Sunday, August 24, 2008

Summer Under the Stars: Ingrid Bergman

Movie Dearest continues our daily previews of Turner Classic Movies' month long "Summer Under the Stars" celebration:

Now Playing Star Profile for Ingrid Bergman - Stardates: Born August 29, 1915, Stockholm, Sweden; died 1982. Star Sign: Virgo. Star Qualities: Scandinavian radiance, soulful sincerity, shy yet sensual smile. Star definition: "When she walks on screen and says, 'Hello', people ask, 'Who wrote that wonderful line of dialogue?'" -- Leo McCarey. Galaxy of Characters: Ilsa Lund in Casablanca, Dr. Constance Petersen in Spellbound, Sister Mary Benedict in The Bells of St. Mary's, Alicia Huberman in Notorious.

With six quotes (more then any other movie) placing in the American Film Institute's top 100 list, you could say that Casablanca is the most quotable film in history. Or, in the case of Bergman's contribution to that title, the most misquoted.

Placing at number 28 on the AFI countdown (and as seen here), Bergman's Ilsa Lund asks Dooley Wilson's piano player to, "Play it Sam ... play 'As Time Goes By'." Later, Humphrey Bogart's Rick says, "You played it for her, you can play it for me!" In the collective moviegoing conscience of the day (long before television reruns and home video), these two lines morphed in to the common ... but incorrect ... quote "Play it again, Sam".

Casablanca airs tomorrow on TCM at 6:15 PM EST.

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