Laurence Olivier - A Life - Documentary (13/16)

[trschaefer]

Larry was jealous of her superior film acting skill. But she foolishly tried to match him on stage, when she should have been making more films. Gielgud is absolutely correct in pointing out their rivaly and the competition between the two of them. It was tragic.

[alixwar]

He knew difficulties with Vivien her disease etc. and difficulties with Joan (he was sick and she continued to work and to be admired and applauded). As they knew difficulties supporting him every day.

And he was perfectly filled by his third marriage. We can love two women just as much although differently.

[alixwar]

It's stupid to compare VL and JP. They have differents personalities and talents. The friends of LO and VL, the brilliant John Mills and his wife, also loved Joan. VL was the most determining woman in LO's life, but he doted on his two wives. He has never stopped loving VL, forgave her.

[alixwar]

Then the bipolarity was diagnosed. This disease didn’t help the couple to save their marriage but killed quickly it. They tried nevertheless: Vivien who hated the motherhood tried to give him a child then encouraged Larry to have affairs. While remaining married and by keeping the rank of « superstar » couple for the public. And LO accepted the lovers of his wife even her passion for Finch.

[alixwar]

LO had an adolescence without love (death of beloved mum), married a first woman, a great lady but lesbian and it was with Vivien that he discovered love and funny sex. But he said it and wrote as Vivien also said it, at the end of the 40s, after the first times of passion ended, they had become depressive both because they had realized how much their marriage was fabulous in the middle of their friends and honors but once alone it was much emptier.

[721pcc]

I love Vivien and at 6:20 I just cried, that 12 seconds are just extremely sad.

[Rebeldewayraluka]

I don't have anything against Joan, I do consider her a greate lady who just wanted to be happy with Larry. the only problem was that Laurence Olivier never forgot Vivien, I think despite all the horrible things between them, he always loved Vivien Leigh, even after his third marriage

[Songsmirth]

I've know a few men like SLO who stuck with very difficult women and kept their problems private as much as they could. Like JG admitted so openly, he didn't want to know.Pathetic side of human nature that people don't want to be bothered to help their own "friends" in their most desperate of times.I just lost all the despect I had for JG.What a narcistic person! I bet that made LO feel horrible to be thanked for not burdening him when it was all going on. What kind of person is that?

[meladorimagpie]

It seems like John Gielgud got a bit sad there talking about Vivien--he was really good friends with her

[lebaneseasilah]

Vivien Leigh was beautiful and passionate, while Joan was so hideous and dull. I don't know how Olivier could stand to be with someone like Joan, after having been with Vivien.

[AnotherDarkAngel]

I love that little squeek when he laughs!

[Vivien1]

I wonder if things went different if they'd had a child...

[gabrielazayas]

I think he probably loved Vivien more but was happier with Plowright.

[meladorimagpie]

I sort of used to think so but now people are coming out criticizing Joan and their relationship, so I wouldn't be surprised if after Joan passes away someone publishes a new book about Larry detailing their relationship in a different light. I don't think he ever got over Vivien really, despite not being able to live with her anymore

[DrinkWater22]

Olivier did find happiness in his life with Joan. He said it himself in this doc, he was a happy man in his old age, and he wouldn't go back and change a thing about his life.

[meladorimagpie]

Yes, but he also tended to spin a lot of tales, I think, especially when he was older. His and Joan's relationship dynamic was really strange and it seems he used her to a)escape the hell he was going through with vivien in the end (a hard decision based on anyone's account) and b)to go in a new direction with his career. I think he was happy w/her for the first few years with the kids and everything but after that wore off, I don't think he was very happy at all despite what he may have said.

[DrinkWater22]

I respectfully disagree. I think in his old age, he found happiness. He was happy with everything he's accomplished, and he died a happy old man. I know many people would rpefer if Larry was sad about his lost love, like in many novels and Hollywood romance, but in actuality, he was a happy man. He said it himself, Vivien gave him wonderful and terrible memories. Joan offered him only wonderful memories.

[meladorimagpie]

eh, well, to each his/her own :)

[meladorimagpie]

I got back from London a month ago on a little research trip on Larry and Vivien, and every single person I talked to said that he may have found new direction with Joan and been happy with her for a time, but he never got over Vivien, which is sad for Joan, but she knew what she was getting in to when she married him and she knew she'd always be in Vivien's shadow in some sense. it's sad that a lot of Larry and Vivien's friends never really accepted Joan

[DrinkWater22]

That is sad, but they don't make Larry's decisions or control his life. He had to do what's best for him. No one really gets over that, 20 years of marriage filled with the best memories and the worse. It doesn't matter who he loved more, as long as he finds happiness in the end, and he did.

[meladorimagpie]

I honestly don't think he ever loved Joan Plowright on the same level that he loved Vivien.

[AdArmand]

Vivien Leigh's real genius was in film acting - moreso than Olivier. Both were gifted.