Separate Tables (1958)

Separate Tables - 1958

Coming up next is 1958's "Separate Tables", which features an all-star cast.  At a seaside hotel in Bournemouth, residents must face a series of upheavals which will challenge their views on convention.

The cast includes Deborah Kerr, Rita Hayworth, David Niven, Wendy Hiller, Burt Lancaster, Gladys Cooper, Cathleen Nesbitt, Felix Aylmer, Rod Taylor, Audrey Dalton, and May Hallatt.

Our story begins at the Hotel Beauregard in Bournemouth, England.  It's a residential hotel, which features separate tables for dining.

We meet some of the hotel residents.  The first is Major Pollock (Niven) and Ms. Sibyl Railton-Bell (Kerr).  Both are shy, modest people, who have a natural warmth existing between them.

Unfortunately for Sybil, she is under the thumb of her particularly domineering mother.

One evening, Major Pollock picks up a newspaper and is saddened to see an item about him.  He walks up to his room, where he sits quietly on the edge of his bed.

Other hotel residents include Charles and Jean.  He's an aspiring doctor who wants to get married.  She just wants to keep things as they are.

The residents are sent into a tizzy with the arrival of a car and a very elegantly dressed lady who steps out of it.

We find her name is Mrs. Ann Shankland (Hayworth) and she's come to the hotel for an unspecified period.  While checking in, she asks about another resident, John Malcolm (Lancaster).  She's told he's out, and she goes on up to her room.

When John comes back to the hotel, he's greeted by Miss Pat Cooper (Hiller), who runs the hotel.  We later find out he's engaged to Pat.

In the dining room that evening, John comes face to face with Ann.  "Is this your year for looking up old husbands?" John asks with a hatred in his voice.  "Only the special ones," comes her reply.

Unable to stand the sight of his ex-wife, John once again leaves the hotel for a long walk.

That evening, Mrs. Railton-Bell and Lady Matheson read the paper and find out about Major Pollock.  It turns out that he's recently been arrested for harassing some women in a theater.  The article also claims that the Major is not really a Major and the military history which he told them about himself is in fact fiction.

Mrs. Railton-Bell tells Lady Matheson to round up the other residents.  They need a meeting to discuss what's to be done about the Major.  Mrs. Railton-Bell wants him thrown out of the hotel by the next day's luncheon time.

When Sibyl is shown the article, she's absolutely devastated.  She's always had a soft spot for the Major, and this blow sends her over the edge.  In shock, she sits unresponsive.

John, by this time returned to the hotel, does not agree with Mrs. Railton-Bell.  He goes on a tirade about accusations and falsehoods, thinly veiled barbs at his ex-wife Ann.

Ann sits and silently listens.  When asked her opinion about the Major, she says she doesn't know him and couldn't offer one.

When asked her thoughts, Sibyl has a hysterical breakdown and has to be escorted from the room by her mother.  Mrs. Railton-Bell later tells Pat that the consensus of the residents is that the Major must be forced to leave the hotel.

Later in the evening, Ann has a face-to-face meeting with John.  She tells him she's made mistakes, and so has he.  Anne admits that she is currently engaged, and John does the same, though he doesn't tell who he is engaged to.  He accuses her of wanting to marry him because he was a lower class than she was, and she wanted to completely degrade him.

Even after all the accusations and hurtful comments, the two admit that they are still attracted to each other.  They fall into one another's arms in an embrace and kiss.

Later, Pat confronts John about his relationship with Ann.  She knows she's his ex-wife, and she currently on the telephone with someone who knows that John and Pat are engaged.  "I know the sort of man you are, John...and the sort of woman she is," says Pat.

Later that night, John confronts Ann about knowing where he was and who he was engaged to.  She attempts to seduce him, but he becomes angry and storms off again.

Attempting to follow him and stop him from leaving, Ann is pushed down by John on the stairs.  Pat comes to her aid.

The next morning, we find that Pat has stayed up all night talking with Ann.  Ann thanks Pat for her kindness.

Sibyl, meanwhile, confronts the Major about his past.  He says he's sorry for it.  He has always been uneasy around people.  He's particularly sorry that she had to find out about it, because he feels more at ease with her than with anyone he's ever known.  Sibyl tells him that her mother knows also and has spread the news to the other residents and wants him to leave immediately.

Sibyl is later quite touched by the way the Major opened up to her, and wishes him well in his new life away from the hotel.  She cries openly in front of Ann, but dries her tears when he comes into the room.

When John gets back to the hotel, he goes to see Pat.  She tells him that Ann is still in love with him and she's a very sick woman.  She's on drugs...just to get through the days...just as he is on alcohol.  Pat breaks their engagement and sends him out to see Ann after helping him to realize he's still in love with her too.

After John leaves, the Major comes in.  He informs Pat that he'll be leaving and would like his bill ready.  She tells him she doesn't want him to go.  He says he doesn't want to, but has to.  She urges him to reconsider...for himself, and for Sibyl.  Pat knows that the two are special to each other.

The Major goes in to breakfast while he's waiting on the taxi that will take him away from the hotel.  All eyes are on him as he enters the dining room, and he's extremely self-conscious.

One by one the other residents begin to wish him good morning and try and engage him in conversation.  They even talk to him about plans they intend to make with him in the coming days.  He's a bit perplexed considering he thought they were dead set on his leaving.

Everyone wants to give him a fresh start, except, that is, Mrs. Railton-Bell.  She orders Sibyl to follow her.  Sibyl stands up to her mother for the first time, eliciting a smile from several in the room.  Mrs. Railton-Bell leaves the room in defeat.  (The scene is actually very beautifully done.)

John and Ann have forgiven each other.  "You know, don’t you, Ann, that we don’t have very much hope together?" says John.  "Have we all that much apart?" asks Ann.

Pat comes into the dining room and tells the Major that his taxi has arrived.  Touched by everyone's thoughtfulness and with a look towards Sibyl, he asks Pat to send it away, as everyone continues their meal at separate tables.

Cast rundown:

   Deborah Kerr..................................Sibyl Railton-Bell

   Rita Hayworth.................................Ann Shankland

   David Niven....................................Major Angus Pollock

   Wendy Hiller....................................Pat Cooper

   Burt Lancaster.................................John Malcolm

   Gladys Cooper.................................Mrs. Maud Railton-Bell

   Cathleen Nesbitt..............................Gladys, Lady Matheson

   Felix Aylmer....................................Mr. Fowler

   Rod Taylor.......................................Charles

   Audrey Dalton.................................Jean

   May Hallatt.....................................Miss Meacham

And that's all for Separate Tables.  The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.  It also won 2 Oscars, Best Actor (Niven) and Best Supporting Actress (Wendy Hiller), both very well deserved awards.  Rita Hayworth is a knockout in this movie.  Edith Head served as her exclusive wardrobe mistress for the film.

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