Truly Dreadful Film

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

Actually, I would rate this film a bit higher than 8 if I knew how to do so. You wouldn't think that a film where the action takes place in virtually one room would qualify for greatness but the character studies alone make this film outstanding. One of the best ever. Fortunately, there is sufficient variety in character to keep one's interest at a high level. You don't have time for your mind to question why one behaves thus before the story is already involved with another character's dilemma. And, you don't have time to critique how well a character displays an emotion before the impact is felt elsewhere. If you are a collector of fine films, this one belongs in your collection.

An all-star screen adaptation of Terence Rattigan's play, a BEST PICTURE nominee (7 nominations and 2 wins), SEPARATE TABLES is directed by Oscar-winner Delbert Mann, the only case a person won BEST DIRECTOR trophy for his debut feature (MARTY, 1955) in the Academy Awards' history. The story takes place at a seaside hotel in Bournemouth in off-season, where "separate tables" are prepared for its long-term tenants. Among them, there is the mousy but high- strung maiden Sibyl (Kerr), who has been through some disturbing mental "states" and is tyrannized by her snobbish mother Ms. Railton-Bell (Cooper). Sibyl is overtly attracted to the middle-aged Major Angus Pollock (Niven), who is constantly bragging about his army feats but also appears to conceal an ulterior motive related to his shady side. In the opening, he just returns to the hotel after a two-days outing, when Sibyl concernedly asks his whereabouts, his response sounds with an affectation of casualness, and as usual he excels in dodging Sibyl's affection. The hotel is run by the competent Pat Cooper (Hiller), who is in a secret relationship with the longest tenant John Malcolm (Lancaster), on this day, arrives Ann Shankland (Hayworth), a gracefully divine woman, who turns out to be Malcolm's ex-wife and their marriage has ended quite violently and uglily, she bears an ulterior motive to win him back, and for John, unexpectedly meeting her again dramatically stirs his feelings blended with anger, contempt, chagrin and attraction. Apart from those mentioned above, there are several old people, the good-hearted Lady Matheson (Nesbitt), the eccentric spinster Miss Meacham (Hallatt) and the ordinary Mr. Fowler (Aylmer); plus two young lovers Charles (Taylor) and Jean (Dalton), who are arguing about the prospect of tying the knot. The main narrative twist is about Major's true nature, after his darkest secret is exposed by the nosy Ms. Railton-Bell, everyone is pushed to take a vote of whether Major should be expelled from the hotel. Meanwhile, the confrontation between Ann and John also reaches the boiling point, surprisingly Pat becomes the intermediary even it is her own relationship is at stake. The next morning, all the drama comes to a close, Major divulges his feelings to Sibyl in a most straightforward way he can properly address. The tenants all express their stand on the case, Sibyl finally can utter a staunch rebuff to her mommy's dominion. Ann and John reconcile and rekindle their love. The central cast is all fully charged in this sensational melodrama with top-notch vivacity. Niven won a Leading Actor Oscar for the shortest screen-time, a little more than 20 minutes, but his naturalistic mannerism as a chronic liar whose minor peculiarity hampers his entire life is both realistically pathetic and farcically sympathetic (particularly when his nudge nudge wink wink behavior cannot lift one's eyebrows now). All he can do is to keep up appearances in order to remain his dignity, a self-torturing pattern, but the ending advocates a brighter outlook for him since puritanism smells rather putrid under any circumstances. Kerr, nominated for an Oscar as well, coherently exhibits her outstanding aptness in playing a character of frailty and neurosis; Hayworth, as gorgeous as she has ever been, also delivers a conceivably affecting performance against Lancaster's rigorous mien as the man who can never get over her no matter what. But in plain truth, their love story is a stock one, all the more it gives an enormous halo to Pat, whose sacrifice is much more vicarious for viewers, Cooper won an Oscar for Supporting Actress as well, a very creditable win indeed. Shot in fine black & white, Mann and DP Charles Lang deftly arrange the lighting effect to construct a sharp-contrasted presence, especially between Hayworth and Lancaster, to foreground the tension and sentiment. The accompanying score by David Raksin adheres to the course of the story development to perfection, also, Vic Damone's tuneful titular theme song is pertinent to demonstrate the solitude eternally resides in each individual, like the separate tables, when two hearts find their resonant frequency, it is a godsend which one should never shy away from.

Directed by Delbert Mann and based on the acclaimed play by Terence Rattigan,Separate Tables is a touching ensemble drama with a once in a lifetime cast.The title could be seen to refer to the main characters who all keep to themselves at dinner and do not at anytime invite others into their individual areas and indeed lives.The character of the Major can almost be seen as a dining room waiter who's actions impact upon each table in turn and in the end actually may break down the wall of alienation that hovers like a cloud over each table.Set in the Beauregard Hotel during the lonely off peak months in Bournemouth.Separate Tables focuses on the lives of the Hotels regular residents.Paying particular attention to retired Army Major Angus Pollock(David Niven)and his tender friendship with the shy and frail Sibyl Railton-Bell(Deborah Kerr).Sybil's domineering mother(Gladys Cooper)disapproves of their time together and a newspaper article concerning a mistake of the Major's gives her fuel to spark a hate campaign against him.She gathers together most of the regular guests to discuss if he should be made to leave or not.The dull British stiff upper lip traditions which threaten to dull the entire picture are put on the back burner after this and following the arrival of beautiful American divorcée Ann Shankland(Rita Hayworth).It turns out she is the former wife of American guest John Malcom(Burt Lancaster)who is now in a relationship with Hotel owner Pat Cooper(Wendy Hiller),Ann has heard of his new found happiness and desperately wants him back.With all this going on it's no longer a dull off peak season but something else entirely.Featuring Rod Taylor as a young student who's not getting much sleep thanks to his girlfriend Jean(Audrey Dalton),and an hysterical May Hallatt as the frank talking horse racing enthusiast Miss Meacham.Perfectly cast and featuring some memorable performances,however it doesn't shake off it's theatrical beginnings well and this does show on screen.Slowing the action down a tad too much at times and this I can see annoying those viewers used to their films going a little quicker.However for those of us who appreciate good drama and character development this is neither here nor there.The only thing that I felt could have been changed slightly was the friendship between Sybil and the Major,we never see the beginnings of their friendship nor have we witnessed Sybils growing feelings for him(if we had I believe her view of the situation would have been similar to that of Joan Fonataine's character in Letter From An Unknown Woman.)Apart from that what's here is well worth a look.

This movie is an under-rated little gem. Typical of its director, Delbert Mann, it has a low budget and limited set, but a cast with enormous talent. The excellence of the acting and the characters that emerge make this movie special. The movie takes place in a a hotel operated by Wendy Hiller, who is romantically involved with Burt Lancaster. His wife, played by Rita Hayworth, shows up unexpectedly to try to mend fences with her husband. As the movie progresses, David Niven, another of the residents, is exposed as a fraud with a scandal hanging over him. A younger woman, played by Deborah Kerr, has taken an interest in him. Kerr is manipulated by her domineering mother, played by Gladys Cooper, who has moulded her into a sad and shy young woman. As the ring leader of this haven of interesting characters, Gladys Cooper is positively delighted by the news of Niven's shady side and tries to evict him from the hotel. Will she succeed or will the good in people prevail? This is a fine movie with great performances by the cast, British and American. Not mentioned above is Felix Aylmer who adds a touch of class as Mr. Fowler as well as Rod Taylor and Cathleen Nesbitt whose minor roles contribute to the overall pleasure of this movie. If you get the chance, don't miss it.