the Dozen (1950).