This auction has ended. View lot details
You may also be interested in
The Golden Age of Hollywood
Lot 211
An Ingrid Bergman group of letters regarding The Bells of St. Mary's and her life and career
14 May 2019, 13:00 PDT
Los AngelesSold for US$3,123.75 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Popular Culture specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
Client Services (San Francisco)
Client Services (Los Angeles)
Client Services (New York)
An Ingrid Bergman group of letters regarding The Bells of St. Mary's and her life and career
12 Autograph Letters, 2 Typed Letters, and 1 Autograph Note signed ("Ingrid," "Sister Benedict," "Sister Ingrid Benedict," "Ingrid B." and "Ingrid Rossellini"), 31 pp recto and verso, various sizes (12mo to 4to), various places including New York and Rome, March 1, 1945 to January 1, 1954, to Sister M. Philip, on various stationeries including monogrammed stationery, all housed in a black 3-ring binder.
Director Leo McCarey bargained hard for Ingrid Bergman to appear as Sister Benedict in this sequel to his successful film, Going My Way (1944), both of which star Bing Crosby, because he felt she could bring the right amount of both gentleness and comedy in capturing the essence of the spunky nun. In researching her role, Bergman met a nun named Sister Philip with whom she carried on a correspondence for 9 years. In her first letter to Sister Philip, Bergman writes: "Today is the first day on the set and my first day as a nun." In the ensuing correspondence, Bergman details such subjects as her trip with Jack Benny to entertain the troops in 1945; filming Notorious (1946); performing in the play, Joan of Lorraine; and the preparation for filming Joan of Arc (1948), in which she writes: "We are nearing the end of Joan. I burn next week." There is a lull in the correspondence during the period when the then-married Bergman was caught up in a scandalous affair with director Roberto Rossellini in which she became pregnant and moved to Europe. She eventually received a letter from Sister Philip during this period, to which Bergman responded: "Since I left America I never tried to reach anyone until I was sure that I was really wanted." She writes of missing her daughter ("I seldom hear from Pia") and is remarkably forthcoming about the changes in her life and some of her misgivings. This lot is accompanied by two signed silver gelatin photographs of Bergman to Sister Philip, the first being a closeup of Bergman in her nun's habit for the film, inscribed, "To my dear Sister Philip– / from 'Sister Benedict' and / Ingrid Bergman / 1945"; and the second photo featuring Bergman on the stage as Joan of Arc, inscribed, "for Sister Philip– / Ingrid Bergman / 1947." Also included are an 8 x 10 in. photo from The Bells of St. Mary's of children in the cast, a small photograph and clipping of Bergman, a Typed Letter Signed ("Sister M. Philip, CSC"), a prayer card, and 3 miscellaneous letters regarding the group of letters.
10.5 x 11.5 in.
Director Leo McCarey bargained hard for Ingrid Bergman to appear as Sister Benedict in this sequel to his successful film, Going My Way (1944), both of which star Bing Crosby, because he felt she could bring the right amount of both gentleness and comedy in capturing the essence of the spunky nun. In researching her role, Bergman met a nun named Sister Philip with whom she carried on a correspondence for 9 years. In her first letter to Sister Philip, Bergman writes: "Today is the first day on the set and my first day as a nun." In the ensuing correspondence, Bergman details such subjects as her trip with Jack Benny to entertain the troops in 1945; filming Notorious (1946); performing in the play, Joan of Lorraine; and the preparation for filming Joan of Arc (1948), in which she writes: "We are nearing the end of Joan. I burn next week." There is a lull in the correspondence during the period when the then-married Bergman was caught up in a scandalous affair with director Roberto Rossellini in which she became pregnant and moved to Europe. She eventually received a letter from Sister Philip during this period, to which Bergman responded: "Since I left America I never tried to reach anyone until I was sure that I was really wanted." She writes of missing her daughter ("I seldom hear from Pia") and is remarkably forthcoming about the changes in her life and some of her misgivings. This lot is accompanied by two signed silver gelatin photographs of Bergman to Sister Philip, the first being a closeup of Bergman in her nun's habit for the film, inscribed, "To my dear Sister Philip– / from 'Sister Benedict' and / Ingrid Bergman / 1945"; and the second photo featuring Bergman on the stage as Joan of Arc, inscribed, "for Sister Philip– / Ingrid Bergman / 1947." Also included are an 8 x 10 in. photo from The Bells of St. Mary's of children in the cast, a small photograph and clipping of Bergman, a Typed Letter Signed ("Sister M. Philip, CSC"), a prayer card, and 3 miscellaneous letters regarding the group of letters.
10.5 x 11.5 in.
Additional information
Bid now on these items
