Bette Davis and Lillian Gish, The Grand Dame's of Cinema!
Added 9/16/2009
WOW, is they only word that comes to mind when thinking of this powerful and elegant drama. The fact that this was Ms. Davis's last (completed) film would be reason enough to buy this movie, it's a story of life and growing older, and they just don't make them like this anymore. Ms. Davis plays "Libby Strong", an elderly blind woman, who lives and is cared for by her sister "Sarah", played by Ms. Lillian Gish. The film hits on many angles of life love, passion, friendship and the acknowledgement of the inevitable fate that Leers ahead of us all 'death'. Also starring in this magnificent song of truth is Mr. Vincent Price, Ms. Ann Sothern, and the allways witty Harey Carey Jr. I must warn you though, there are no whales in the picture. However, don't let the title, and the fact of there being no whales steer you away from this elegant film. If you're a fan of "On Golden Pond", "Right of Way", and "Summer Solstice", than this is your 'cup of tea'. I know it's a little pricey since it went out of print (I was very fortunate to get it while it was quite cheap), but treat yourself you deserve it, expeirnce the magic of "The Whales of August".
(As for my statement early in the review of this being Ms. Davis's last competed film, let me elaborate. Ms. Davis did start work on a film titled "Wicked Stepmother" in 1989, but to cenima's great loss Ms. Davis passed away before completion of the film. May I say there will never be another actress with the talent of Ms. Bette Davis.)
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The Whales Of August : Brilliant
Added 6/21/2009
Lillian Gish, Bette Davis, Vincent Price, Ann Sothern and the coast of Maine. Legendary actors in a legendary location. I saw this movie whilst sitting up late one night not long after it's release. I couldn't move. I couldn't believe that someone was able to assemble these movie legends in the twilight (some may say extended twilight) of their lives to give possibly the performances of their lives. I located a VHS copy as soon as I could and purchased the DVD as soon as it was released. I see that it is now discontinued ... that is sad. Let's hope that it is only to re-release it in a remastered form ......... This is a keeper, it should never go out of print. It is a movie of superior performances by pioneers and legends of film. It is a piece of cinematic history. Grab a copy if you can just in case it happens that pretty soon you can't .. 'nuff said !
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Not my taste
Added 5/17/2009
My favorite part of the movie was the scenery and the inside of the cottage. It was so quaint. I thought that Lillian Gish did an amazing acting performance. Bette Davis seemed too overly dramatic in her style. She just drew out her words in an odd way. There was one scene where she sat in a chair by the window and then looked out. A blind person would not look out the window. She came out of her room in a gorgeous dress that had small buttons all the way up the back, and I wondered how she could have ever buttoned them. (Maybe, I'm over-analytical) I loved Vincent Price. Wow, he is still appealing even in his later years! Great acting. I didn't care for Ann Sothern. Something about her seemed contrived...maybe it was the accent that just didn't seem natural to her.
The movie is basically the relationship between two elderly sisters who live in a house by the sea. That came across pretty realistically, but there was no real plot. I kept waiting for something to happen and nothing ever did. Just people dropping in and drinking tea, people puttering around the yard, people going for short walks, ordinary things like that...not too exciting. The older sister started showing signs of senility, and I found that depressing. I also was angry at her for her manipulative behavior and her ingratitude for all that her sister was doing for her.
They mentioned the whales throughout the film and it almost seemed like one of the focal points, but then we never saw them and it seemed disappointing to me. The ending was not a climax; it was uneventful. (which I won't disclose)
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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The Whales of August
Added 9/19/2008
Gentle film with excellent acting by the great Bette Davis and Lilian Gish, Ann Sothern and Vincent Price. Highly recommended for relaxing entertainment.
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Bette Davis's Swan Song- her last great performance
Added 9/18/2008
The Whales of August is a very character driven film with a lot of very good dialogue and not a lot of action. It is one of those films were to "get it" you have to really listen to the actors and their body language. Lillian Gish is perfect as Sarah an elderly lady who isn't ready to give up on life and still has things to look forward to and that she wants- like a picture window to look out at the moonlight. Bette Davis is amazing as Libby Sarah's blind sister who is very bitter and just wants to get life over with. But at times she is also very shrewd and poignant- a complex woman. Ann Sothern and Vincent Price are good supporting parts as a busybody neighbor and an elderly would be suitor. Harry Carey Jr is great as a handyman who comes over and always makes a lot of noise. I think you have to be an adult to enjoy this movie and get what it is about- living life and not giving up that just because you are elderly doesn't mean your time is gone- that it is gone only when you die. The film belongs to Bette Davis. It is all the more poignant because she was most likely dying of cancer while making this movie and to see her do such excellent acting a year before she died shows what we have lost. The scene that to me stands out is when Ms. Davis says, " We have such little time left." It doesn't get more poignant then that. You see in Ms. Davis a woman who has really lived. For anyone who loves Bette Davis as I do this movie is a must see and a must have.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Bette Davis and Lillian Gish, The Grand Dame's of Cinema!
Added 9/16/2009
WOW, is they only word that comes to mind when thinking of this powerful and elegant drama. The fact that this was Ms. Davis's last (completed) film would be reason enough to buy this movie, it's a story of life and growing older, and they just don't make them like this anymore. Ms. Davis plays "Libby Strong", an elderly blind woman, who lives and is cared for by her sister "Sarah", played by Ms. Lillian Gish. The film hits on many angles of life love, passion, friendship and the acknowledgement of the inevitable fate that Leers ahead of us all 'death'. Also starring in this magnificent song of truth is Mr. Vincent Price, Ms. Ann Sothern, and the allways witty Harey Carey Jr. I must warn you though, there are no whales in the picture. However, don't let the title, and the fact of there being no whales steer you away from this elegant film. If you're a fan of "On Golden Pond", "Right of Way", and "Summer Solstice", than this is your 'cup of tea'. I know it's a little pricey since it went out of print (I was very fortunate to get it while it was quite cheap), but treat yourself you deserve it, expeirnce the magic of "The Whales of August".
(As for my statement early in the review of this being Ms. Davis's last competed film, let me elaborate. Ms. Davis did start work on a film titled "Wicked Stepmother" in 1989, but to cenima's great loss Ms. Davis passed away before completion of the film. May I say there will never be another actress with the talent of Ms. Bette Davis.)
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
The Whales Of August : Brilliant
Added 6/21/2009
Lillian Gish, Bette Davis, Vincent Price, Ann Sothern and the coast of Maine. Legendary actors in a legendary location. I saw this movie whilst sitting up late one night not long after it's release. I couldn't move. I couldn't believe that someone was able to assemble these movie legends in the twilight (some may say extended twilight) of their lives to give possibly the performances of their lives. I located a VHS copy as soon as I could and purchased the DVD as soon as it was released. I see that it is now discontinued ... that is sad. Let's hope that it is only to re-release it in a remastered form ......... This is a keeper, it should never go out of print. It is a movie of superior performances by pioneers and legends of film. It is a piece of cinematic history. Grab a copy if you can just in case it happens that pretty soon you can't .. 'nuff said !
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Not my taste
Added 5/17/2009
My favorite part of the movie was the scenery and the inside of the cottage. It was so quaint. I thought that Lillian Gish did an amazing acting performance. Bette Davis seemed too overly dramatic in her style. She just drew out her words in an odd way. There was one scene where she sat in a chair by the window and then looked out. A blind person would not look out the window. She came out of her room in a gorgeous dress that had small buttons all the way up the back, and I wondered how she could have ever buttoned them. (Maybe, I'm over-analytical) I loved Vincent Price. Wow, he is still appealing even in his later years! Great acting. I didn't care for Ann Sothern. Something about her seemed contrived...maybe it was the accent that just didn't seem natural to her.
The movie is basically the relationship between two elderly sisters who live in a house by the sea. That came across pretty realistically, but there was no real plot. I kept waiting for something to happen and nothing ever did. Just people dropping in and drinking tea, people puttering around the yard, people going for short walks, ordinary things like that...not too exciting. The older sister started showing signs of senility, and I found that depressing. I also was angry at her for her manipulative behavior and her ingratitude for all that her sister was doing for her.
They mentioned the whales throughout the film and it almost seemed like one of the focal points, but then we never saw them and it seemed disappointing to me. The ending was not a climax; it was uneventful. (which I won't disclose)
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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