Joan Fontaine

Born: 1917-10-22

Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland (October 22, 1917 – December 15, 2013), known professionally as Joan Fontaine, was an English-American actress who is best known for her starring roles in Hollywood films during the "Golden Age". She was born in Tokyo, Japan, in what was known as the International Settlement. Her father was a British patent attorney with a lucrative practice in Japan, but due to Joan and older sister Olivia de Havilland's recurring ailments the family moved to California in the hopes of improving their health. Mrs. de Havilland and the two girls settled in Saratoga while their father went back to his practice in Japan. Joan's parents did not get along well and divorced soon afterward. Mrs. de Havilland had a desire to be an actress but her dreams were curtailed when she married, but now she hoped to pass on her dream to Olivia and Joan. While Olivia pursued a stage career, Joan went back to Tokyo, where she attended the American School. In 1934 she came back to California, where her sister was already making a name for herself on the stage. Joan likewise joined a theater group in San Jose and then Los Angeles to try her luck there. After moving to L.A., Joan adopted the name of Joan Burfield because she didn't want to infringe upon Olivia, who was using the family surname. She tested at MGM and gained a small role in No More Ladies (1935), but she was scarcely noticed and Joan was idle for a year and a half. During this time she roomed with Olivia, who was having much more success in films. In 1937, this time calling herself Joan Fontaine, she landed a better role as Trudy Olson in You Can't Beat Love (1937) and then an uncredited part in Quality Street (1937). Although the next two years saw her in better roles, she still yearned for something better. In 1940 she garnered her first Academy Award nomination for Rebecca (1940). Although she thought she should have won, (she lost out to Ginger Rogers in Kitty Foyle (1940)), she was now an established member of the Hollywood set. She would again be Oscar-nominated for her role as Lina McLaidlaw Aysgarth in Suspicion (1941), and this time she won. Joan was making one film a year but choosing her roles well. In 1942 she starred in the well-received This Above All (1942). The following year she appeared in The Constant Nymph (1943). Once again she was nominated for the Oscar, she lost out to Jennifer Jones in The Song of Bernadette (1943). By now it was safe to say she was more famous than her older sister and more fine films followed. In 1948, she accepted second billing to Bing Crosby in The Emperor Waltz (1948). Joan took the year of 1949 off before coming back in 1950 with September Affair (1950) and Born to Be Bad (1950). In 1951 she starred in Paramount's Darling, How Could You! (1951), which turned out badly for both her and the studio and more weak productions followed. Absent from the big screen for a while, she took parts in television and dinner theaters. She also starred in many well-produced Broadway plays such as Forty Carats and The Lion in Winter. Her last appearance on the big screen was The Witches (1966) and her final appearance before the cameras was Good King Wenceslas (1994). She is, without a doubt, a lasting movie icon.


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Rebecca

as Mrs. de Winter
Released: 1940-03-23

Story of a young woman who marries a fascinating widower only to find out that she must live in...

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The Bigamist

as Eve Graham
Released: 1953-12-03

San Francisco businessman Harry Graham and his wife and business partner, Eve, are in the...

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The Women

as Peggy Day
Released: 1939-09-01

A happily married woman lets her catty friends talk her into divorce when her husband strays.

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Ivanhoe

as Rowena
Released: 1952-07-31

Sir Walter Scott's classic story of the chivalrous Ivanhoe who joins with Robin of Locksley in...

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Gunga Din

as Emmaline "Emmy" Stebbins
Released: 1939-01-26

British army sergeants Ballantine, Cutter and MacChesney serve in India during the 1880s, along...

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Othello

as Page
Released: 1951-11-28

When a secret marriage is planned between Othello, a Moorish general, and Desdemona, the...

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Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

as Dr. Susan Hiller
Released: 1961-07-12

The crew of an atomic submarine battle to save the world from global destruction.

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Jane Eyre

as Jane Eyre
Released: 1943-12-24

After a harsh childhood, orphan Jane Eyre is hired by Edward Rochester, the brooding lord of a...

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Suspicion

as Lina McLaidlaw Aysgarth
Released: 1941-11-14

A wealthy and sheltered young woman elopes with a charming playboy and soon learns of his bad...

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Letter from an Unknown Woman

as Lisa Berndle
Released: 1948-04-28

A pianist about to flee from a duel receives a letter from a woman he cannot remember. As she...

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Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

as Susan Spencer
Released: 1956-09-13

A newspaper publisher, wanting to prove a point about the insufficiency of circumstantial...

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September Affair

as Manina Stuart
Released: 1950-10-18

An industrialist and a pianist meet on a trip and fall in love. Through a quirk of fate, they...

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Until They Sail

as Anne Leslie
Released: 1957-10-08

Four sisters in New Zealand fall for soldiers en route to the Pacific theater in WWII.

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Becoming Cary Grant

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2017-05-23

For the first time one of Hollywood's greatest stars tells his own story, in his own words. From...

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A Damsel in Distress

as Alyce Marshmorton
Released: 1937-11-19

Lady Alyce Marshmorton must marry soon, and the staff of Tottney Castle have laid bets on who...

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Serenade

as Kendall Hale
Released: 1956-03-23

A wealthy woman discovers a vineyard worker with a beautiful operatic singing voice. She helps...

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The Constant Nymph

as Tessa Sanger
Released: 1943-06-23

The daughter of a musical mentor adores a promising composer, who is quite fond of the...

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The Users

as Grace St. George
Released: 1978-10-01

A beautiful girl from a small town with dreams of making it in Hollywood marries an actor whose...

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Born to Be Bad

as Christabel Caine Carey
Released: 1950-09-28

Christabel Caine has the face of angel and the heart of a swamp rat. She'll step on anyone to...

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George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: 1985-03-03

Biography of the legendary filmmaker directed by his son.

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Ivy

as Ivy
Released: 1947-06-26

When Ivy, an Edwardian belle, begins to like Miles, a wealthy gentleman, she is unsure of what...

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Island in the Sun

as Mavis Norman
Released: 1957-06-12

A scandalous tale of politics, social inequality, interracial romance, and murder set on a...

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The Witches

as Gwen Mayfield
Released: 1966-11-21

Following a nervous breakdown, Gwen takes up the job of head teacher in the small village of...

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Something to Live For

as Jenny Carey
Released: 1952-03-07

Advertising executive Alan Miller, a recovered alcoholic who now does interventions on behalf of...

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Sky Giant

as Meg Lawrence
Released: 1938-07-22

Given the job of training young pilots for important post-war cargo flights, hard-boiled Col....

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Kiss the Blood Off My Hands

as Jane Wharton
Released: 1948-10-30

Bill Saunders, a former prisoner of war living in England, whose experiences have left him...

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The Emperor Waltz

as Johanna Augusta Franziska
Released: 1948-07-02

At the turn of the 20th century, travelling salesman Virgil Smith journeys to Vienna in the hope...

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The Affairs of Susan

as Susan Darell
Released: 1945-07-08

Susan is about to be married, but the wedding may get called off after her fiancé summons three...

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Tender Is the Night

as Baby Warren
Released: 1962-01-19

Against the counsel of his friends, psychiatrist Dick Diver marries Nicole Warren, a beautiful...

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Good King Wenceslas

as Queen Ludmilla
Released: 1994-11-26

Based upon the true story that inpired the Christmas carol about a young king's care for his people.

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The Man Who Found Himself

as Doris King
Released: 1937-04-02

Young Jim Stanton is a conscientious surgeon, but spends too many off-duty hours pursuing his...

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A Certain Smile

as Françoise Ferrand
Released: 1958-07-31

A pretty Parisian law student falls in love with her boyfriend's uncle.

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You Gotta Stay Happy

as Dee Dee Dillwood
Released: 1948-10-28

Indecisive heiress Dee Dee Dillwood is pushed into marrying her sixth fiancée, but unable to...

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Music for Madame

as Jean Clemens
Released: 1937-10-08

An Italian immigrant singer, Nino, hoping to succeed in Hollywood, falls in with a gang of...

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Casanova's Big Night

as Francesca Bruni
Released: 1954-04-07

Italy 1757, Pippo Popolino, a lowly tailor, disguises himself as the great Casanova in order to...

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Dark Mansions

as Margaret Drake
Released: 1986-08-23

A woman hired to write the history of a wealthy family stays at the family's estate in Oregon....

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Before the Fact: Suspicious Hitchcock

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2004-09-07

A documentary on Alfred Hitchcock's 1941 film, "Suspicion".

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Breakdowns of 1942

as Self
Released: 1942-12-31

Flubs and bloopers that occurred on the set of some of the major Warner Bros. pictures of 1942.

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This Above All

as Prudence Cathaway
Released: 1942-05-12

In 1940 England, aristocratic Prudence Cathaway alarms her snobbish parents by joining the WAF...

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From This Day Forward

as Susan
Released: 1946-03-02

A young American soldier, with an honorable discharge, returns home from World War II to his...

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Blond Cheat

as Julie Evans
Released: 1938-06-17

Socially prominent Michael Ashburn, chief assistant for a London loan broker makes a large loan...

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Frenchman's Creek

as Dona St. Columb
Released: 1944-09-20

An English lady falls in love with a French pirate after he kidnaps her from her ancestral home...

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Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2000-06-27

A reclusive millionaire who owed his fortune to his father, Howard Hughes staked his fame on...

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Flight to Tangier

as Susan Lane
Released: 1953-11-20

At the Tangier airport, a group of people await the arrival of a mysterious plane from behind...

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Decameron Nights

as Fiametta / Bartolomea / Ginevra / Isabella
Released: 1953-01-13

Italian poet Boccaccio (Louis Jourdan) hides in the court of Fiammetta (Joan Fontaine) and tells...

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Hollywood: The Selznick Years

as Self (uncredited)
Released: 1961-12-31

Henry Fonda hosts this retrospective on the career and films of iconic filmmaker David O....

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No More Ladies

as Caroline Rumsey
Released: 1935-06-14

A society girl tries to reform her playboy husband by making him jealous.

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Man of Conquest

as Eliza Allen
Released: 1939-05-15

The story of Sam Houston, hero of the Texas revolution, statesman, and first president of the...

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Darling, How Could You!

as Alice Grey
Released: 1951-08-08

Two absentee American parents get to know their three children again after spending five years...

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Quality Street

as Charlotte Parratt
Released: 1937-03-26

In the 1810s, an old maid poses as her own niece in order to teach her onetime beau a lesson.

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The Duke of West Point

as Ann Porter
Released: 1938-12-29

A cocky new West Point cadet from Cambridge is given the cold shoulder by his classmates because...

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All By Myself: The Eartha Kitt Story

as Self
Released: 1982-09-10

Documentary profile of singer-actress Eartha Kitt.

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A Million to One

as Joan Stevens
Released: 1936-12-31

The son of a disgraced Olympic decathlete prepares to become a star in his own right. His quest...

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You Can't Beat Love

as Trudy Olson
Released: 1937-06-25

The film begins with a knuckle-head playboy (Preston Foster) working on a road crew dressed in a...

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Maid's Night Out

as Sheila Harrison
Released: 1938-03-03

A millionaire's son works as a milkman for a month to win a bet with his father. While...

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The Art Director

as Self / Jane Eyre (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: 1949-11-12

A film's art director is in charge of the set, from conception to construction to furnishing....

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One Step Beyond

as Ellen Grayson
First aired: 1959-01-20

Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond is an American anthology series created by Merwin Gerard. The...

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The Mike Douglas Show

as Self - Co-Host
First aired: 1961-12-11

The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that...

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The Love Boat

as Jennifer Langley
First aired: 1977-09-24

Passengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship travelling to tropical or...

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What's My Line?

as Self - Panelist
First aired: 1950-02-02

Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while...

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What's My Line?

as Self - Mystery Guest
First aired: 1950-02-02

Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while...

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Cannon

as uncredited
First aired: 1971-09-14

Cannon is a CBS detective television series produced by Quinn Martin which aired from March 26,...

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Hotel

as uncredited
First aired: 1982-08-21

Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983 to May...

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Tony Awards

as Self - Presenter
First aired: 1956-04-01

The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award,...

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The 20th Century Fox Hour

as uncredited
First aired: 1955-10-05

The 20th Century Fox Hour is an American drama anthology series televised in the United States...

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The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

as Alice Pemberton
First aired: 1962-09-20

A continuation of the anthology series “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, hosted by the master of...

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Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

as uncredited
First aired: 1958-10-06

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse is an American television anthology series produced by Desilu...

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The Oscars

as Self
First aired: 1953-03-19

An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The...

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Talking Pictures

as Self (archive footage)
First aired: 2013-01-05

A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to...

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The Bing Crosby Show

as uncredited
First aired: 1964-09-14

The Bing Crosby Show is a 28-episode situation comedy television program starring crooner, film...

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Aloha Paradise

as uncredited
First aired: 1981-02-25

Aloha Paradise is an American comedy series that aired on ABC on Wednesday night from February...

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Letter to Loretta

as Self - Guest Host
First aired: 1953-09-20

Letter to Loretta is an American anthology drama series telecast on NBC from September 1953 to...

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Crossings

as Alexandra Markham
First aired: 1986-02-23

Despite rumors of impending war, the majestic ship Normandie makes its transatlantic voyage from...

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General Electric Theater

as Countess Irene Forelli
First aired: 1953-02-01

General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...

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General Electric Theater

as Melanie Langdon
First aired: 1953-02-01

General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...

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General Electric Theater

as Laurel Chapman
First aired: 1953-02-01

General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...

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General Electric Theater

as Judith
First aired: 1953-02-01

General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...

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General Electric Theater

as Linda Stacey
First aired: 1953-02-01

General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...

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