The Whales of August 1987

     This film is based on a play by David Berry.  Libby Strong and Sarah Webber are sisters and they live in Philadelphia.  They are staying at the family’s summer cottage on an island off the coast of Maine.  The cottage belongs to Sarah and it’s been in their family most of their lives.  There are a few people who have been half-century friends or acquaintances on the island.  There is Tisha Doughty and she is like a bossy third sister.  Joshua Brackett has done a lot of the handyman work on the cottage.  Mr. Maranov, is a new person and he is a former Russian aristocrat.  Chivalry is a way of life for him and he was previously wealthy.  Unfortunately, his landlady has recently passed away and he will need to look for a new place to live.

     I thought it was interesting to see all the actors in their later years.  The scenery in this area is very beautiful.  Libby and Sarah are opposites in their personalities.  Libby is very formal and she believes they don’t need a new picture window in the cottage.  It's because they are too old to have something new?  Sarah says she doesn’t feel that old!!  Bette Davis is very recognizable by her manner of speech  3 ½* (I liked this movie)              

90 min, Drama directed by Lindsay Anderson with Bette Davis, Lillian, Gish, Vincent Price, Ann Sothern, Harry, Carey Jr., Frank Grimes, Margaret Ladd, Tisha Sterling, Mary Steenburgen, frank Pitkin, Mike Bush.

Note:  Imdb 7.6 out of 10, 63% critic 66% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 130 reviews, TCM average 4.98 user review, Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5* with 376 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Portland, Cliff Island, Cosco Bay, Cumberland County and Gulf of Maine, Maine.  This movie was filmed in the autumn of 1986, Lillian Gish was 93 during filming and Ann Sothern was 92.  Bette Davis was the youngest of the women at 78 but her character is blind and Vincent Price was 75.