Real love and reel love!

Intermezzo, A Love Story (1939)
Normally I do not fancy watching lovey-dovey romantic movies but I just had to watch Intermezzo as in it one of my favourite actress (after Grace Kelly), Ingrid Bergman appeared in her débutante role. Bergman, 23, was already an established actress in her native country, when she was introduced to the American public in this film originally done in Swedish in 1936 and acted be Bergman. The Academy had voted this angelic Nordic goddess with a pearly white pretty smile as the 4th best actress after Katherine Hepburn, Betty Davies and Audrey Hepburn.
In this movie, a married renowned violinist Holgar Brandt (Leslie Howard) falls in love with his daughter's talented piano teacher, Anita Hoffman (Bergman). Holgar leaves his wife and 2 kids to elope with Anita as his accompaniment in his tours. After initially turning down a scholarship offer, driven by guilt, she leaves him. Holgar goes into a self imposed exile due to embarrassment but decides to meet up with his daughter, Mary Anne, whom he missed dearly. As in most families, it takes a tragedy to crush egos. Mary Anne's accident bring peace and sanity is restored in Brandt's household.
In a way, events in this movie mirrors somewhat events that happened in Ms Bergman's life 20 years later when she started an Italian affair. After a 5 year hiatus and obstracization from the American public for unacceptable behavior after acting in saintly roles like 'Joan of Arc' and 'The Bells of St. Mary's', she returned to earn an academy award.
Things that people do in the name of love! Happy St. Valentino's Memorial Day.....

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