Bette Davis' appearance in The Whales Of August, marked her last opportunity to play a complex character in an important role. It is 1954, and Libby Strong (Davis) and her younger sister Sarah Webber (Lillian Gish) have returned to the small Maine island for the summer, just as they have done for the past 60 years. Libby is now blind and Sarah has dutifully looked after her for 15 years. As girls they had stood on the cliffs and watched for whales. Now the whales come no more. The optimistic Sarah still anticipates their appearance and wants to put in a new picture window, but Libby, who is now embittered and cynical, thinks it would be frivolous and vetoes the idea. Tisha Doughty (Ann Sothern), their lifelong friend and the island's resident busybody, pays them a visit and tries to persuade Sarah to put Libby in her daughter's care and to move in with her.





Although the film has some problems with heavy-handed symbolism, it is recommended for it's strong acting and visual beauty. Lillian Gish was a perfect choice for the kind-hearted Sarah. She delivers a poignant and completely believable portrayal of strong, but sensitive woman who still, after many years pines for her husband who she lost in the war. Ann Southern is a hoot as Tisha, and she steals every scene she appears in. Vincent Price rounds out this top-notch cast the widowed Russian gentlemen friend. Davis too, is perfectly cast as the bitter blind older sister, Libby. She has some lighter moments with aptly display Davis' range as an actress. Her physical appearance is somewhat shocking at first, but it works completely for the character. One must remember that this Bette Davis after a total mastectomy and two strokes.

Her courage in being able to work at all is commendable. At that point in her life her work was all she felt she had left. She felt she had lost the love and respect of her daughter, when B.D. wrote her tell-all book "My Mother's Keeper." Again, behind the scenes, Davis was difficult to manage. Mostly fighting with the Director, as well as perceived rudeness towards her co-stars. On one occasion Bette was asked by Gish to please not smoke on the set, as it aggravated her asthma terribly, and Davis proceeded to stamp her cigarette out vigorously, muttering expletives all the while doing so. In the very next take she was out there puffing away like nobody's business.





Unfortunately Davis equated every aspect of her work with a battle that must be fought and won at all costs. She was for the most part very suspicious with every professional encounter, and took an advisarial approach from the starting gate, so as to not loose control of the situation. Her irrepressible will and drive seemed to be the fuel that propelled her forward. One wonders if she was ever able to really relax and enjoy what she had. All the personal drama aside, Bette Davis still remains one of the most vivid, powerful, and talented actresses of our century. For many of us she was, and still is, simply the best.