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Actors: Burt Lancaster, Wendy Hiller, David Niven, Deborah Kerr
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Separate Tables |
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"Separate Tables" is about the tenants of the Beauregard Hotel in Bournemoth, England, who are each isolated in their own way. Burt Lancaster plays John, a recovered alcoholic living quietly after a bad marriage, David Niven plays Major Pollack, a WWII vet with a secret past, Deborah Kerr plays Sibyl, a spinster under the thumb of her domineering mother, and Wendy Hiller plays Pat, the capable but plain hotel owner. Pat's friendship and support of John have brought the two into a secret engagement, while Sibyl harbors a barely concealed crush for Niven's character because of his kindness to her and his obvious military dash.
But then two events happen that throw the Beauregard's residents' world topsy-turvy. The first is the sudden appearance of Rita Hayworth, who plays Ann, John's glamorous ex-wife, who starts trying to rekindle their relationship, but for what ulterior reason? The second is the discovery of a newspaper article about David Niven's character, which exposes him as a molester and a fraud. The shock of this sends Sibyl into a nervous breakdown. Will she recover? Will Pat be able to hang on to John? Why does Ann want John back, and what will become of the exposed Major Pollack?
--Karen Law, Resident Scholar
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Terence Rattigan's play is made into a viable movie, directed by Delbert Mann, with an array of stars. Burt Lancaster and Rita Hayworth are a divorced couple in this
"Grand Hotel"-but-actually-on-the-English-seacoast film.
Each of the guests has his/her own story and Mann deftly extracts each, expertly and cleanly. Oscars went to David Niven and Wendy Hiller!
--Bill Hobbs, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Separate Tables |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Kind of romance:
- rekindling lost love/marriage
Taboo Sex Story?
Yes
Kind of sex:
- molestation
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- (man) muscular
Events of movie makes character more...
- caring
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn curly
Body type
- (woman) average
How much in movie?
- 40%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
- general circumstances
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- unemployed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn wavey
Body type
- (woman) average
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
City?
Yes
Misc setting
- resort/hotel
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- depressed/sad
- thoughtful
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
- Occasional swearing
Is this movie based on a
- play
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Karen Law
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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