The Whales of August

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Movie Info

A once-in-a-lifetime cast of veterans performs David Berry's play about Libby Strong (Bette Davis) and Sarah Webber (Lillian Gish), widowed sisters vacationing on a Philadelphia island for their 60th consecutive summer. Libby is blind and embittered, while Sarah is healthy, supportive, and almost annoyingly chipper. Their neighbor Tisha (Ann Sothern) tries to convince Sarah to put Libby in the care of her daughter, but Sarah hasn't forgotten Libby's moral support when her own husband died, and she won't entertain such notions -- until she is swept off her feet by an aging roué (Vincent Price). When Libby spitefully sabotages this romance, an infuriated Sarah decides that gratitude has its limits. But when it actually comes down to selling their summer house and sending Libby packing, Sarah can't do it. In the film's flashback sequences, Libby is played by Margaret Ladd, Sarah by Mary Steenburgen, and Tisha by Ann Sothern's real-life daughter Tisha Sterling. Another film personality of long standing, Harry Carey Jr., is well cast as the sisters' handyman.

Rating:

PG (adult situations/language)
Genre:

Drama
Directed By:

Lindsay Anderson
Written By:

David Berry
In Theaters:

Jan 1, 1987 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Oct 7, 2003
Runtime:

91 minutes
Studio:

Nelson Entertainment

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Cast

Lillian Gish
as Sarah Webber

Bette Davis
as Libby Strong

Ann Sothern
as Tisha Doughty

Vincent Price
as Mr. Maranov

Harry Carey Jr.
as Joshua Brackett

Frank Grimes
as Mr. Beckwith

Frank Pitkin
as Old Randall

Mike Bush
as Young Randall

Margaret Ladd
as Young Libby

Tisha Sterling
as Young Tisha

Mary Steenburgen
as Young Sarah

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Critic Reviews for The Whales of August

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (1) | DVD (1)

A quiet, unassuming masterpiece that deserves to be cherished,

Jun 3, 2019 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

Matthew Lucas
From the Front Row
This is not acting, but simply ex- isting in front of a camera.

Sep 4, 2018 | Full Review…

Hilary Mantel
The Spectator
This is not my cup of tea, but it is a fascinating last picture show for a likeable legendary acting troupe.

Oct 30, 2008 | Rating: C | Full Review…

Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
The names of Lillian Gish, Bette Davis and Vincent Price will never be forgotten by film lovers. The Whales of August, on the other hand, surely will be.

Apr 23, 2004 | Rating: 60/100

Ryan Cracknell
Apollo Guide
A worthy film that affords the viewer a rare chance to see some fine acting by stars the like we'll not see again.

Mar 1, 2004 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Deeply moving drama about two elderly sisters who discover that it's never too late to change.

Jul 10, 2003 | Full Review…

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

View All Critic Reviews (10)

Audience Reviews for The Whales of August

Apr 04, 2015

considering it's a film about a picture window & there's no whales, it's so serene, calm, like the waves it washes over you & there's some very enjoyable well spoken characters.

Sanity Assassin ! Super Reviewer
Sep 06, 2010

This stuffy drama will interest anyone who likes movies about the elderly, but other wise, I'd say stay away from it. It's very boring, slow, and by the middle, I didn't care about the story anymore.

Aj V Super Reviewer