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Friday, April 30, 2010

Write to Olivia and Joan

Olivia de Havilland lives in Paris. Joan Fontaine lives in California. Both of them read their fan mail and would enjoy hearing from you. I'm told that Joan receives so much fan mail that it is hard for her to keep up.

If you would like either of their addresses to write to them, please let me know or search the website Fanmail.bix

You can find nice 8x10s on ebay or Movie Star News

Sunday, April 25, 2010

"I Remember Better When I Paint" (2009) to be screened in Chicago



The Olivia-narrated documentary, "I Remember Better When I Paint" (2009) about Alzheimer’s disease is scheduled to screen in Chicago at the Gene Siskel Film Center on Monday, May 3, 2010 at 6:00 PM (CT)

Program to be introduced by Tony Jones with panel to follow
Gene Siskel Film Center • 164 N. State St.
$10/General Admission, $7/Students (with I.D.), $5/Film Center Members
Discounted parking at the InterPark Self-Park at 20 E. Randolph St.
312-846-2600 •

For tickets and more information go to www.siskelfilmcenter.org

Visit the film's official website


Watch a clip of the documentary, and listen to Olivia narrate:

Vivien Leigh Screen Test for "Rebecca"

Fascinating footage of Vivien Leigh in a screen test for the role that eventually went to Joan (32 seconds long)



This is a very short clip; more videos clips of Rebecca screen tests can be found on vivandlarry.com

Saturday, April 24, 2010

RC Cola ad with Olivia

LIFE Magazine, January 12, 1942, page 89

Thursday, April 22, 2010

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1935) with Olivia

Shakespeare's classic comes to the screen, in a big-budget all star spectacular from MGM. Other film versions are good, this is a tried-and-true classic gem - great stars, fantastic scenery. If you can get past the fact that the movie is in black-and-white (this was 1935 after all) then you will love this movie if you happen to be a fan of Shakespeare. Also notable: it's one of the first films of both Olivia de Havilland (Hermia) and young Mickey Rooney, who was only 15 when he played Puck. The young whippersnapper is quite entertaining in the part, he really hams it up for the camera. Shows alot of potential! Ms deHavilland is wonderful, as is James Cagney, who plays Nick Bottom.
Also in the cast: Joe E. Brown: "Francis Flute". Dick Powell: "Lysander"
Two Academy Awards: "Best Cinematography", "Best Film Editing"

For more, read Kevin's review at his blog, Kevin's Movie Corner.

"This Above All" (1942) with Joan

"This Above All", released during World War II, in 1942, stars Joan Fontaine and Tyrone Power.


Joan as Prudence.


Joan plays Prudence Cathaway, a rich woman from a distinguished British family who decides to join the United Kingdom's Women's Auxiliary Air Force. In the service, she meets Clive (Power) who is absent without leave from the British Army. They begin to fall in love, but as she gets to know him, learns of his anti-war views and distain for the rich. He decides to leave as she goes back into service. Prudence's story seems to dominate the first hour, as she joins the air force and then meets Tyrone's Clive. And Clive's story dominates much of the first part of the second hour, finding spiritual inspiration with the council of a clergyman (Alexander Knox, from "Wilson"). But they're love won't keep them apart for long. A real tearjearker ending. Co-starring Gladys Cooper and Thomas Mitchell. Won Oscar for Best Art Direction (B/W), beating out "Random Harvest"(!), "Pride of the Yankees"(!!), and "Magnificent Ambersons"(!!!) Joan is beautiful in this movie with or without a uniform. 25 years old at the time, she gives a wonderful, emotion-filled performance, worthy of an Oscar nomination.



From 20th Century Fox Pictures. Directed by Anatole Litvak ("All This And Heaven Too", "The Snake Pit", "Anastasia"). Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and Robert Bassler.



At the dinner table, Prudence tells her family she's enlisted in the WAAF



Prudence and other women about to enter service.


Joan and Tyrone have a roll in the hay.


Joan looking beautiful as Prudence, dressed up during her 6-day leave.



Lovely Joan sings "Leave the Home Fires Burning" in an unforgettable scene.



Our stars in a lavish Oscar-winning set. Clive gets a telegram issuing him to come back.



Prudence pleas with reluctant Clive to fight the good fight for England.



Prudence visits Clive in the hospital as bombs go off outside.

"This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man." - William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Also interesting, read the notes about the movie production from Turner Classic Movies.

"I Remember Better When I Paint" (2009), A documentary narrated by Olivia

"I Remember Better When I Paint" is the first international documentary about the positive impact of art and other creative therapies on people with Alzheimer's and how these approaches can change the way we look at the disease.

Visit the documentary's official website


It is a film by Eric Ellena and Berna Huebner, presented by French Connection Films and the Hilgos Foundation, and narrated by Olivia de Havilland.

Watch a clip of the documentary, and listen to Olivia narrate:



Among those who are featured in the film are noted doctors and Yasmin Aga Khan, president of Alzheimer's Disease International and daughter of Rita Hayworth, who had Alzheimer's.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Photo: Joan Looking at the Oscar she won for "Suspicion"


Photographer: Peter Stackpole of LIFE
Originally Published in LIFE Magazine
March 1, 1942



Is it just me, or does she look like Julia Roberts in this picture?