A drunken and violent wife-beater, a man who falsifies his military record and molests women in movie theaters, a sleeping pill addict who wrecked her own marriage, a pathetically depressed and repressed girl, and a vindictive mean-spirited self-righteous old woman...if you would like to spend two hours with this bunch of losers and creeps, this movie is for you.We are meant to feel all warm and fuzzy about them, and I guess some viewers did in 1958 and some still do (to judge from the reviews). The writing is terrible and the characters are so pathetic that I walked out before the end.The only good thing about seeing this movie is that it shows there has been a bit of progress in gender relations since 1958: Wife-battering and groping women in movie theaters are now less likely to be seen as lovable little foibles.

I love this film, every character is played strongly by wonderful actors having fully developed interesting personalities, each with their struggles, handicaps. And one thing in common, they are lost, lonely people waiting for their lives to end in a run down hotel. Deborah Kerr's mother in the film would tie in a contest for worst mummy, with Mrs Vale, Betty Davis's mother in another jewel Now, Voyager. Both mothers for purely selfish reason's seek to reduce their daughters to immature square pegs unable to function in the round world so they may serve as fawning servant/ companions through the elderly years of their mummy's. David Niven (The Major) is wonderful as the Desert Campaign self-convinced hero from WWII, who has an unfortunate morals problem, Rita Hayworth returns to see her long time ex-husband for reasons that are complicated. Burt Lancaster playing the husband who is driven mad by the manipulative actions of his ex-wife tries to break through her thick veneer looking for any real emotions, all the while both are engaged to others, Lancaster to Mrs Cooper the hotel manager. The other characters are just quirky enough to break up the intensity of the main players. Rod Taylor is a student trying to bone up during a holiday break from school but his playful girlfriend will not be ignored, we have two elderly women taking up the balance one a confused woman who agrees with everyone the other an earnest horseplayer, and a former boy's school teacher who blames England's problems on the lower classes and their public educations. Yes, the class system is in full bloom at the hotel despite that fact that all find themselves only able to live at a less than top drawer, cheaper end hotel. You'll love this find

Separate Tables (Delbert Mann, 1958) is an acting masterclass, a stunning adaptation of Rattigan's two single-act plays set at a Bournemouth hotel. David Niven, Deborah Kerr and Wendy Hiller (my new favourite) are flawless in their sensitive, layered performances: he an army major with a dark secret, Kerr the meek, downtrodden girl who loves him, Hiller the hotel manager fighting disappointments of her own. Shooting on home soil, American stars Burt Lancaster and Rita Hayworth are very good in somewhat less interesting parts. Taking dead-aim at intolerance, as well as examining the disappointments and compromises of adulthood, this is a remarkable piece of humanist drama and one of the most intelligent films to come out of Hollywood in the '50s. Charles Lang's cinematography is a big plus; the only duff element is the wearisome theme song.

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.