I was remiss getting this news online. After the death of Peter O’Toole, Fontaine’s came so suddenly. The Oscar winner famously feuded with her sister. Fontaine was an early favorite of Hitchcock’s. She starred in Hitchcock’s only Best Picture winner, Rebecca, and the only performer to win an Oscar starring in a Hitchcock film.
I echo every sentiment in dear remembrance of the lovely,talented and gracious Joan Fontaine. I too was thinking about her a few hours before I heard the sad news. I’m only now discovering her wonderful TV appearances as herself on the TV shows in 60’s & 70’s by catching wonderful clips on Youtube. There’s so many wonderful clips,but 1 of my favorites is her on “What’s My Line” where the guests try to guess who she is with their blindfolds on, and Joan is being so delightful with her “southern accent” so that they couldn’t guess right away! 🙂 I have her autobiography so I was aware & amazed at all her other accomplishments mentioned above,such as a balloonist,chef,etc. She was an amazing woman who carved out a life for herself ,on her own, after overcoming a rough childhood to succeed in the Industry and bless us with so many wonderful “Magical” moments on screen! I love,respect and admire her not only as an Actress,but as a person whose persistence and strength carried her in life. Until we see you in heaven again,RIP Dear Joan Fontaine…
Does anyone know why Puzo/Coppola named that character in The Godfather Johnny Fontaine?
I don’t know but that’s always seemed odd to me. Clearly they weren’t going to name the character Frank Sinatra (for very obvious reasons), but why that name?
Gonna be tough making it through the In Memoriam reel at the Oscars this year.
^^
We should be lucky to live so long.
So sad. I echo every comment that has been posted already.
Gonna be tough making it through the In Memoriam reel at the Oscars this year.
RIP Joan. We’ll miss you. 🙁
Fontaine was terrific in so many things. she had a similar sweet, girlish innocence (like her sister) in something as different as GUNGA DIN. loved her in JANE EYRE and the Hitchcock films. but her TV appearances in the 60s and 70s were great as well (dramatic roles and simply being herself on talk shows and game shows). she had a wonderful sense of humor and a great laugh. i adore Olivia deHavilland but Joan painted her as jealous and vengeful and petty—but that’s Melanie Hamilton!! how could it be? i’m thinking that there is a real dark side to Olivia similar to the one who slapped Bette Davis around in HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE.
An insanely sad weekend for moviegoers, capped by Fontaine’s passing. Along with O’Toole and Parker, Audrey Totter and Tom Laughlin also passed away. The movie gods were very vengeful.
I saw a screening of SUSPICION years ago with Fontaine. She entered the theater AT THE END of the movie. She claimed she had never seen the movie for which she won her Oscar. I wonder if she ever did?
“Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderlay again.”
What a sad week for the golden years of Hollywood. The elegant Eleanor Parker, the luminous Joan Fontaine and the handsome Peter O’Toole, not to mention their abundant thespy skills! They leave behind some magical screen memories. Endearing and Enduring.
Few people today know that Joan created quite a stir with the first interracial kiss with Harry Belafonte in Island in the Sun in 1957.
So sad… I swear I was thinking about her a few hours ago and how I wished she would make peace with her sister Olivia (who lives in Paris) before it’s too late. I guess this will only happen in Hollywood heaven now.
Certainly one of her most famous quotes “I married first, won the Oscar before Olivia did, and if I die first, she’ll undoubtedly be livid because I beat her to it”.
She was my absolute favorite, her and Jennifer Jones. I am in utter shock that this comes right after Eleanor Parker and Peter O’Toole. She gave such beautiful, heart-wrenching performances. My favorite of hers is in “Letter from an Unknown Woman”
She was also brilliant in Suspicion, winning an Oscar, albeit a consolation prize to her not winning for her more deserved performance in Rebecca. She was also wonderful in The Women (with a cast to die for) to Jane Eyre (with a young Elizabeth Taylor and Orson Welles), and Tender is the Night (with Jennifer Jones and Jason Robards).
Rest in peace beautiful Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland. Many didn’t know but she was also a genius with a high IQ score, helped as a nurses’ aide during WWII, a licensed pilot, chef and balloonist.
I am so sad! Hope they do something special for her in Carmel where she lived. Hope that Olivia also is able to attend. It did sound as if they did mend things in the end.
So funny, I remember she once said that her and Olivia always fought since children to adults on who got what first. Joan won her Oscar first and she said if she dies first, she would be upset about that too. What lovely humor.