The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honors two time Oscar winner and living Hollywood legend Olivia de Havilland at an upcoming gala event, paying tribute to her career as one of cinema’s most talented and beloved leading ladies. The event takes place Thursday, June 15, 7:30 pm at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills.
For all you true cinema fans this is an exceptional opportunity to see a living representative of the golden age of cinema in person. Ms. de Havilland is one of those rare actresses who has enjoyed a rich and varied career, lasting many decades, having worked with a virtual who’s who of Hollywood icons. Her impressive resume includes The Adventures of Robin Hood, Gone with the Wind and Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte.
At the height of her powers as an artist, her on screen personae was typically characterized as thoughtful yet resilient (Maid Marion in Robin Hood, Melanie in GWTW), earning her the everlasting affection of the American public. A natural born actress, de Havilland relied on intuition and imagination when playing a role, but was ever open to working with a strong director with a clear vision for the development of a particular persona. Truth and believability were known to be her goals in the fulfillment of an on screen character.
My personal favorite de Havilland picture, The Heiress is commonly regarded as her greatest achievement. Here she begins as a simpering young woman, who is doomed to become an outcast spinster, though through harsh experience, achieves an inner strength that gives her a resilient and ignoble strength. In a film where beauty and strength of character are challenged, if not redefined, clearly, Ms. de Havilland was an early role model for the Streeps, Fosters and Sarandons to come.
This program will be hosted by classic cinema’s good will Ambassador, Robert Osborne who is a columnist for the Hollywood Reporter and on-air host for Turner Classic Movies. Colleagues and friends are expected to join Ms. de Havilland as she remarks on clips from her most notable films. One can only image what stories they will have to share about this luminous light from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and cinematic icon.
Call (323) 857-6010 for tickets, or call (310) 247-3600 for info. Or visit www.oscars.org.