Tea and Sympathy (1956)

Tom Lee is a sensitive boy of 17 whose lack of interest in the "manly" pursuits of sports, mountain climbing and girls labels him "sister-boy" at the college he is attending. Head master ... See full summary »

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writers:

Robert Anderson (screenplay), Robert Anderson (based on the play by)

Stars:

Deborah Kerr, John Kerr, Leif Erickson

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Deborah Kerr	...	Laura Reynolds
John Kerr	...	Tom Robinson Lee
Leif Erickson	...	Bill Reynolds
Edward Andrews	...	Herb Lee
Darryl Hickman	...	Al
Norma Crane	...	Ellie Martin
Dean Jones	...	Ollie
Jacqueline deWit	...	Lilly Sears
Tom Laughlin	...	Ralph
Ralph Votrian	...	Steve
Steven Terrell	...	Phil
Kip King	...	Ted
Jimmy Hayes	...	Henry
Richard Tyler	...	Roger
Don Burnett	...	Vic

Storyline

Tom Lee is a sensitive boy of 17 whose lack of interest in the "manly" pursuits of sports, mountain climbing and girls labels him "sister-boy" at the college he is attending. Head master Bill Reynold's wife Laura sees Tom's suffering at the hands of his school mates (and her husband), and tries to help him find himself.

---

Plot Keywords:

sister boy | school | student | roommate | reunion | 

---

Taglines:

Where does a woman's sympathy leave off -- and her indiscretion begin?

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 November 1956 (France)

Also Known As:

Chá e Simpatia

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (35 mm optical prints) 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was adapted from a Broadway play that originally starred Deborah Kerr, John Kerr and Leif Erickson, who recreate their stage roles in this film. Also in the Broadway cast in supporting roles were Alan Sues (who later appeared on TV's Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In) and Dick York (the first actor who played Darrin on TV's Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery). Joan Fontaine and Anthony Perkins also later appeared in the stage version of "Tea and Sympathy" as cast replacements during its long run. The stage production opened on Sept. 30, 1953 at the Ethel Barrymoore Theatre and ran for 712 performances.

---

Goofs

A pair of china dogs are back to back in a master shot (overall wide view). But when the camera moves in for close-ups, the dogs are face-to-face.

---

Quotes

Tom Lee: I'm always falling in love with the wrong people.
Laura Reynolds: Who isn't?

---

Connections

Referenced in NYPD Blue: Tea and Sympathy (2000)

---

Soundtracks

"The Joys of Love"
Written by G.B. Martini and Richard Dyer-Bennett
Performed by John Kerr (dubbed by Gene Merlino)
Song based on "Plaisir d'Amour"

User Reviews

"Years from now when you talk about this--and you will--be kind..."

Robert Anderson adapted his own play for the screen about a sensitive young man ostracized at his all-male school for pursuing interests not typically associated with red-blooded males circa 1950. Seems he enjoys cooking and sewing, singing folk music, and chatting with the faculty wives--all of which have alienated him from his classmates (as well as his own father!), though not the lonesome wife of the head schoolmaster, who takes a special and heartfelt interest in the lad. As played by John Kerr (reprising his stage performance), the central character is curiously presented without even the slightest hint of affectation; yes, he shows no resistance to playing a female role in the class play (requiring him to wear a flouncy dress), yet the filmmakers want us to see something in this boy which isn't standard, and John Kerr is incredibly, blandly standard (even his walk, which is mocked, is utterly ordinary). Ironically, though the film has a dated viewpoint of masculinity--the opposite of which is practically labeled 'abnormal'--the picture has a large following among gays. Though it is a serious-minded movie, one is apt to hoot in derision at the script's loftier passages. Thankfully, Deborah Kerr also reprises her stage role as Mrs. Reynolds, and she pulls out whatever honesty there is in the dialogue and actually gives it some depth and worth. The theme here is certainly an unusual one for 1956 Hollywood--and even stranger for having Vincente Minnelli direct it, he the subject of much gossip himself--but the production is plush and the story is engrossing despite the soapy undermining. **1/2 from ****