Filmmaker Steven C. Smith presents Olivia de Havilland, leading lady & disruptor (Photo – Pasadena Senior Center)
Fighting a rigged system takes leading lady energy, and Pasadena Senior Center is set to showcase how one of Hollywood’s true originals did just that.
By Melanie Hooks
The Pasadena Senior Center will host an upcoming presentation exploring how Olivia de Havilland, one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actresses, challenged and ultimately reshaped the studio system.
De Havilland, widely admired for her talent and legacy, also made legal history in the 1940s. While under contract with Warner Bros. in 1943, the studio extended her agreement by six months after suspending her for refusing certain roles. In response, she took the bold step of suing the studio. A year later, in 1944, the California Court of Appeal for the Second District ruled in her favor.
The decision had sweeping implications for the film industry, weakening the control studios held over actors and expanding performers’ professional freedom.
The Pasadena Senior Center’s program will delve into this pivotal moment through a presentation led by filmmaker and author Steven C. Smith. The event will include film clips and interviews with de Havilland, bringing her story and impact to life.
The lecture will be held in person and will not be recorded. Admission is priced at $15 for members and $18 for nonmembers. Registration is recommended online, though tickets will also be available at the door.
For additional information, attendees may contact Annie Laskey at (626) 685-6702 or via email at AnnieL@PasadenaSeniorCenter.org.
Masters Series: Olivia De Havilland Tuesday, March 31 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Location Pasadena Senior Center 85 E. Holly St. Pasadena, CA 91103
Leave a Reply