The families of both Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman turned out for a celebratory 60th anniversary screening of their legendary movie Casablanca on Monday. Bergman's daughter Isabella Rossellini played hostess for the evening, as a new reprint of the 1942 classic was shown at the Lincoln Centre in New York.
And both families used the opportunity to lay a few Casablanca myths to rest. Thanks to their onscreen chemistry, many people believed the two stars were having an affair and Bogart's then wife, Mayo Methot, even confronted the legendary actor with her suspicions. But their gathered children were in little doubt that no such mischief was afoot. "It was very mysterious, because they weren't even friends," said Isabella.
Pia Lindstrom, another of Bergman's daughters, went one step further, commenting that her mother "didn't really get on" with Bogart and was somewhat reticent towards the film's success. "In later years, my mother's eyes used to glaze over whenever someone mentioned Casablanca," she recalled. "It really wasn't her favourite movie-making experience."
Despite her reservations, the romantic classic remains a favourite with movie fans and film students the world over. Last year the American Film Institute chose it as the greatest movie love story of all time.
Bogart's widow, Lauren Bacall, and their son, Stephen Bogart, also came along to help launch the newly remastered print of the film.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
