Separate Tables (1958)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Delbert Mann

Writers:

John Gay (writer)
Terence Rattigan (play)

Release Date:

18 December 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

The stories of several people are told as they stay at a seaside hotel in Bournemouth which features dining at "Separate Tables."

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Ex Convict | Alcoholism | Class Differences | Writer

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Deborah Kerr	...	Sibyl Railton-Bell
Rita Hayworth	...	Ann Shankland
David Niven	...	Major Angus Pollock
Wendy Hiller	...	Pat Cooper
Burt Lancaster	...	John Malcolm
Gladys Cooper	...	Mrs. Railton-Bell
Cathleen Nesbitt	...	Lady Matheson
Felix Aylmer	...	Mr. Fowler
Rod Taylor	...	Charles
Audrey Dalton	...	Jean
May Hallatt	...	Miss Meacham
Priscilla Morgan	...	Doreen

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording)

Certification:

Germany:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1998)

Filming Locations:

Stage 5, Samuel Goldwyn/Warnert Hollywood Studios, 1041 N. Formosa Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hill-Hecht-Lancaster Productions

Trivia:

The musical theme of the terrace sequence and a few other pieces were re-written by David Raksin on the request of the producers following a bad preview.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Camera reflected in window in the last dolly shot.

Quotes:

Mrs. Railton-Bell: Are you on the side of Mr. Malcolm and his defense advice or are you on the side of the Christian virtues -- like Mr. Fowler and myself?
John Malcolm: Never in my life have I heard a question so disgracefully begged. You should be in politics, Mrs. Railton-Bell.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Deux hommes dans Manhattan (1959)

Soundtrack:

Separate Tables

Intriguing and well-written drama

This film came highly recommended to me by my parents, so I was anxious to watch it. Again, I realized that my impression of Burt Lancaster is completely different from what he actually is as an actor. His portrayal of an alcoholic man who gets a visit from his ex-wife (Hayworth) at the hotel he resides is again different from the boisterous, oafish guy that I always believed him to be when I was younger. Also at the hotel are a varied group of characters – including an oppressive woman who lords over her timid spinster daughter (Kerr) and a retired Army officer with some secrets, (Niven) who are all taken care of by the distant, yet sincere proprietress, Pat Cooper (the amazing Wendy Hiller). The film encompasses all of their separate plot lines, and interweaves them gradually until the climatic ending. There was no action in this film, just wonderful, straight melodrama and some great writing and acting. A year later, Lancaster and Hecht, the producers behind this film, went on to produce `Sweet Smell of Success', which is infinitely more searing and dark, but it was interesting to see the precursor to that film. I recommend this film for anyone who appreciates solid classic melodramas.

--Shelly