I traveled to Paris in Sept., and had the great privilege of
meeting Ms. Olivia de Haviland, who welcomed me into her beautiful home with champagne and treats. I brought my dear friend Cooky, my brothers girlfriend, who is like my sister and who knows my family so well. We talked about my Dad. I told her stories and she told me stories. Mine were a little more personal for she was very curious as to the years I spent growing up with my Dad.
She did tell me that my father was still an enigma to her. That she had never been able to figure him out.Her presence was complete, her attention very directed, and her humor and high spirits was nothing less than an inspiration to me. How happy and welcoming she was to meet us. We had been corresponding for years and and I thought I may never get this chance, as time does fly by, and we are all so busy. She had just completed a video where she spoke about “Gone With the Wind” to commemorate the 50 years since it was made. She is very busy with her fan mail and other occasions that she is asked to attend.
I left with such a great feeling, to have been able to talk about my Dad with all the love I have for him and find it reciprocated by such a lovely woman who is full of compassion and devotion to his memory.
Cheers, Rory
— Rory Flynn
Anonymous
November 4, 2009 at 3:03 am
How wonderful. Olivia is just lovely. Thanks for sharing. Patti
Anonymous
November 4, 2009 at 4:43 am
What a wonderful memory you've created not only for yourself, but for your son and nephew as well. Olivia is just stunning and the picture of the two of you together–oh my! Thank you for sharing and I'm glad you were able to personally visit after so many years of contact with her. A dream come true for you!
Anonymous
November 4, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Wow Rory, that's incredible! I really admire Olivia, she's been very generous to her fans all these years. And certainly no leading lady had more great, memorable scenes with your dad than she.
Russ
Anonymous
November 4, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Having just woken and turned on the computer and then to see this article is akin to finding
a very large nugget of gold sitting there looking at me.
Very, very grateful to Rory for sharing this 'gold' with us. Bless Olivia !
Anonymous
November 5, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Rory, it seems as if a path of destiny has come full circle with your meeting Ms. de Havilland. There must have been a wonderful magic in the air, looking into the very eyes that looked so lovingly into your father's for the enthrallment of generations of fans like us. May those moments you spent with her live on indelibly in your memory; you are indeed blessed in many ways.
Best,
Robert
Anonymous
November 8, 2009 at 2:33 am
Wonderful, wonderful! Two very classy ladies!
zacal
January 1, 2014 at 9:11 pm
I love this story. Thank you for sharing it. His dear friend and co-star sharing favorite stories and still trying to understand him years after his passing. It wasn’t that long ago! I’m so glad you two were able to meet. Olivia told a story once about seeing “The Adventures of Robin Hood” in 1959 and writing Errol a letter telling him how happy she was they made those films. But she tore the letter up, thinking he’d see her as silly. She regretted that because he died two weeks later. On top of that, a writer noted that Errol rarely got any personal mail so it would surely have been important to him. Anyway, I’ve always followed through with sending letters after reading about her regret.
Tim
January 1, 2014 at 10:15 pm
Yes, what a wonderful story indeed! .. Thank you and Happy New Year, Rory! (and Olivia!!) … And that’s so great, zacal, what you took from that account regarding correspondence to Errol (from Earl Conrad’s “Memoir” I think.) Something very worthwhile for all of us to remember.