Sad to hear Joan (DeHaviland) Fontaine died at age 96 yesterday. She is best remembered for the 1940s classics “Suspicion” (co-starring Cary Grant and the film for which she won an Oscar), “Jayne Eyre”, and Hitchcock’s first American film, “Rebecca”. I was never terribly impressed with her acting, style, or her looks – she always seemed awkward somehow – but for a role like she played in “Rebecca” that was a perfect fit. She should’ve gotten the Oscar for that role rather than for her work in “Suspicion”, but that’s just me. Here she is with Cary in the role she did win the award for:
MATTHEW'S ISLAND 
Her awkwardness suited her in The Women, I think, as well.
Definitely one of the bigger stars to go as of late.
Oh yes, “The Women”. How could I forget? Maybe because some of the others in that all-star cast were so over the top.
In the obituary I read today it said that she never really got a long with her sister, Olivia. I knew that they were sisters but I didn’t know they were not fond of each other.
Peter O’Toole also died yesterday. I honestly only remember him in “Lawrence of Arabia”.
Yeah, I *just* saw that he died. It’s as if it’s clearance time at Turner Classic Movies…EVERYTHING MUST GO!
When you get a chance, do a YouTube search for the Rebecca screen tests. Some big names attempted the second Mrs. DeWinter, but Joan is the clear winner.
Cool, I’ll check that out!