Joan Fontaine 1917-2013

Last night just before I turned in for some slumber time I heard of the passing of Academy Award winning actress Joan Fontaine.  This morning on the national news there was a little blurb about her death.  Peter O'Toole also passed this weekend his career had reached into the recent past. Ms.Fontaine was a part of Hollywoods golden age and hadn't done much work since the 1980's. Still I think she's deserving of a bit more than a blurb.

Joan Fontaine is known for two roles in two Alfred Hitchcock films. The first being ''Rebecca" released in 1940 this was Hitchcock's first American film in it Joan plays a young woman who marries a debonair Laurence Olivier and then must compete with the memory of his first wife.  It's a great performance in a great movie that still holds up 74 years after it's release. Nominated for Best Actress Joan lost to Ginger Rogers in ''Kitty Foyle".

The following year Joan again played a young wife in ''Suspicion" this time around she suspects her husband played by Cary Grant is trying to kill her.  There's a great scene along a winding seaside road that is pretty breathtaking.  Joan took the Oscar home this time besting her sister Olivia de Havilland and starting a life long feud.

Acting wasn't Joans only career she was a airline pilot, and an accomplished interior designer.  She lived in the seaside town of Carmel California, the same town Doris Day lives in.  With her passing there are very few left from an age when Hollywood stars were true royalty, her sister is alive and living in Paris at the age of 97 no word yet on whether she will attend any funeral or memorial service. I'd love to be there if she does!  Rest in peace Miss Joan Fontaine.