therealfuster Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 in film and on film, name your favorites. Having enjoyed the Errol Flynn films scheduled yesterday, with classics like the Samuel Clemen's spoof, then Flynn as the dashing Robert Devereux, and my favorite, "The Sisters", it occurred to me that there was a slight resemblance to "Meet Me in St. Louis" in this film, being that both were set in and around the years 1903 to 1904, when the World's Fair occurred, and both films had the theme of sisters in search of love and marriage. In "The Sisters", Flynn gives a restrained and interesting performance, which belies a bit of himself, as the adventurer who in real life was afraid to return to New Guinea, for fear of being killed or arrested for past transgressions. But the wanderlust of the real man is shown, through his machinations of escaping to far flung environs, and of being the ineffectual male to Bette's strong persona. In this film, one can see a bit of the resemblance to Brent, that was commented upon when Flynn entered films. One also gets a glimpse of why some suspected that Flynn might have had a touch of premature Babinski's in the boudoir scenes in the apartment with Louise. Nevertheless, this film brought to mind the movie theme of sisters, and everyone has their favorites. My favorite performing sisters might be June Havoc and Gypsy Rose Lee, or Natalie Wood and Lana Wood, and as onscreen characters, I will go with the Grand Guignolish, Blanche and Jane. Who are your favorite performing sisters onscreen and off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgedrv Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 My favorites actress/sisters has to be OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND and JOAN FONTAINE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted April 27, 2005 Author Share Posted April 27, 2005 pick between those two. A great duo to be sure. Everytime I think of great performances, I think of Olivia in the adaption of the Henry James novel. She is amazing as the young, rather unattractive heiress who then becomes the butterfly, who woos Clift to his doom. I can still hear her saying "I learned from masters" concerning her newfound cruelty to her father, Richardson. But then I also admire Joan in her many fine performances in films like "Rebecca" even though one does have to give some credit to Hitchcock for frightening her a bit into believability. Wonderful sister act, and that back story should be made into a film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crawdaddy56 Posted April 28, 2005 Share Posted April 28, 2005 No question they are Olivia De Havilland and Joan Fontaine. My favorite is Olivia and I always thought she was more attractive than Joan. I still believe that one of the main causes of the rift between them was over a man. Anyway, does anybody know when Olivia's autobiography is going to be published? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted April 28, 2005 Share Posted April 28, 2005 Olivia De Havilland and Joan Fontaine are by far my favorite pair of actress sisters. I can gladly spend a day watching films by either of these great ladies. However, when mentioning sisters who were actresses, I believe that Constance and Joan Bennett should both be remembered. They both had formidable resumes, and a great amount of talent. I also liked the Lane sisters (Priscilla, Rosemary and Lola) in "Four Daughters" and would love to see the sequels to this film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilelmhr Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 Always admired Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine but prefer Olivia as far as beauty and talent is concerned. Joan had a few good films in the '40s but Olivia outdistanced her with a greater number of excellent roles. The new Flynn DVD ought to bring Olivia lots of new fans since she is at her most beautiful in some of those Warner films with Flynn--and always delivers a fine performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandykaypax Posted May 5, 2005 Share Posted May 5, 2005 For fictional sisters: I love the Haines sisters, played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen in WHITE CHRISTMAS! And the 4 March sisters in any version of LITTLE WOMEN. Oh, and of course the twins that Bette Davis played in A STOLEN LIFE-fabulous! And as for real-life sisters, I'm reading the new bio, The Bennetts, about Constance and Joan Bennett (actually about the whole family, including father Richard), and I recommend it to anyone interested in classic film. A well-written and VERY interesting book. Sandy K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilelmhr Posted May 6, 2005 Share Posted May 6, 2005 Speaking of twin sisters in A STOLEN LIFE ('46), that same year Olivia de Havilland played twins (one of whom is psychotic) suspected of murder in THE DARK MIRROR with Lew Ayres as the psychiatrist who falls in love with the normal twin. Well worth watching but rarely ever shown on TV these days. Amazing trick photography, although I think the stunts were done even better in A STOLEN LIFE. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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