
Tea and Sympathy (1956)
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- Approved
- 2h 2min
- Drama
- 06 Oct 1956 (Canada)
- Movie
A new senior at a boy's prep school, finds himself harassed by the machismo culture of his classmates and the unfeelingly behavior by his father, only being treated with decency by his roommate and with affection by the coach's wife.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
Deborah Kerr | ... |
Laura Reynolds
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John Kerr | ... |
Tom Robinson Lee
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Leif Erickson | ... |
Bill Reynolds
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Edward Andrews | ... |
Herb Lee
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Darryl Hickman | ... |
Al
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Norma Crane | ... |
Ellie Martin
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Dean Jones | ... |
Ollie
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Jacqueline deWit | ... |
Lilly Sears
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Tom Laughlin | ... |
Ralph
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Ralph Votrian | ... |
Steve
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Steven Terrell | ... |
Phil
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Kip King | ... |
Ted
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Jimmy Hayes | ... |
Henry
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Richard Tyler | ... |
Roger
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Don Burnett | ... |
Vic
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Bob Alexander | ... |
Bob (uncredited)
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Paul Bryar | ... |
Alex (uncredited)
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Chuck Courtney | ... |
Boy in Soda Fountain (uncredited)
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Parker Eggleston | ... |
Boy in Soda Fountain (uncredited)
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Virginia Eiler | ... |
Alumna (uncredited)
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Robert Ellis | ... |
Second Boy (uncredited)
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Del Erickson | ... |
Ferdie (uncredited)
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Ron Gans | ... |
Dick (uncredited)
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Sol Gorss | ... |
Burly Man (uncredited)
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Harry Harvey Jr. | ... |
First Boy (uncredited)
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Mary Alan Hokanson | ... |
Mary Williams (uncredited)
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Byron Kane | ... |
Tennis Umpire (uncredited)
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Mike Lally | ... |
Man at Bonfire (uncredited)
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Peter Leeds | ... |
Headmaster at Bonfire (uncredited)
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Tom McKee | ... |
Alumnus (uncredited)
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Madge Meredith | ... |
Alumna (uncredited)
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Gene Merlino | ... |
Tom Robinson Lee (uncredited) (singingVoice)
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Harold Miller | ... |
Alumnus (uncredited)
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Peter Miller | ... |
Pete (uncredited)
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Michael Monroe | ... |
Earl (uncredited)
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Norman Ollestad | ... |
New Young Boy (uncredited)
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Ralph Reed | ... |
Boy in Soda Fountain (uncredited)
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Robert Santon | ... |
Young Boy (uncredited)
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Bert Stevens | ... |
Man at Bonfire (uncredited)
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Dale Van Sickel | ... |
Burly Man (uncredited)
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Chuck Webster | ... |
Alumnus (uncredited)
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Wilson Wood | ... |
Alumnus (uncredited)
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Directed by
Vincente Minnelli |
Written by
Robert Anderson | ... | (screen play by) |
Robert Anderson | ... | (based on the play "Tea and Sympathy" by) |
Produced by
Pandro S. Berman | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
Adolph Deutsch |
Cinematography by
John Alton | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
Ferris Webster |
Editorial Department
Charles K. Hagedon | ... | color consultant |
Art Direction by
Edward C. Carfagno | ... | (as Edward Carfagno) |
William A. Horning |
Set Decoration by
F. Keogh Gleason | ... | (as Keogh Gleason) |
Edwin B. Willis |
Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff | ... | hair stylist |
John Truwe | ... | makeup artist |
William Tuttle | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
Al Shenberg | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joel Freeman | ... | assistant director |
Hank Moonjean | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
Wesley C. Miller | ... | recording supervisor (as Dr. Wesley C. Miller) |
Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Hager | ... | best boy |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Helen Rose | ... | wardrobe: Miss Kerr |
Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
Alexander Courage | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
Mary K. Frank | ... | producer: stage play |
Jane Cavendish | ... | stand-in: Deborah Kerr (uncredited) |
Myra Jones | ... | stand-in: Norma Crane (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1956) (United States) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1956) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1957) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro (1957) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1957) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- CBS (1973) (United States) (tv) (network premiere) (pan/scan)
- France 3 (1976) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (United States) (VHS)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
- Warner Home Video (2011) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Metrocolor (color)
- The Playwrights' Company (original stage production)
Storyline
Plot Summary |
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.
Written by Ron Kerrigan |
Plot Keywords | |
Taglines | Everyone said "You dare not film TEA AND SYMPATHY!"...so M-G-M did it! See more » |
Genres | |
Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
Budget | $1,737,000 (estimated) |
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 (1967)) and Dick York (the first actor who played Darrin on TV's Bewitched (1964) 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. See more » |
Goofs | While Tom Lee (Class of 1946) is still in school, Laura Reynolds drives a 1950 Dodge. See more » |
Movie Connections | Featured in Homo Promo (1991). See more » |
Soundtracks | The Joys of Love See more » |
Quotes |
Laura Reynolds:
Manliness is not all swagger and mountain climbing. It's also tenderness and gentleness and consideration. See more » |