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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), French ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Italian ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), English ( Subtitles ), Finnish ( Subtitles ), French ( Subtitles ), German ( Subtitles ), Italian ( Subtitles ), Spanish ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.66:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: A look into the lives of several residents at a seaside hotel where guest have their meals at separate tables. John Malcolm is a hard-drinking man, engaged to the hotel owner Pat Cooper. His life is turned upside down however when a former love, Ann Shankland shows up after she hears of his engagement. She clearly wants him back but he sees nothing positive that can result from renewing their relationship. There is the domineering Mrs. Railton-Bell, a highly opinionated woman and her meek, sexless daughter Sybil. Finally, there is Major Angus Pollock who is constantly telling stories from his days in the war. Sybil has taken a liking to the man but her mother warns her to stay away from him. Her warnings appear warranted when they read in the newspaper that he was convicted of lewd conduct in a movie theatre. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Golden Globes, Oscar Academy Awards, ...Separate Tables
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33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Produced in 1958 by Harold Hecht and directed by Delbert Mann, Separate Tables takes place at the tiny Beauregard Hotel, a seaside resort on England's south coast, which serves in the winter as "a refuge for the lonely, resigned, and desperate." The main feature of the hotel is its separate tables, rather than "family style" dining, for the guests. The cast is a who's who of fifties stars--David Niven (who won an Oscar for his role), Deborah Kerr, Bert Lancaster, Rita Hayworth, and Wendy Hiller (who also won an Oscar)--all playing characters who live as separated from the world as their tables are in the dining room.
The Major (Niven) sets the action in motion when he is reported in the local newspaper as having been guilty of "insulting behavior" in a movie theater, and his war record is published. Niven is worshipped from afar by Sybil Railton-Bell (Kerr), a pathetically neurotic woman, subject to hysteria, who is totally controlled by her demanding mother. John Malcolm (Lancaster), was once married to former model Ann Shankland (Hayworth), who has suddenly come to visit him at the hotel, possibly to rekindle their flame, but he is already secretly engaged to Pat Cooper (Hiller), the manager of the hotel. A variety of eccentric subordinate characters add color, and occasionally humor, to the action. These isolated characters soon begin to find their lives intersecting and overlapping, and they eventually coming to a poignant reckoning in the hotel dining room, as everyone arrives at his/her separate table.
The cinematography (Charles Lang) and music (David Raksin), both nominated for Academy Awards, provide subtle emphasis for the character dramas going on in the hotel, rather than calling attention to themselves. Character dramas were less common in the plot-driven 1950s than they are today, and these characters will now be seen as stereotypes by today's audience, their actions predictable. Sybil (Kerr) seems particularly unrealistic now, her constant refrain of "Yes, Mummy," a constant reminder of how times have changed. Lancaster seems a bit out of his element as a character actor, and Hayworth, in her buttoned up blouse, seems a bit uncertain about how to handle such a subtle role. Nevertheless, this is a wonderful study of actors and acting from the 1950s, and the writing (by Terence Rattigan and John Gay), direction, and cinematography, which showcase the cast, are superb. A classic film. Mary Whipple
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a movie centred around a marvellous story.
David Niven plays a 'fake' Major. This is because he hides a secret past which is about to become public knowledge at a small Hotel where he has been staying some time. He is 'sweet' on a 'spinster-ish' woman (Deborah Kerr) who's dominated by her possessive mother (Gladys Cooper) There are other stories within this picture, but the story between 'The Major' and 'Sybil' is by far the most touching and absorbing. There are some wonderful scenes in this, and David Niven gives an outstanding performance and gets much sympathy from the Viewer.
This film not only shows how cruel and judgmental people can be, but how the best can be brought out after their shame - and in contrast, just how kind they can be.
A gem of a movie.
Also stars Felix Aylmer, Cathleen Nesbitt, Rod Talyor, Rita Hayworth and Burt Lancaster.
David Niven plays a 'fake' Major. This is because he hides a secret past which is about to become public knowledge at a small Hotel where he has been staying some time. He is 'sweet' on a 'spinster-ish' woman (Deborah Kerr) who's dominated by her possessive mother (Gladys Cooper) There are other stories within this picture, but the story between 'The Major' and 'Sybil' is by far the most touching and absorbing. There are some wonderful scenes in this, and David Niven gives an outstanding performance and gets much sympathy from the Viewer.
This film not only shows how cruel and judgmental people can be, but how the best can be brought out after their shame - and in contrast, just how kind they can be.
A gem of a movie.
Also stars Felix Aylmer, Cathleen Nesbitt, Rod Talyor, Rita Hayworth and Burt Lancaster.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
At an English seaside hotel during the off season, the stories of several disparate characters plays out. They include an aging fashion model (Rita Hayworth), her alcoholic ex (Burt Lancaster), a spinster (Deborah Kerr) dominated by her mother (Gladys Cooper), an ex-military man (David Niven in his Oscar winning performance) with some dark secrets and the lonely hotel manager (Wendy Hiller, also an Oscar winner for her performance). Based on the London and Broadway hit by Terence Rattigan which consisted of two one act plays with two actors playing the leads in both, the film wisely combines the stories into one cohesive whole. While director Delbert Mann (MARTY) hasn't shaken the theatrical origins (the film was entirely shot on a sound stage and has a deliberate artificial look), the drama is engrossing enough and the acting is so superb so that it doesn't matter. A solid, well crafted drama of the kind they rarely write or make anymore. The excellent Oscar nominated score is by David Raksin. With Rod Taylor, Audrey Dalton, Felix Aylmer, Cathleen Nesbitt and May Hallatt (the only cast member who starred in the London, Broadway and film).
The MGM/UA DVD from England (the American DVD is out of print) is a nice looking transfer in a wide screen ratio of 1.66. The audio however has a minor hiss to it but not enough to be distracting.
The MGM/UA DVD from England (the American DVD is out of print) is a nice looking transfer in a wide screen ratio of 1.66. The audio however has a minor hiss to it but not enough to be distracting.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Acting tour de force
Fantastic acting - the only surprise about this for me is that it received so FEW oscars. Actors played outside the roles 'normally' associated to them, demonstrating their... Read more
Published 24 days ago by M. Law
timeless entertainment
I could feel Terence Rattigan sitting in the breakfast room in the boring seaside hotel with some boring people, but not for him. It was indeed drama, intrique and everything else. Read more
Published 4 months ago by bull shu
An acting 'tour de force' ! A Gem of a movie!
This film, like `Brief Encounter', is another prime example that any attempted remake would be doomed from the outset. This movie is a `one off' ! It could not be done again! Read more
Published 9 months ago by DoDo Fan
Rattigan gets the Hollywood treatment
The film of "Separate Tables" was cobbled together from the two one-act plays that Rattigan published collectively under this title, and which were stage-premiered in 1954. Read more
Published 10 months ago by J. Rottweiller Swinburne
Interesting but toned down piece of period theatre,
As a stage play Separate Tables still works but this film version - despite very good performances - is not a total success. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Adrian Drew
Good Old Hollywood
The 50's were the Golden Age of Hollywood. I like many of the old goodies. This one is a bit more serious and very likable.
Published 14 months ago by Gunnel Arrbäck
Wonderful acting
Hadn't seen the film since it first came out but apart from the fact that it is a bit dated in respect of studio setting, it is still an excellent film with a superb cast,... Read more
Published 19 months ago by MamieAnne
Bum steer
While the DVD is described on the right of this page as Region 1, US import, that was not made clear on the sales page or I would never have bought it. This was a con. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Ms. Kathleen Herron
Separate tables
Superb story telling which has not lost its relavence even though it is more than 40 years old. David Niven deserves all the accolades showered on him. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2010 by Pandit Priyamvada
Intriguing
How this differs from the original play, I know not, but this is a fine examination of disparate characters trapped in their own neuroses and a small hotel. Read more
Published on 19 Nov 2009 by Shmorganzola
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