'Gone with the Wind' legend Olivia de Havilland is 100
July 1, 2016
As the last living star of "Gone with the Wind," Olivia de Havilland experienced first-hand Hollywood's Golden Era, powerful film studios and the first color films. As she turns 100, rediscover the films she starred in.
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Hollywood legend Olivia de Havilland is 100 years old
She's the only "Gone with the Wind" star left who can still tell tales about Hollywood's Golden Era, the rise of cinema, powerful film studios and the first color films: Olivia de Havilland turns 100 years old on July 1.
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Dream team
From the stage to the studio: Olivia de Havilland was 19 when she signed with Warner Bros. for the blockbuster pirate film: "Captain Blood." Her co-star was heartthrob Errol Flynn. For both actors, it was their first lead role.
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In color
Olivia and Errol were the dream couple on the Screen in the 1930s. They made eight films together. "The Adventures of Robin Hood" was particularly successful - and at production costs of $2 million, it was particularly expensive. The 1938 movie was the studio's first major budget color film shot using what was still a revolutionary technique, the Technicolor process.
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Forever Melanie
The commercially most successful film was still to come: "Gone with the Wind." The role of Melanie was Olivia's breakthrough. She was a supporting actress, but the film's international success affected her, too. It was the second Technicolor production after "Robin Hood." During the lengthy breaks, the cast liiked to play the game Battleships, Havilland told "Vanity Fair."
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Not funny
The romantic comedy "Princess O'Rourke" is lighthearted, but off-camera, the gloves were off as Olivia de Havilland wanted to leave Warner Brothers after seven years with the studio. The actress declined the role of Princess Maria, the studio embargoed her, the dispute went to court - and de Havilland won. Her case went down in Hollywood legal history.
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And the Oscar goes to...
... the ugly duckling! In "The Heiress," Olivia de Havilland played Catherine, the rich but unalluring daughter of a doctor. The 1949 award was Olivia's second Oscar - she won her first Academy Award in 1946 for her role as a woman who has a baby out of wedlock in the romantic drama "To each his own."
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A tale of murder and deceit
In the 1964 psychological thriller "Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte," Olivia de Havilland starred alongside Bette Davis (right). Originally, Joan Crawford was to play de Havilland's role, but she fell ill, and Davis is said to have suggested her friend Olivia. The film was hugely successful and received seven Academy Award nominations.
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Out West
The actress had already moved to France to get away from Hollywood when she starred in the 1958 western movie "The proud rebel." During the studios' Golden Era, she played in up to four films a year, but after leaving Hollywood she slowed her pace, playing roles in 14 more movies before she ended her career. All in all, de Havilland played in 49 movies.
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Disaster film
Her roles in later movies didn't seem to fit the actress's style as much as her early success films, where she portrayed great female characters. Later films include the 1978 disaster horror film "The swarm," about a killer bee invasion in Texas.
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Wallis Simpson's aunt
Olivia de Havilland was primarily a movie actress, but in the 1980s, she also acted in nine TV films and mini series. She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award as best supporting actress for her role as Aunt Bessie in the 1988 British mini series "The woman he loved." It was de Havilland's last role.
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The British-American actress Olivia de Havilland was born on July 1, 1916. She may have starred in dozens of films during her lengthy career, but she will be remembered forever by most people as Melanie Hamilton, the character she portrays in the 1939 movie "Gone with the Wind." Of the movie's stars, she is the only one left.
Many decades later that included two marriages, two children and a move to Paris, she was asked how she managed to reach the biblical age of 100. The secret was "Love, laughter and light, " Olivia de Havilland told the US magazine "Vanity Fair."
Click through the gallery above to find out more about her career.