The Whales of August
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Lindsay Anderson
Produced by	Mike E. Kaplan]] Karolyn Pfeiffer
Written by	David Berry
Starring	Bette Davis Lillian Gish
Distributed by	Alive Films
Release date(s)	October 16, 1987 (USA)
Running time	90 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Whales of August is a 1987 film starring Bette Davis and Lillian Gish as elderly sisters. Also in the cast were Ann Sothern as one of their friends, and Vincent Price as a Russian fisherman. Tha film was shot on location on Maine's Cliff Island. .The house still stands and is a popular subject of artists on the island. The film was directed by Lindsay Anderson. The screenplay was adapted by David Berry from his own play. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Lindsay Anderson (April 17, 1923 - August 30, 1994), English film and documentary director. ... For the singer, see Betty Davis, for the meteorologist, see Betty Davis (meteorologist). ... Lillian Diana de Guiche (October 14, 1893 – February 27, 1993), was an Oscar-nominated American actress, better known as Lillian Gish. ... October 16 is the 289th day of the year (290th in leap years). ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... For the singer, see Betty Davis, for the meteorologist, see Betty Davis (meteorologist). ... Lillian Diana de Guiche (October 14, 1893 – February 27, 1993), was an Oscar-nominated American actress, better known as Lillian Gish. ... Ann Sothern Ann Sothern (January 22, 1909 – March 15, 2001) was an American film actress. ... Vincent Leonard Price Jr. ... A fisherman in central Chile A Long Island fisherman cleans his nets A fisherman (in recent years sometimes called a fisher to be non-gender specific), is a person who engages in the activity of fishing. ... Lindsay Anderson (April 17, 1923 - August 30, 1994), English film and documentary director. ... Sample from a screenplay, showing dialogue and action descriptions. ... It has been suggested that David Berry (playwright) be merged into this article or section. ...

Although the film starred two of the screen's most important actresses in what would be near to their final film roles, it was not a substantial commercial success. Upon its release it was widely tipped that either Davis or Gish would be rewarded, if not for their performances in this film, but for their longevity, with Academy Award nominations, but neither actress was nominated. Sothern received the only Academy Award nomination of her career in the category of Best Supporting Actress. Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... The Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role is one of the awards given to actresses working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ...

Plot summary

Bette Davis in the final completed performance of her long career, as Libby

The Whales of August tells the story of two elderly widowed sisters near the end of their lives, spending a summer in a seaside house in Maine. The surroundings cause them to recall their relationship as young women, and the summers they had enjoyed there in the past. They reflect on the passage of time, and the bitterness, jealousies and misunderstandings that slowly festered over the years, and kept them from establishing a true closeness in their relationship. Libby, played by Davis, is the more infirm of the two sisters, and her nature has become bitter and cold as a result. Sarah, played by Gish, is a softer and more tolerant character, intent on nursing her sister through her discomfort and trying to breach the gulf that has grown between them. The resentment that Libby displays to her so clearly, stifles Sarah's every attempt at making a friendly overture towards her, and Sarah cautiously retreats from her. Price as a fisherman provides a romantic interest for Gish, and helps her to recall the happiness of her youth, while also reminding her of the marriage and husband that she has lost. Sothern as a vivacious life long friend provides common sense, fun and laughter, and is the catalyst for some of the sisters' conversations and revelations. In flashbacks actresses Margaret Ladd, Mary Steenburgen and Tisha Sterling (Sothern's real-life daughter) play respectively, the Gish, Davis and Sothern characters as young women. Image File history File links BetteDavisTheWhalesofAugust. ... Image File history File links BetteDavisTheWhalesofAugust. ... Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... Main title caption from Falcon Crest. ... Mary Steenburgen (born February 8, 1953) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. ... Tisha Sterling (b. ...

Many reviewers missed the significance of Vincent Price's character, Mr. Maranov. Frequently referred to as Sarah's "love interest" or "an aging roue", Price's character serves a more subtle and interesting function. A function that is crucial to defining the relationship between Libby and Sarah.

Maranov represents death come calling. Not death in any evil sense, but instead death as friend; warm, kind, charming, cheerful and exotic. Sarah is drawn toward this seductive, romantic "friend". Libby is uncomfortable with Sarah's relationship with Maranov. Libby unconsciously senses danger (note the disquieting sleep scene.) She takes a great dislike to the charming Maranov, strives to discredit him and manages to prevent Sarah from connecting with him - at least for the time.

The Maranov character helps to stabilize and define the tense but dependent relationship Libby and Sarah have shared throughout their lives, and will continue to share as they approach the end of their lives.

Production information

The film's producer, Mike Kaplan, saw the play performed at by the Trinity Repertory Company while he was visiting Rhode Island on family business. Kaplan, who had met Lillian Gish many years earlier when he was a publicist involved in The Commedians (1967), decided immediately that the role of Sarah Webber was a role that would introduce new generations of filmgoers to the great talent of the "First Lady of American Film". The Trinity Repertory Company is a regional theatre located in Providence, Rhode Island. ... Official language(s) English Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  Ranked 50th  - Total 1,214* [1] sq mi (3,144* km²)  - Width 37 miles (60 km)  - Length 48 miles (77 km)  - % water 32. ... Lillian Diana de Guiche (October 14, 1893 – February 27, 1993), was an Oscar-nominated American actress, better known as Lillian Gish. ...

As opposed to the original stage production, the movie made it possible to showcase stars who were the age peers of the characters. Actors and actresses of a certain age and stature were contacted to see if they were both interested in and physically capable of playing the roles. Many screen greats were approached to play a role but demurred because they suffered from various infirmities, e.g., Shirley Booth, Barbara Stanwyck, Fred Astaire, Paul Henried. Other greats turned down the producers' overtures for other reasons, e.g., Joel McCrea, Frances Dee, Katharine Hepburn, John Gielgud. Even Bette Davis and Lillian Gish turned down the parts more than once before being persuaded to star in the film. Shirley Booth (August 30, 1898 – October 16, 1992) was an acclaimed American actress. ... Barbara Stanwyck (July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress of film, stage, and screen . ... Fred Astaire (May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987), born Frederick Austerlitz in Omaha, Nebraska,[1] was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. ... Joel Albert McCrea, (November 5, 1905 - October 20, 1990) was an American film actor. ... Frances Dee in Becky Sharp (1935) Frances Dee (born November 26, 1909 (sources used to cite 1907 as her year of birth while she was alive); died March 6, 2004) was an actress. ... Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an iconic American star of film, television and stage, widely recognized for her sharp wit, New England gentility and fierce independence. ... Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH (14 April 1904 – 21 May 2000), known as Sir John Gielgud, was an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Academy Award-winning British theatre and film actor. ... For the singer, see Betty Davis, for the meteorologist, see Betty Davis (meteorologist). ...

Berry, Lindsay Anderson (the director), the cinematographer, a location scout, and Kaplan traveled by water taxi to several islands in Casco Bay searching for a location that would provide the necessary ambiance and ocean vistas for the film. In the end, the film was shot a few miles down the Bay from the site of Berry's family cottage on Peaks Island, from where, in fact, the characters and story were drawn. The film's premiere in New York City on October 14, 1987, was followed a few weeks later by a State of Maine premiere in Portland, Maine, which was attended by both Berry and Kaplan. Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, USA. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth. ... Vintage postcard depicting Gem Theatre, boardwalk, and the Peaks Island House hotel in Peaks Island, Maine Photo of ferry landing and Welch Street on Peaks Island, Maine Peaks Island is the most populous island in Casco Bay, Maine. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... Nickname: Motto: Resurgam (Latin for I will rise again) Country United States State Maine County Cumberland Settled 1632 Incorporated 1786 Government  - Mayor Nicholas M. Mavodones, Jr Area  - City  52. ...

The film proved immensely popular in Tokyo, running for a full year there. David Berry authorized several stage productions in Japan after the film premiered in Tokyo in 1987, the most recent being in 2005. Authorized stage productions have been presented overseas in several countries including Russia, Greece, and Great Britain.   , literally Eastern capital) is a unique subnational administrative region of Japan with characteristics of both a prefecture and a city. ...

External links

• The Whales of August at the Internet Movie Database