They Were Sisters

I once read an article which stated that Phyllis Calvert and Peter Murray-Hill would have been "Britain's Nick and Nora" had they made more films together. On seeing them act separately in films, I took that commentary to be a bit too hopeful. Then, I saw "They Were Sisters". And - move over Myrna and Bill! When together, Phyl and Peter did not seem at all like they were acting, they were just a happily married couple bantering, teasing the other lightly and ad-libbing as if they were not in a movie at all, but just out for a weekend picnic. Their scenes together were by far the movie's best.

At the other end of the scale is James Mason and Pamela Kellino (later Pamela Mason). They were playing father and daughter in the movie, and if you hadn't known about their off-screen relationship, seeing the way they interacted on the screen would have been a bit worrying.

With the wrong actors, "They Were Sisters" could have easily been a ridiculous farce, and at times it does begin to stray towards over-acting. But with the right actors, including the three youngest children, it comes across perfectly and is a movie well worth watching. 10/10

Possibly the most compelling, if not nauseating depiction of non-physical domestic abuse that I've seen. Also, it seems about as clear as it could be at the time the film was made that the James Mason character is having a sexual relationship with his daughter, and the dynamic in their relationship is sometimes a bit too real to watch. James Mason seemed to get typecast in this sort of role for a while, probably because he's so good at it.

Phyllis Calvert is lovely and sympathetic and, aside from the children and the dog, is the only one to really cheer for. Although most female viewers will be lured in by James Mason's disturbingly alluring cruelty, they will probably find it quite ugly by the end. Being set in the more modern day, with Mason in a suit and driving a car, instead of a period costume and a horse, makes this story all the more unpleasant. Worst of all is the casting of Mason's real-life wife Pamela as his eldest daughter (!) Unless this was a rare glimpse of him breaking character with the camera rolling, his physical affection with her in their many shared scenes surely indicated incest. Eww! Her performance doesn't give that impression, but then she wasn't much of an actress. Allegedly her character is mature, yet she calls him "Daddy" throughout. His poor on- screen wife and children suffer his endless verbal and emotional abuse. He even threatens the poor dog. The most entertaining scene for me (as an American) was when the young son is playing with a new gun, and Cruel Papa Mason says he MAY have to take that away from him. Unlike the villain you loved to hate in The Man in Grey and The Wicked Lady, here his villain is more like alcoholic pervert uncle-by-marriage who manages to ruin every family gathering. You'll applaud Phyllis Calvert's kind- hearted character but won't find any redeeming value in Mason's villain.

They Were Sisters casts Phyllis Calvert, Anne Crawford, and Dulcie Gray as three sisters who meet and marry their husbands right after World War I and the film is the story of the three marriages in those years between the World Wars. It's not unlike the Bette Davis-Errol Flynn film from Warner Brothers The Sisters. But believe me there are no characters in that one as dark and sinister as James Mason here.

Phyllis Calvert is the nice one, the real glue that holds the extended family together. She meets and marries Peter Murray-Hill who was her husband in real life. They have no children, but become everyone's favorite uncle and aunt.

Anne Crawford is a spoiled child of the Roaring Twenties who wants to have every man in a room drooling when she makes an entrance. She's an incurable flirt, but she marries Barrie Livesey who's a comfortable old soul even in his youth and who knows himself, he's as dull as drying paint. One flirtation with Hugh Sinclair does put the marriage at risk however. She also ignores her only daughter who finds her best times spent with Calvert.

Dulcie Gray when she's on steals the film. Before the term was invented Gray is the perfect picture of a battered wife. She marries James Mason who systematically lowers the self esteem of a kind and generous person, even in the eyes of the three children they have. Of course Mason also starts on them as well and the other sisters soon notice it.

Mason is also at his nastiest in They Were Sisters. Without ever doing anything really physical to Gray, his voice inflections and body language suggest a truly evil man. His oldest daughter is played by Pamela Kellino who soon afterwards became Mrs. Mason in real life.

They Were Sisters explores some themes that Hollywood was not touching on at this time. Very similar to that other Gainsborough film, Fanny By Gaslight which also starred Mason and Calvert. It's a strong and disturbing film even with child characters, not necessarily for kid's viewing.

Loved this film. James Mason gorgeously dastardly and children roles not as superficial as many other films. Very confused about IMDB and Wickipedia entries though. Saw this today and Lucy character had lost a child. Hence discussing removing a picture of their dead daughter before notice Judith came to stay for fear of upsetting her that children sometimes die. Yet IMDB and Wickipedia both say she was childless, have they watched the film!