The Guy Who Refused to Kiss Ingrid Bergman
Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
If Humphrey Bogart never becomes a great screen lover he will have only himself to blame. He had his chance and turned it down. Henceforth, if Bogart complains about a lack of romantic roles people will say, “Phooey! – you’re the guy who refused to kiss Ingrid Bergman!”
Director Mike Curtiz reportedly wanted to improvise some of scenes in Casablanca. For the final scene he told Bogie, “This is were Miss Bergman offers to throw her husband up in the air and come to you. You are breaking her heart with love. It is terrible what you are doing. Now, you love this woman and can show it by a long kiss, or you can say something. It is up to you.”
Bogart said, “Look – this is hard to decide, but I don’t think I should kiss her. The guy I’m playing wouldn’t. He has made up his mind to give up this girl, and I don’t believe he’d start any kissing games now.”
They are of course referring to this classic final scene in Casablanca (he does kiss her in earlier in the film).
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfxJCdBFuLk&w=450]
Source: Turns Down Love Scene, Youngstown Vindicator, Jul 22 1942, Page 23
Photo: The Music Behind the Screen
