Separate Tables (1958)

77% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(1,207 ratings)

Based on Terence Rattigan's play, Separate Tables is about a number of characters and their adventures at a British seaside hotel. Among the guests are an alleged war hero (David Niven), a timid spinster (Deborah Kerr) and her domineering mother (Gladys Cooper), and a divorced couple (Burt… More Based on Terence Rattigan's play, Separate Tables is about a number of characters and their adventures at a British seaside hotel. Among the guests are an alleged war hero (David Niven), a timid spinster (Deborah Kerr) and her domineering mother (Gladys Cooper), and a divorced couple (Burt Lancaster, Rita Hayworth) trying to re-ignite their romance despite the presence of his mistress (Wendy Hiller). All of the characters' lives become intertwined in the course of the film as the story examines love affairs and secrets. Separate Tables is a fine, textured drama, filled with terrific performances and was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Deborah Kerr), Best Actor (David Niven), Best Supporting Actress (Wendy Hiller), Best Screenplay From Another Medium, Best Cinematography and Best Music. Niven and Hiller won Oscars for the film. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Delbert Mann
Written By: John Gay, Terence Rattigan, Theodore V. Olsen & John Gay
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 18, 1958 Wide
On DVD: Dec 11, 2001
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy
How do you assemble a wonderful ensemble and then waste their talents? Here's an example.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The well-made play and once well-thought of film seems to be lifeless when viewed today.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Terence Rattigan's old-fashioned melodrama is well-acted by the entire ensemble. Surprisingly, it was nominated for Best Picture and garnered Oscars for David Nivel as a Major with fake identity and Wendy Hiller as the reserved hotel manager.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Very strong, controversial (for 1958) drama starring Hayworth, Kerr.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Drama com excelentes atuações (especialmente de Niven e Kerr), Vidas Separadas possui roteiro enxuto que extrai o máximo de sua galeria de personagens patéticos que buscam a dignidade.
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide
A touching and absorbing movie that (thankfully) doesn't wrap everything up with a big, dumb, happy ending.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Red L

It is interesting to see some of the better movies of the 50's. I only watched this as the TV guide rated it 4 *'s. Can you imagine "living" at a seaside hotel for four years the way Major Pollock did? The movie was fine. When you "live" in a hotel… More
It is interesting to see some of the better movies of the 50's. I only watched this as the TV guide rated it 4 *'s. Can you imagine "living" at a seaside hotel for four years the way Major Pollock did? The movie was fine. When you "live" in a hotel for a long time, and in high society Britain, everybody knows everyone else's business. This can make for an interesting story. I was amazed to read however that two of the ensemble of actors won Academy Awards,
Byron B

Another one that bored me. I couldn't get into it. I didn't know what the point of watching these different story lines was. I didn't think you got to know any of the characters well enough.