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Wednesday, March 21, 2018

THE SISTERS (1938)

The sum is less than the considerable parts in this big, involving period piece about a trio of eligible sisters (Bette Davis, Anita Louise, Jane Bryan) who find husbands, if not bliss, between the 1904 election of Teddy Roosevelt & Taft in 1908. A pricey novel, originally purchased for fast-fading Kay Francis, was instead used to get Davis, hot post JEZEBEL/’38, off suspension and back to work. But the writers never quite worked out the tricky three-sided storyline; going ahead in spite of missing construction elements, along with dead-end fade-outs and a misguided/tacked-on ‘happy’ ending. Still, generally fun, handsome to look at (as is Davis at her loveliest), along with the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake POV Bette’s tenement apartment. Yikes! Bette , primus inter pares over her two sisters, tosses over ‘butter-and-egg’ man Dick Foran (he’ll pick up on a lesser sister) to impulsively marry reporter/adventurer Errol Flynn. While they scrimp by in San Fran., third sis Louise, a heartless thing where marriage is concerned, goes for the best deal in town . . . more than once, love be damned. Yet all three ready to help should duty call. With its bumpy script, director Anatole Litvak loses his place in the comings and goings, but keeps up interest scene by scene. You should too.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: Dashing to begin with, Flynn just grows better looking as his health gives out in the third act. A glamour trick more common in great female stars: Ingrid Bergman its Champ of Champs (see: GASLIGHT/’44; BELLS OF ST. MARY’S/’45; NOTORIOUS/’46.) And note that our poster, indeed ALL posters for the film, have Flynn's signature mustache even though he’s clean shaven in the pic. Or is before adding stubble in glamorous decline.

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