In this fluffy, 1938, period, Chick Flick - The one scene that really killed me was when Flynn's and Davis's characters first meet.And here's how it went - Standing in a moderately-sized ballroom of about 60 dancing couples, Flynn's dashing character carefully scans the busy room and, sure enough, his gaze zeros in on one of the most plain and homely females in the crowd (Yep. That's Bette Davis). And instantly he's mesmerized, falling madly in love with her and immediately marrying her on a total whim. (Yeah. Right. Give me a break, already!) Set mainly in San Francisco (circa 1904) - "The Sisters" story was hardly about the "sisters" at all. (There were 3 of them) It was chiefly concerned with just one sister, and, that, of course, was Davis's character.In my opinion - The Sisters (which is now close to 80 years old) really didn't stand up to the test of time. For the most part this rather predictable, little soap opera was so "dish-water" dull that even the scene of simulated earthquake effects did nothing to alleviate the story's overall monotony.

Errol Flynn and Bette Davis did the first of two films together in The Sisters and curiously enough it followed landmark films for both of them, The Adventures of Robin Hood for Flynn and Bette's second Academy Award winner, Jezebel.It was an interesting project for both, but fell somewhat flat at the box office. Still it's not a bad film at all and for Flynn it was an attempt to expand his range as player.Bette's usual shtick is held firmly in check my director Anatole Litvak. She's one of three daughters of Henry Travers and Beulah Bondi of Broken Bow Montana and the action of the film takes place between Election Day of 1904 and 1908. Shortly after the first election where all three encounter the men they would marry.For Jane Bryan it's Dick Foran, a proper young man of business who soon becomes president of the bank and they settle down to a nice middle class existence. It's only threatened when Foran falls victim to the town tart briefly, one of many men in the area.For Anita Louise, she's a naughty flirt who likes romance, but also likes her creature comforts. She marries Alan Hale who's the wealthiest guy in town, who's also a widower looking for a trophy wife. She lucks into the best of both worlds when he dies leaving her well provided for and free to pursue love in comfort.But the main plot revolves around Bette Davis who marries newspapermen Errol Flynn, a charming, but essentially weak character. He likes to drink and carouse and even impending fatherhood doesn't put a damper on that. He leaves her, purely coincidentally right in the middle of the San Francisco Earthquake.Some don't like Flynn's performance, but I think he did fine in the role. The problem was that the brothers Warner filmed two different endings and gave into public opinion in the one you see. Flynn, by the way thought they did the wrong thing. Without giving it away, the ending should have resembled one they gave Four Daughters which was also produced by them in 1938.Despite the fact that Errol and Bette hated each other they got through the film and it's not bad. Look also for good performances from Donald Crisp as Flynn's sportswriter friend and Ian Hunter who gives Bette a job after Flynn leaves her and loves her as well.

Errol Flynn had been in movies since 1935 in the U.S., and his films for Warner Brothers were mostly swashbucklers and adventure films. With his slightly British (actually Australian - Irish) accent, he fit so well into exciting period films. Occasionally he did modern films, like the comedy FOURS A CROWD, but these were considered secondary for his fans. They wanted more of Captain Peter Blood or Robin Hood. Flynn himself wanted to have more regular roles, but found his requests met with limited success. Jack Warner knew that the key to it all was Flynn's box office, and that depended on adventure stories. So he was amazed by the offer from Warner to appear opposite Bette Davis in THE SISTERS. His role: a newspaper reporter who marries Bette, moves with her to San Francisco, and proves less good at domesticity than she wanted. It was a complete change for Flynn, and he would try to do the role justice. And he failed to do so.I keep thinking Warner, a very cagey film producer, was doing two things in giving Flynn the role. First he was testing the waters to see if Flynn and Davis were good together as a film team. Warner had plans to make GONE WITH THE WIND, and wanted Davis to play Scarlett O'Hara, but he wanted Flynn to be Rhett Butler. Davis is on record as having told Warner (more or less) that she did not believe him (he apparently blurted out his plan to stop her when she left the studio in 1936 to fight her contract in England). But later, when she returned to the studio, she told Warner that she wanted someone who could act, and she did not think that Flynn was an actor.The other reason was to give Flynn an opportunity to "get it all out of his system". Flynn wanted to be a serious actor - well here was his chance. It was like Daryl Zanuck and Tyrone Power, when the latter wanted to do a serious part. Zanuck gave Power NIGHTMARE ALLEY to "get it out of his system". The difference was that Zanuck did not pick NIGHTMARE ALLEY (Power did), and Power's performance was marvelous as a result (but the film did poorly at the box office). So Power got it out of his system, but showed what he could do. Flynn did not pick THE SISTERS, but was given it by Warner. So for all his determination to perform the part well, he lacked the excitement of playing a role he wanted.The story begins in November 1904 when the citizens of a small town in Colorado are celebrating the election of President Theodore Roosevelt for a full term of his own over the Democratic Candidate (one of the two least recalled defeated candidates of the 20th Century: Justice Alton B.Parker of New York State's Court of Appeals). Davis and her two sisters (Anita Louise and Jane Bryant) are shown in their being courted by different men (Flynn, Alan Hale Sr., and Dick Foran), and how they all prosper or don't prosper. Davis and Flynn end up living in San Francisco, and Flynn's wanderlust keeps interfering with his duty as a breadwinner. Due to this and various circumstances, he is on a boat to China when the San Francisco Earthquake occurs (halfway through the film). Louise has a brief marriage to Hale, which leaves her very wealthy - and constantly squired around by men. Bryant and Foran seem to have a fairly routine marriage in comparison. The film ends with Flynn and Davis reunited (but will it last?) at the celebration of the election in November 1908 of William Howard Taft over William Jennings Bryan (paging Robert Culp in THE GREAT SCOUT AND CATFISH THURSDAY). While not a bomb, THE SISTERS was no bell ringer at the box office. Davis got most of the critical acclaim (for a relatively quiet role for her - the loss of her baby was the best scene she had). Hale had a more interesting part as a millionaire drunk than Flynn did. Flynn did well - but no more than that. Davis' views of Flynn as a co-star hardened, and she fought (unsuccessfully) to keep him from being the Earl of Essex to her Queen Elizabeth I in ELIZABETH THE QUEEN within a year. But they never did make GONE WITH THE WIND together.

"The Sisters" is not seen often these days. It is a curiosity piece because it's a minor Bette Davis film in which she plays an ordinary woman, a departure from some of her other more intense dramas we are more accustomed to seeing. As directed by Anatole Litvak, the film doesn't show anything new.The story about the Eliott sisters from Montana, is mildly interesting. The Eliott household is a happy one. We see them at the beginning of the film as they are preparing for the election night ball in their small town in which Theodore Roosevelt is the winner in the presidential race. The three sisters make a quite an attraction among the young male population because their good looks.What appears to be a nice family when we first meet them, suddenly fades into memory as the three sisters go in different directions, as life intervenes along the way. Louise, the older sister, proves to be a survivor, if only she has to experience a lot in her own life before real happiness can be achieved. Helen, the beautiful middle sister, marries an older man who offers her security. Grace, the younger one, is the only one to stay in town and marries Tom.Louise experiences the worst fate of all the sisters when she finds herself abandoned in San Francisco by her husband Frank. He wants to get away from the scene of his failure in order to prove himself worthy of Louise's love. By going overseas as a merchant seaman, he wants to see if he can make any good out himself. Louise is in the middle of the 1906 earthquake and loses all she had.At the end, all sisters are back home on another election night ball as they watch Willliam Taft being proclaimed as president of the nation. Their lives come together at the end, as all find peace.The most exciting time in the film centers around the vivid scenes of the San Francisco earthquake. It's done in a realistic manner. Louise is helped by the next door neighbor, a woman of easy morals, who turned out to be a real friend.The performances are good, but don't expect any sparks from the subdued Louise of Bette Davis. Ms. Davis gives a nuanced performance. The problem is, one expected an over the top star turn by the actress, and her Louise is the epitome of common sense and kindness. Errol Flynn, as Frank, the deserting husband, is seen in a different role as well. He is not as dashing and debonair as in his signature performances, but in spite of playing against type, his take on Frank gives another dimension of his acting range.The beautiful Anita Louise makes an interesting contribution to the film. Ian Hunter as the kind Mr. Benson, also adds to the picture. The wonderful Lee Patrick plays Flora, the good neighbor, with conviction. Donald Crisp makes another great appearance as Frank's friend. Henry Travers and Beulah Bondi are seen as the Eliott sister's parents. Jane Bryan, as Grace has some good moments, but she is eclipsed by the more interesting older sisters.This is a film to watch Bette Davis and Errol Flynn playing roles that are completely different from others we are used to see them in.