Rediscovering a Gem: Olivia de Havilland's Little-Known Screen Test for Max Reinhardt's "Danton"

This rare footage and her passionate performance still resonate today

While looking for a memento to publish in celebration of Dame Olivia de Havilland’s birthday on July 1st, I stumbled upon rare footage on Doctor Macro’s webpage. It was an intriguing short video with no caption or reference. After some investigation, I discovered it was a screen test of Olivia for the role of Marianne in Max Reinhardt’s unrealized project, Danton (1936). Although, sadly, the film was never made, this screen test provides yet another testament to de Havilland’s passion and fierce nature from the very beginning of her career.

In this post, we will explore Olivia de Havilland’s early career, focusing on her breakthrough role as Hermia in Reinhardt’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935). We’ll delve into Max Reinhardt’s remarkable legacy in theatre and his brief but impactful contribution to Hollywood. We’ll also discuss the potential connection between Reinhardt’s successful stage play, Danton’s Death, and the origins of the unrealized film Danton. Finally, we’ll highlight the most significant aspects of this screen test, in terms of Olivia’s powerful delivery, and provide details on where you can watch it. Allons-y!