Separate Tables (1983) (TV)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

John Schlesinger

Writer:

Terence Rattigan (play)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Based On Play

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Julie Christie	...	Mrs. Shankland / Miss Railton-Bell
Alan Bates	...	John Malcolm / Maj. Pollock
Claire Bloom	...	Miss Cooper
Irene Worth	...	Mrs. Railton-Bell
Sylvia Barter	...	Lady Matheson
Bernard Archard	...	Mr. Fowler
Liz Smith	...	Miss Meacham
Kathy Staff	...	Mabel
Brian Deacon	...	Charles Stratton
Susannah Fellows	...	Miss Jean Tanner
Chrissie Cotterill	...	Doreen

Runtime:

Brazil:112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Movie Connections:

Version of Separate Tables (1974) (TV)

An Acting Feast

John Schlesinger filmed Terence Rattigan's famous play from the 50's pretty much as is - there's no "opening up" of the play, and the two one-act segments are not combined, as they were in the 1958 film version. The play itself is, no surprise, dated and rather quaint, though you can see it must have seemed fairly sensational stuff back in the mid-50's, with allusions to sex crimes and homosexuality. At its best, though, it offers a penetrating depiction of loneliness and the stifling nature of English society at the time.

Also, most satisfyingly, it offers a banquet of tour-de-force performances. Julie Christie and Alan Bates are splendid and moving, each in dual roles, and make a fine team, as they have several other times as well. Claire Bloom is understated and marvelous, as always, and the supporting characters are picture-perfect. This is a cast that could hardly be bettered, and they make this perhaps the finest version of this particular play we are likely to see. Worth while for anyone who loves good acting!