Wednesday 18 December 2013

Remembering Joan Fontaine - a true vintage beauty and her own lovely 1930s wedding dress

Dear Reader

Today on my vintage wedding blog I'd like to take a moment to remember wonderful actress Joan Fontaine - one of the true Hollywood greats and a classic vintage beauty - who died this week aged 96.
HVB vintage wedding blog - Remembering Joan Fontaine, still from REBECCA
Her most famous role: the second Mrs De Winter, in Hitchcock's Rebecca
Fontaine found fame as one of Alfred Hitchcock's 'cool blondes' when she starred in his first Hollywood movie, Rebecca - an adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier's gothic novel.
HVB vintage wedding blog - Remembering Joan Fontaine, REBECCA poster
HVB vintage wedding blog - Remembering Joan Fontaine, with co-star Laurence Olivier
With Rebecca co-star Laurence Olivier - husband Max De Winter
HVB vintage wedding blog - Remembering Joan Fontaine, with co-star Judith Anderson in REBECCA
And with Rebecca co-star Judith Anderson - wicked housekeeper Mrs Danvers
She gained an Oscar nomination for her role in Rebecca, but didn't win. And the following year Joan was nominated again for Best Actress - this time in competition with her actress sister Olivia de Havilland. Joan beat her sister and won the award with her second Hitchcock film, Suspicion
HVB vintage wedding blog - Remembering Joan Fontaine, SUSPICION poster
HVB vintage wedding blog - Remembering Joan Fontaine, in her 1930s wedding dress
Congratulated on her wedding day by sister Olivia de Havilland 
The two sisters had always been rivals, and it's said that their relationship never fully recovered. Joan went on to work for many great Hollywood directors and starred in some of my very favourite films, including Rebecca and Jane Eyre. If you've never seen the film, there's a wonderful original 1944 trailer for Jane Eyre here.
HVB vintage wedding blog - Remembering Joan Fontaine, a vintage beauty
HVB vintage wedding blog - Remembering Joan Fontaine, a vintage beauty
To me, Joan is one of the most beautiful of all the classic Hollywood actresses, with her luminous complexion and elegant vintage glamour. I'll sign off with a picture of Joan at her happiest, at her own 1939 wedding to actor Brian Aherne.
HVB vintage wedding blog - Remembering Joan Fontaine, in her 1930s wedding dress
Happy and beautiful at her own 1939 wedding to Brian Aherne
Thanks for stopping by today.

Love 
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides