Film star’s court case is gone with the wind

Actress Olivia de Havilland has failed in her effort to pursue litigation against the makers of the FX series “Feud: Bette and Joan” for its depiction of her relationship with Bette Davis.

Ms. de Havilland objected to her portrayal by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the production, saying it made her seem like a vulgar hypocrite and gossip. 

While a Los Angeles court initially allowed the actress, who is best known for her performances in “Gone with the Wind” and “The Heiress,” to proceed with her case, a California appeals court reversed the decision on First Amendment grounds. Neither the California Supreme Court, nor the U.S. Supreme Court, in Monday’s notice, permitted her to proceed with the case.

Attorneys for Ms. de Havilland, who is 102, said in a statement she was disappointed the high court “did not protect the publication of intentional lies,” according to Variety magazine.

But Charles Rivkin, chairman and CEO of the Washington-based Motion Picture Association of America, said the Supreme Court’s refusal to consider the case was “great news” for filmmakers and for audiences “who enjoy a good biopic, documentary, docudrama or work of historical fiction.”