jarrodmcdonald-1 More than a tad unrealistic that of all the women in the room, Errol Flynn would have been attracted to Bette Davis. Simply stated: the casting is wrong. There is very little romantic chemistry between them. But Davis' poignant acting smooths over this uneven pairing, and Flynn is believable in the drinking scenes (we will give him that much). But because the action has to focus on them so much (since they are the studio's big stars), the other sisters' lives are used as subplots. Maybe if Warners had stuck completely to the novel, it would have been more of an ensemble drama with the sisters having equal prominence in the narrative, and with the audience getting a better picture.Don't miss the earthquake sequence where cheap studio walls tumble easily and Bette Davis winds up on top of the rubble. There is much more excitement in this section of the film than in the earlier parts where Davis and Flynn make love.

JohnHowardReid While Fox attempted to cash in on the success of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's San Francisco with In Old Chicago, Warner Brothers turned to the recently published Myron Brinig novel, The Sisters, for a less obvious rip-off which utilized stock footage from Old San Francisco (1927) and Frisco Jenny (1933) as well as a remarkably staged "new" sequence in which Bette Davis and Lee Patrick are bombarded by falling debris without benefit of doubles in a specially rigged set. As might be expected, the movie focuses more on Davis than the other sisters, though Anita Louise and Jane Bryan still get a good innings. Also in the support cast, Alan Hale gives us one of his most effective portraits. Although the film is bit over-weighted with dialogue (Lee Patrick, Henry Travers and Beulah Bondi have some deliberately garrulous goings-on), Litvak keeps the story moving, assisted by lavish production values including a great music score by Max Steiner (and fourteen others, including Charles Harris whose "After the Ball" is played at the end post-election ball which completes the circle). He also makes the "happy" conclusion more acceptable and dramatic than the "unhappy" one which was also filmed. As usual, Tony Gaudio's cinematography rates as nothing short of superb.

kidboots "The Sisters" was Bette Davis first film after "Jezabel" and she was definitely on her way, into the territory of romantic women's films ie "The Old Maid", "The Letter" and "In This Our Life". They were glossy and highly dramatic films to showcase Warner's top female star. They were very entertaining as well. Davis must have been very pleased when she was given the role of the quiet, dependable Louise Elliot, who along with her two sisters, flirty Helen ( beautiful Anita Louise) and young and enthusiastic Grace (Jane Bryan) are preparing for the 1904 election night ball. They also meet their future husbands at the ball. Louise is almost engaged to boorish Tom'(Dick Foran) when she meets restless but exciting Frank Medlin. Errol Flynn is so heartbreakingly handsome in this early role. It is love at first sight for both of them.Vain Helen opts for security and marries genial Sam (Alan Hale). Grace, who has always admired Tom, is around to pick up the pieces when Louise elopes with Frank to San Francisco. Life is tough for Louise. Money is tight and Frank takes to drinking heavily when responsibility catches up with him. When Louise loses her baby, she finds a job in a department store to help pay bills, while Frank sinks into a depression, and decides to walk out and "find" himself.Then comes the San Francisco earthquake. Louise wanders the city looking for Frank, but finds her neighbour Flora (Lee Patrick), who is staying with her mother (Laura Hope Crewes), who in turn is running a brothel. They nurse her back to health and when Frank doesn't turn up she returns to work and makes herself indispensable to Benson (Ian Hunter).Two years pass - Helen, who has enjoyed an "open" marriage with Sam, is now a widow. Louise goes back to Silver Bow to help save Grace's marriage to Tom. He is running around with the town tramp Isabel Taylorthe sisters help run her out of town.The 1908 election ball is on. Helen is going with soon to be husband No. 3, Grace has reconciled with Tom and Frank goes to Silver Bow for a reconciliation with Louise. It all ends with the three sisters united in happiness.Beulah Bondi is excellent as usual as their mother.Highly Recommended.

Denny Kelly This is a most excellent drama, set in San Francisco from 1904 to 1908, with the great earthquake of 1906 at its center. While the business failure of Flynn's character is a little unrealistic, both he and Bette Davis play sympathetic characters; they made me feel the disappointment of people who expect a lot out of Life and then suffer through its hardships.The scenes of the earthquake are terrific - don't miss the seemingly ENDLESS shaking and destruction of Bette's rented room, as her neighbor comes screaming into the room looking for comfort, and the indoors gives way to the OUTDOORS! Very nice effects for 1938, 60+ years before computer imaging! That part of the story seems all the more poignant to me, now that we know the death figures were faked - at least 10 times as many died as the officials admitted.I won't give away the ending, but it was satisfying and made me glad to have seen the film. Do catch it on Turner, which runs it a couple times per year.