Whales of august, the maine international film festival. The whales of august is a film directed by lindsay anderson with bette davis, lillian gish, vincent price, ann sothern, year. Every august, they have watched the whales passing in the nearby waters, but the. Whales no longer pass close to the shore as they did during the youth of two elderly widowed sisters who have a seaside home where theyve summered for 50. Definitely worth seeing for its cast alone, the whales of august is with reservations recommended. Its full of memories, it gives one an initial warmth and fuzziness, but tiny little stray threads can rub against the skin and cause discomfort. The only filmed interviews with the legendary cast of the whales of august during the film s production occurred when a bbc unit arrived on cliff island to capture the experience. The whales of august by alan price album, film score. The 90yearold star wore four pairs of leg warmers under her summer dress. Advanced old age life is left behind but memories and hopes still remain. Gish as she gets ready for a date, and davis caressing her cheeks with a feather, given to her from a lost love of long ago. The whales of august muted but engrossing tale about the balance of power between two elderly sisters boasts superior lead performances from two of the screens most legendary actresses, bette. The older sister, elizabeth libby is being taken care of by her younger sister, sarah.
The film was among the last for stars bette davis, lillian gish, vincent price, and ann sothern. For decades, since they were children, they have returned to this old cottage on an island off the coast of maine, where in august it has been their custom to watch at twilight as the whales pass on their journeys to wherever it is that whales go. The whales of august bette davis and lillian gish youtube. The whales of august is a 1987 american drama film based on the play of the same name by david berry and starring bette. Andersons version of david berrys play opens with a sepiatinted steenburgen joyfully watching the spouters of the title, before fast forwarding into. The whales of august 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. Sarah webber lillian gish is the older of the two, the owner, and is caretaker to her blind sister libby strong bette davis. Ann sothern earned a best supporting actress nomination at the 60th academy awards. Running through memories like thieves in the night, clutching emotions, holding too tight, hold turns to dust, shattered by light. The obvious affecionados of this movie will be those who have lived much of life, and can relate closely with the collection of elder characters. The whales of august is a 1987 film directed by lindsay anderson, starring bette davis, lillian gish, and vincent price. The whales of august 1987 directed by lindsay anderson.
The whales of august features a wonderful screenplay by playwright david berry g. The surroundings cause them to recall their relationship as young women, and the summers they had enjoyed there in the past. The whales of august was filmed on cliff island and producer, mike kaplan, is in maine to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film. The sisters frequently relate events of the past to each other. When the whales came is a 1989 british film directed by clive rees and starring helen mirren, paul scofield, david suchet, barbara jefford, david threlfall, john hallam, barbara ewing, and jeremy kemp. The whales of august is the cinematic equivalent of a handmade but very old and worn family quilt. The whales of august is a play written by american playwright david berry. Sarah lillian gish is a romantic who loves roses, little projects,and talking with people. Rhode island, presented the premiere of the whales of august in 1981. The whales of august is a subdued and quiet film, but it is a beautiful and marvelous film nonetheless. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. The whales of august 1987 frequently asked questions.
The whales of august is a quiet, dialoguedriven film, and all the conversations are well prioritized and easy to comprehend. Atmospherics, such as the churning sound of the sea, gentle breezes, and chirping birds, nicely complement the action without overwhelming it, and subtleties like creaky doors and floorboards are well rendered. This film marks the end of an era for 3 of the main actors in this film, although bette davis did appear in one more film this was apparently her last film that she was to complete. The whales of august is a 1987 american drama film directed by lindsay anderson and starring bette davis and lillian gish as elderly sisters. This was to be the last film that both lillian gish, who looked great for for her age 9293 at the time and. It is based on the 1985 childrens book why the whales came written by michael morpurgo. Vincent canby of the new york times called the whales of august a cinema event. The buoy that was used in the film as a transitioning tool is now on display outside of the casco bay lines ferry terminal. Point based on his play and topnotch direction by the great lindsay anderson o lucky man. In 1987 the feature film the whales of august was filmed entirely on location on cliff island. While summering at their seaside cottage in maine, two elderly, widowed sisters, mildmannered sarah louise webber lillian gish and blind, cantankerous elizabeth libby strong bette davis, spend an august day gossiping with their lifelong friend tisha doughty ann sothern and entertaining an old russian aristocrat, baron nicholai maranov. The whales of august bette davis, lillian gish, vincent price, ann sothern filmed in maine casco bay with bette davis, lillian gish, vincent price, ann sothern. There were no real whales in the whales of august and no place to buy a cup of coffee on the island where the movie was made.
The whales of august is a 1987 film based on a play by david berry starring bette davis and lillian gish as elderly sisters. The whales of august is beautifully rendered but drives home the theme of lifes brevity. Two aged sisters reflect on life and the past during a late summer day in maine. The whales of august not rated 1h 30min drama 19 august 1987 france two aged sisters reflect on life and the past during a late summer day in maine.
The whales of august is an extremely touching drama of time gone. His generosity is understandable, given the film s main draw. The play is about two elderly sisters, both widows, who are living together in 1954 in a summer cottage in maine. Clip from the oscarnominated film, the whales of august, starring bette davis and lillian gish.
The whales of august is based on a play by david berry and stars bette davis and lillian gish as elderly sisters. Mary steenburgen, tisha sterling miss sotherns daughter and margaret ladd are seen in the film s prologue. The two leads, bette davis and lillian gish, are superb in their roles as quarrelling. The whales of august is set in a cottage on a maine island where two sisters have spent 60 summers. The weather was nasty, and the director had to point his camera at whirlpools and pretend they were whales.
These candid, unedited interviews acquire a new historic relevance in light of the film s 30th anniversary. See more ideas about the whales of august, bette davis and lillian gish. The incredible lillian gish, who started out on birth of a nation with dw griffith, is paired with relative newcomer bette davis who apparently proved just too much for her in lindsay andersons gentle drama set on cliff island, off the coast of portland, maine. The whales of august 1987 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The story, set sometime in the 50s, concerns two elderly sisters, libby davis and sarah gish, who live together in their old family house on a small island off the coast of maine. Additionally, the whales of august features introspective moments in which the two women are silent and alone, their faces revealing a host of emotions. The house still stands and is a popular subject of artists on the island. Also in the cast were ann sothern as one of their friends, and vincent price as a peripheral member of the former russian aristocracy. The whales of august by lindsay anderson bette davis. The whales of august 1987, directed by lindsay anderson. Audio commentary by producer mike kaplan, moderated by film critic stephen farber.