The Whales of August Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Whales of August Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 11, 2017

Some will watch “The Whales of August” for its dramatic content, but most coming to the 1987 production are most likely spending time with the picture for a chance to see stars Lillian Gish, Bette Davis, Ann Sothern, and Vincent Price in action near their end of their respective careers. It’s premiere time with acting legends, and director Lindsay Anderson understands just what he has here, permitting the ensemble to make the most of the feature, which is an adaptation of a David Berry play. “The Whales of August” isn’t particularly thunderous went it comes to creating tension, and the story is practically nonexistent, but it does offer an opportunity to watch icons in motion, generating unusual chemistry with a tale that plays to their advanced ages, addressing the pain of the golden years, especially when true communication between loved ones is blocked.

Making a routine for herself in a remote seaside home, Sarah (Lillian Gish) isn’t sure what to do with her sister, Libby (Bette Davis), who’s blind but doesn’t have much use for her sibling’s help these days. While they coexist out of habit, Libby and Sarah haven’t been close in a long time, each dealing with painful memories as they reach the end of their lives. Inspiring change is the arrival of Nicholas (Vincent Price), a Russian immigrant who delights in Sarah’s company, triggering resentment in Libby. As a few days pass, Sarah begins to question the choices in her life, considering a move away from Libby, but can’t quit her lifelong partner, trying to make the best of an uncomfortable situation as she also deals with the anniversary of her marriage to her beloved husband, who was lost long ago.

“The Whales of August” is scripted by Berry, who doesn’t make any grand transition to the big screen, keeping the material small in scope and heavy on dialogue exchanges. The film’s theatrical origins are obvious throughout, but it’s understandable with seasoned actors around, watching Anderson spending most of “The Whales of August” trying to keep out of Gish and Davis’s way, permitting them time to consider lines and shuffle across the frame. Anderson’s job is mostly about tone, creating an idyllic coastal area that’s thematically resonant (offering the sisters a yearly getaway to watch the passing whales) and picturesque, while leaving ample room for emotions to surface, with Sarah remaining in touch with her grief, giving Gish the more animated performance. But as for actual dramatics, the material doesn’t come up with much, keeping the viewing experience muted for the most part, barely achieving profundity when it comes to commentary on aging, unfinished business, and hope for tomorrow.

The Whales of August Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation is powered mostly by greenery, which looks natural throughout the viewing experience, delivering a satisfying sense of nature through stable primaries, which also brings out the blue of the ocean and the sky. Skintones are compelling, retaining their aged appearance. Hues are also capable with costuming, favoring a brighter palette. Detail is acceptable, surveying the ravages of time through textured facial particulars, while set decoration maintains clarity, helping to identify the memories on display. Outdoor distances are preserved. Delineation is secure. Whites are a tad bloomy at times. Source is clean, without any significant stretches of damage.

The Whales of August Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is a modest affair, but compelling, leading with scoring cues that feature strong instrumentation and respectful position, helping what little here passes for drama, encouraging emotional response. Performances are intact, sold with crisp dialogue exchanges that pick up on vocal nuances. Atmospherics are true, adding a sense of coastal life to the story, with rolling waves and wildlife visits.

The Whales of August Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (14 pages) features an essay by producer Mike Kaplan.

• Commentary features Kaplan.

• "Peer Talk: The Raw September 1986 Interviews" (72:58) follows BBC journalist Tom Brook to the Cliff Island location for "The Whales of August" to meet with the cast, discussing the production with legends who were in the midst of their fifth week of shooting. Interviewees include Vincent Price, Lillian Gish, Ann Sothern, Harry Carey Jr., and Bette Davis. Topics are simplified, with Brook asking his subjects about their appreciation of the original play, character motivations, career reflections, and material interpretation. Most take to the promotional intrusion well, gamely trying to come up with important answers, but Davis is having none of it, openly irritated with Brook and his questions (to his credit, he keeps firing away). It's hilarious to watch.

• "Behind the Camera: Raw September 1986 Interviews" (28:35, SD) returns to Brook's visit, turning attention to the crew of "The Whales of August," sitting down with director Lindsay Anderson, cinematographer Mike Fash, and production designer Jocelyn Herbert. Again, Brook isn't cutting too deeply for the EPK-style interviews, but he manages to extract thoughts on technical challenges, cast interactions and reverence, and production origins.

• Interview (13:49, HD) with actress Mary Steenburgen shows surprising depth considering the star's limited screen appearance. Married to Anderson pal Malcolm McDowell at this time, Steenburgen recalls her interactions with the cast, making time to simply watch the legends work, taking in their professionalism as they hustled around Cliff Island. Again, Steenburgen only shot for a couple of days, but she's loaded with memories.

• Interview (12:27, HD) with actress Margaret Ladd also serves up reverence for the cast and her special time with professional interaction.

• Interview (15:40, HD) with Trisha Sterling carries a slightly more personal touch, as she's Sothern's daughter, bringing out a book she wrote about their contentious relationship, sharing excerpts from "The Whales of August" chapter. Sterling also shares cast memories and her own anxiety about finding her place on the set with her estranged parent around.

• Interview (5:43, HD) with executive producer Shep Gordon (the subject of the documentary "Supermench") is a brief collection of anecdotes, including Gish's request that her cousin Diana join her for the Cannes premiere of "The Whales of August," with Gordon eventually realizing the star had a very specific Diana in mind.

• Vignettes (all HD) from Kaplan include "Bette Davis" (1:46), "Cab Ride" (3:27), and "Cliff Island" (1:49).

• "Never Apologize: Malcolm McDowell on Lindsay Anderson" (9:42, SD) is an excerpt from the actor's stage show, sharing Anderson's diary entries during the production of "The Whales of August," highlighting the differences in personality and kindness between Gish and Davis.

• "You Never Can Tell" (5:53, HD) is a music video for a 2017 song inspired by "The Whales of August," written by Kaplan and performed by Sterling.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

The Whales of August Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Davis and Gish are hypnotic to watch, for many reasons, carrying serious weight as their characters deal with certain realities and unspoken regrets, getting to the heart of what "The Whales of August" is all about. But the supporting turns, from Price and Ann Sothern (portraying a family friend) are livelier, boosting the picture's charm levels with winning performances while maintaining Anderson's flow of introspection. It's not an urgent offering of cinema, and the production's near disregard for narrative heft is frustrating to watch at times. Anderson and Berry would rather film a play with legendary actors, and perhaps that's enough for some viewers, as time with the likes of Gish, Davis, Price, and Sothern is nothing short of bliss for cineastes.