Joan Fontaine

Higham has described the events of the awards ceremony, stating that as Fontaine stepped forward to accept her award, she rejected de Havilland's attempts at congratulating her, and that de Havilland was offended and embarrassed by her behaviour. Several years later, de Havilland would remember the slight and exact her own by brushing past Fontaine, who was waiting with hand extended, because de Havilland had allegedly taken offence at a comment Fontaine had made about de Havilland's husband. The relationship with de Havilland and Fontaine continued to deteriorate after the two incidents. Higham has stated that this was the near final straw for what would become a lifelong feud, but the sisters did not completely stop speaking until 1975.

Both sisters have refused to comment publicly about their feud and dysfunctional family relationship, though in an interview with John Kobal, Fontaine stated that the so-called rivalry was a hoax, created by studio publicity hounds. According to Fontaine, de Havilland did not invite her to a memorial service for their recently deceased mother. Even though de Havilland claims she told Fontaine, she insists Fontaine had brushed her off, claiming that she was too busy to attend. Read Less