Vivien and Olivier were married partners…but they also were competitors. That must have been an important dynamic in their relationship. That would also be an interesting discussion topic.
It is especially important in American politics. Hillary Clinton is doing very well in her bid to run for the candidacy as the next US President. Yes, Bill Clinton “supports her” but he has made so many vague comments of faint praise, that he is almost undermining her! I think he feels jealous that his wife might accomplish what he did by being elected the US president!
I have a still from GWTW that shows Vivien, but it is signed: “Vivien Leigh by Laurence Olivier”—this is a strange item, but I guess Larry was dealing with Vivien’s fan mail and maybe was annoyed. Yes, this still is totally in Larry’s hand-writing, signing a still for Vivien. Olivier was the famous stage actor, but Vivien, even though she made few films, was acclaimed more for her film work. Vivien felt less the stage performer, and Olivier felt less the film performer.
What does everyone else think?
Is this an important dynamic in their relationship? Who was superior in film vs. who was superior on stage? Is stage reputation superior to film reputation? The snobs may say yes, yet film lasts longer than stage….
That is why I ask anyone visiting this site who saw either Leigh or Olivier actually act on stage to post your recollections. All of us would love hearing this.
posted by Jonas
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Both of them thought stage was superior to film acting. larry said because film had money in it. I do think there was some sort of competition(though Larry said he never thought that being married to such a bright star had any negative effect on his career), but Viv always put Larry first in that respect. She thought him the greatest actor in the world and i don’t think he argued with that assessment because he WAS considered the greatest actor of his generation at the time and eve today (some even call him the greatest stage actor of the 20th century)and worked his ass off to get to the top. He was a serious professional in every sense of the word.
Larry was considered top on stage and many said Viv was better on screen than she was on stage. I would agree with the second assessment in as far as in his earlier films, Larry could be pretty hammy while Viv seemed a natural. However I don’t think it’s true for his entire screen career, he made some brilliant films and was wonderful in them (wuthering heights, rebecca, hamlet, richard III, the entertainer, marathon man to name a few) plus he was tied for the record of most Oscar noms in a career. So I don’t think he and Viv can really be compared in that respect; they were both wonderful, different as far as the turns their careers took, but they both ended up excelling on screen and in theatre (larry especially but viv, it seems, in certain ways too).
I might add, I also think Larry helped Viv become the actress she was in many ways in both mediums, even though she was talented on her own. He helped her get the part of Scarlett by arranging the meeting with Myron Selznick who was his agent, and that in turn launched her in the most amazing way as a star. he also was her mentor and coach for many of her theatrical performances.
I can’t comment on stage cause i’ve never seen any performance.
but I think Viv loved Larry to much to compete against him in every interview i’ve ever read she’s praising him as the greatest actor ever
unfortunately i don’t think he felt the same way about her
Altho I think Larry was a great film actor IMO Viv was better. No one will ever top Blanche Dubois in “A Streetcar Named Desire” or the wonderful Scarlett in “Gone With The Wind” or even Libby in “Sidewalks of London” and all the credit belongs to Viv who put in all her talent and gave a lot from herself to some of those roles. That was her gift to us and that’s why we love her.
That’s my two cents and how i feel. 
Do you know the anecdote about the Burgundy bottle ? Just to show how Vivien praised Larry’s talent. I think it was told by Alan Dent. It was in Notley or somewhere. The conversation – slowed by great wines – was – astonishingly ? – rolling on actors, performances etc… With a devilish smile, Vivien summoned Alan Dent – in front of all people- to say which actor was the greatest : Larry Olivier or John Gielgud. The poor critic, clutching to his table, tried to protest that the question was unfair. Vivien was adamant. Larry or John ? “Well, Vivien – said Alan – you should as well wonder wich wine is the greatest. Bordeaux or Burgundy ? You could compare John with a Bordeaux. Noble and profound. When Larry is more like a Burgundy, rich and surprising. “Well done, Vivien answered smilingly. Now Alan dear, would you please fill your glass up with that DELICIOUS Burgundy AND pass the bottle ?”
I don’t think the dynamic was apparent in the beginning of their relationship. As it progressed and since they were working within the same craft, I think it naturally became a competitive marriage.
To answer the question about who was superior in film and stage I don’t think people would argue that Larry was stage and Vivien was film. Since I have never seen either perform on stage, I can only guess. His earlier films were larger, in terms of acting but Vivien’s were too. However, I think she understood sooner than he when it was necessary to act just to one person, or when to take it down a bit.
I love them both but I do think their competition with one another led to their demise. I think somehow, Vivien felt below Larry in some aspects and tried viligantly to come up to par (in her mind) as him. Larry probably did not understand what she was trying to do but I honestly believe it literally drove Vivien to the point of breakdown.
Star versus actor. Stage versus film. These comparisons should be abandoned in my opinion because all human beings, and therefore their work and contributions, should be valued to the point that these comparisons appear quite silly indeed.
Anyone who wants to think of Larry as the greatest actor,… I will not even bother to disagree. But I have always thought of Vivien as England’s greatest STAR because her personality or personna always preceded her (and her work); this is what makes someone as star. Her personality was larger than life; I have often heard/read that people say in so many words that they are still haunted by Vivien. Can you imagine anyone saying this of Larry, other than perhaps someone who knew him personally and closely?
Regarding superiority in film and on stage, the degree of excellence is SO HIGH that we might as well be comparing two pieces of Meisen porcelain from the same period (ie. 1760, the golden age), when it ultimately has to be boiled down to personal taste choosing one over the other!!