This wonderfully juicy tell-all reveals a new tragedy in Joan Fontaine's life on almost every page. Joan was born in Japan to British parents who were cold and harsh. Their marriage ended early, and Joan and her sister (Olivia de Haviland) moved to California with their mother. The famous rift (more like a "war") between Joan and her older sister was a case of extreme sibling rivalry that lasts to this day.

Joan was a sickly, lonely child, but broke into movies at the age of nineteen. She tells about making movies such as "Rebecca" and "Suspicion," winning the Academy Award, living a life of globe-trotting luxury, all while enjoying dalliances with such men as Howard Hughes and Joseph Kennedy, Sr. She breezed through four short marriages, always seeking the love she lacked in her childhood. While visiting in Peru, she spotted a sweet little girl; that night she decided to adopt her (the child had already had parents) and take her home. She did; the unhappy girl ran away at the age of 16 and never spoke to Joan again.

I heartily recommend this brutally honest tinsel-town memoir to fans of movies from the thirties to the fifties. It's a real page-turner!

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting story.., 13 Jul 2004

By	Mr. A. Whiteside "tonyjackie3" (uk) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: No Bed of Roses (Hardcover)

This is a pretty good auto biography as far as Hollywood books are concerned.Joan Fontaine gives an interesting account of her very eventful life.
One part of her life that I felt could have been dealt with with more depth was her relationship with her sister Olivia De Havilland.Although Miss fontaine talks about her sister,you felt there was a lot more to be said.
Many parts of the book are revealing and honest,I just felt at times that she was holding back just a little.Still,it is a good read and worth a look.

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