Olivia de Havilland and the Golden Age of Hollywood

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This biography offers a riveting portrait of a bold and talented woman, capturing a life as turbulent and moving as her celebrated films. It draws on the author's personal connections with key figures in Olivia de Havilland's life and career, presenting a narrative that intertwines her story with the history of American moviemaking from the 1930s to the 1960s. The book is rich in anecdotes featuring Hollywood's Golden Age personalities, including Vivien Leigh, Bette Davis, and Clark Gable. Celebrated for her beauty since her debut in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Olivia attracted powerful men, including future U.S. presidents and directors. Her great love was Errol Flynn, her costar in eight films, while her relationship with director John Huston was also significant. The biography details her two marriages, highlighting the brutality she faced from her first husband, Marcus Goodrich. It exposes the dark side of Hollywood, including abusive conditions, the Communist witch hunt, and unfair studio practices that exploited stars. Olivia was unique in her fight against these injustices, successfully suing Warner Brothers. From the outset, the author's relationship with Olivia makes this biography a compelling read, brilliantly portraying the incandescent star whose life was marked by both triumph and tragedy.