The Sisters (1938)

Too many fans seem to be blown away

Strong and Moving!

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

This film begins as a wonderful period piece taking place in Silver Bow, Montana, which today is a suburb of Butte. At the beginning of the film the Elliot family (headed up by wonderful character actors Beulah Bondi and Henry Travers) are preparing to attend an election night ball to celebrate the election of Teddy Roosevelt. At the ball, daughter/sister Bette Davis (Elliot) meets Frank Medlin (a rather young looking Errol Flynn). Of course, the main story line of the film follows the marriage (disasterous) of Davis and Flynn. But the story is about the 3 sisters, so it follows their lives, as well.Among the many character actors in the film are Dick Foran (who also made many budget singing-westerns), Anita Louise, Donald Crisp, Ian Hunter, and Alan Hale (who often appeared in films with Flynn).If you prefer films where there is a straight-forward plot that goes from beginning to end, this film might disappoint you. Rather, this is a story of the marriages of three sisters (as the title suggests), with all the ups and downs of what is as true about marriages at the turn of the last century as is true today at the turn of the current century. The strength of the film is the acting.The scenes of the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco (where Flynn/Davis were living) is not on the scale of MGM's film "San Francisco" (made two years earlier), but it is still very well done, although it focuses on the smaller scale of the destruction in the apartment where Bette Davis is living after husband Flynn leaves her. There is no doubt that this was a fairly big budget film.This film was so good, that I decided I'd like to read the novel. I found one copy of the novel online for $2,500! Nothing available digitally. Guess I won't be reading that anytime soon.There is one disappointment here -- the ending. I don't want to spoil it, but in the film Bette Davis' character makes a bad decision at the end of the film. Ironically, the original screened version of the film had the right decision, but preview audiences disliked...well, you'll find out. Even Bette Davis later admitted the final film version had the wrong ending.Nevertheless, it's a wonderful film.

The Sisters starring Bette Davis, along with such other talents like Errol Flynn & Anita Louise is one of those enjoyable black and white flicks that is usually presented on Late shows. I never understood why this is not one of Bette Davis's more known films. It has a fine cast, acting is good and Bette always looked great in those turn of the century Gibson girl costumes.The plot concerns the three Elliot sisters, who on a fateful night at an Election Ball, meet the men they will eventually marry. The eldest sister, smart,hard working Louise, meets charming, Frank Medlin (Errol Fylnn)a newspaper man who is just passing thru town. Both are passionately in love with another, but Frank's immature character and drinking problem add extra strife in the marriage. And then disaster strikes when the great San Frtancisco Earthquake occurs adding more troubles to their woes. The middle girl. motherly domestic Grace, picks a "respectable" man in town and dreams of a fine house and family. But Grace gets a small dose of reality when she finds out how "respectable" her husband is when he is tempted with another woman. The youngest sister, Beautiful, Man Killer, Helen lives by her own rules and childlike whims. Even though she more or less marries an older man for money, she suffers the society disdain for her choice. She does not really want to hurt anyone or anybody but sees romantic life as more practical while wishing she could really fall in love someday.The only downside is the plot is that it is somewhat soap operaish. At the end of the movie, it will leave you hanging for the final fate of the sisters. They are seen standing in strong unionism, staring up toward the camera, side by side, arm and arm. The scene was probably put in to show their strong and faithful solidarity to one another. When one is in trouble, they will always be there for one another at every turn.

PLOT SPOILERS IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH!!! In the early 1900s three sisters meet and marry different men. The main one is Louise (Bette Davis) who marries carefree and very handsome Frank (Errol Flynn). She elopes to marry him and they go to San Francisco. Then the complications pile up...She gets pregnant and then looses the baby, Frank gets fired and leaves her, the famous San Francisco Earthquake hits...this movie really piles it on. The other sisters lives are shown occasionally here and there throughout the film. It all leads to a tearful happy ending.This was (for Warner Brothers) a very lavish production. It's obvious they spent a lot of money on sets and costumes so it always looks great. Storywise it's pretty predictable and silly but I was never bored. It moves VERY quickly and the earthquake sequence alone is incredible.All the acting is good but this is Flynn and Davis' movie all the way. Flynn is incredibly handsome and gives a very good performance. Davis looks pretty and gives a more controlled (for her) performance but it's still good. But I never believed the two of them were in love for one second though. They're both acting well but the spark isn't there. Still this is a lavish, well-done movie and worth catching. I give it an 8.

Bette Davis (as Louise Elliott) is a Montana woman who marries San Franciscan sports reporter Errol Flynn (as Frank Medlin). Her sisters Anita Louise (as Helen), and Jane Bryan (as Grace) marry at the same time; the three sisters find wedded bliss is short-lived. Supporting floozies Lee Patrick and Laura Hope Crews are a very well-matched mother and daughter tag-team who befriend the deserted "Louise".Whatever the film's original intentions may have been, it is really about ONE sister; naturally, it's the sister played by Bette Davis, and HER marriage to the character played by Errol Flynn. The stars are in fine form as the love-struck young couple who hit on hard times. Ms. Davis is refreshing as a housewife who becomes ill in a smoke-filled boxing arena, and Mr. Flynn is convincing as the husband who drinks to heal his wounded pride. Flynn asks a significant question about his character: why did marriage make his wife strong, and himself weak? Similarly, the objective of "The Sisters" as a film is strong, and the story weak. Yet, the production level is high; and, historical events like Presidential elections (Roosevelt, Taft) and the San Francisco earthquake are used to great advantage. ****** The Sisters (1938) Anatole Litvak ~ Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Anita Louise