The Sandpiper (1965)

A free-spirited single mother forms a connection with the wed headmaster of an Episcopal boarding school in California.

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writers:

Martin Ransohoff (story), Irene Kamp (adaptation)

Stars:

Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Eva Marie Saint

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Laura Reynolds
Richard Burton	...	Dr. Edward Hewitt
Eva Marie Saint	...	Claire Hewitt
Charles Bronson	...	Cos Erickson
Robert Webber	...	Ward Hendricks
James Edwards	...	Larry Brant
Torin Thatcher	...	Judge Thompson
Tom Drake	...	Walter Robinson
Douglas Henderson	...	Phil Sutcliff (as Doug Henderson)
Morgan Mason	...	Danny Reynolds

Storyline

Twenty-something Laura Reynolds is a free spirit who questions social conventions, laws and regulations. A struggling artist, she lives in a secluded beach-side cabin in Big Sur with her nine year old illegitimate son, Danny, on who she has instilled her values. Because of this questioning of convention, Laura has decided to home school Danny. Also because of this questioning of the law, Danny runs into some legal problems, and as such is court ordered to be sent to San Simeon, a Christian school in Monterey. This order is against Laura's wishes. The school's headmaster is Dr. Rev. Edward Hewitt, who tries to convince Laura that San Simeon is not the prison she probably believes it to be. Married for twenty-one years to his faithful wife Claire, Edward has become more a fund-raiser at all cost (for a new chapel) rather than an educator or priest. Despite their differences, Laura and Edward begin to fall for each other. Both but especially Edward have to reconcile their feelings for ...

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Plot Keywords:

school | unwed mother | big sur | deer | love | 

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Taglines:

The screen's most exciting stars in the year's most provocative motion picture...

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 June 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Almas en conflicto

Filming Locations:

Big Sur, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,300,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$15,260,000, 31 December 1965

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$30,520,000, 31 January 1970

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmways Pictures,Venice Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Burton tried to get out of making this film, but he was contractually obliged to do it.

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Goofs

Closing scene - kelp in the ocean near the shore repeatedly disappears and reappears.

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Quotes

Dr. Edward Hewitt: May I ask, what are your religious affiliations?
Laura Reynolds: Of course. I'm a naturalist.
Dr. Edward Hewitt: A what?
Laura Reynolds: We believe that man is doomed by his myths... that there can be no peace on earth until man rids himself of *all* belief in the supernatural.
Dr. Edward Hewitt: I see, yes. Very interesting. Go on.
Laura Reynolds: That's about it... It's a very small sect.
Dr. Edward Hewitt: With a membership of approximately... one?
Laura Reynolds: Exactly one... with Danny as an officiate, of course.
Dr. Edward Hewitt: Hmm, well, I have no objection to your lack of religion, nor to your son's.
Laura Reynolds: But you do have ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #22.96 (2006)

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Soundtracks

There's a Wideness in God's Mercy
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Frederick William Faber
Music by Lizzie Shove Tourjée
Sung by the boys at the final church service

User Reviews

Burton is enchanting, Taylor beautiful

Taylor's physical allure is best captured by the wooden sculpture done by Kara for the film. Burton reprises a similar role to his magnificent one of a defrocked priest in "Night of Iguana"--only here he is not eventually defrocked. Burton is superb at showing internal turmoil and it is a shame that so many good performances, many of which were nominated for an Oscar (7 in all), were all bypassed by the Academy.

Minnelli must have cast Burton for the role after Huston's success with Burton in "Iguana". Taylor's agnostic rebellious life and Burton's religious moral life explode on contact and tower over all the other actors in this movie. Though Minnelli is respected for his direction, this effort of his will not be considered a major work.

Eva Marie Saint's role is elegant but not developed beyond the obvious--where are her sons mentioned in the dialogues? What's her relationship with them? Minnelli obviously took interest in the main plot, not the subplots--which is strange for an accomplished director.

The screenplay at times is very strong, e.g., with Burton's clever intonations of his repartees quoting the "Book of Proverbs" and the young child innocently reciting Chaucer in "Olde English". In retrospect the film had good tools: a good script and a good cast. But the tools in the hands of Minnelli did not sculpt a great Kara statue.