Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland (1916–2020) was a British-American actor whose film career included Gone with the Wind and The Heiress. She became known for challenging the studio contract system.

Gone with the Wind: The 1939 American epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell’s novel, starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable. De Havilland earned an Academy Award nomination playing Melanie Hamilton.
De Havilland Law: The California legal rule limiting the enforceable duration of personal-service contracts to seven years. Her court victory established the rule that ended her long Warner Bros. suspension.
Errol Flynn: An Australian-American actor best known for swashbuckling roles in films of the 1930s and 1940s. He co-starred with de Havilland in several Warner Bros. adventure films.
Tokyo: The capital of Japan and one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas. De Havilland was born there in 1916 to British parents.
The Heiress: The 1949 film adaptation of Henry James’s novella Washington Square, directed by William Wyler. Her restrained performance as Catherine Sloper won her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Warner Bros.: An American film and entertainment company founded in 1923 by the Warner brothers. Its dispute with de Havilland over her contract led to the landmark California ruling.
Bette Davis: An American actor known for forceful performances and disputes with the Hollywood studio system. Her contract battle at Warner Bros. preceded de Havilland’s similar challenge.
Lillian Fontaine: A British-born American stage actor and the mother of Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine. Her theatrical career connected de Havilland’s childhood to stage performance.
The Adventures of Robin Hood: A 1938 adventure film starring Errol Flynn as Robin Hood, directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley. De Havilland played Maid Marian in one of her early major roles.
Studio system: The Hollywood production model in which major studios controlled filmmaking, distribution, theaters, and many performers’ contracts. Her legal challenge targeted the system’s power to extend actors’ exclusive service.

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