The Sandpiper (1965)

10% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
49% of users liked it
(406 ratings)

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton -- then Hollywood's most bankable couple -- appeared onscreen together for the third time in this romantic drama shot on beautiful locations along the Big Sur region of the California coastline. Laura Edwards (Elizabeth Taylor) is a free-thinking artist and… More Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton -- then Hollywood's most bankable couple -- appeared onscreen together for the third time in this romantic drama shot on beautiful locations along the Big Sur region of the California coastline. Laura Edwards (Elizabeth Taylor) is a free-thinking artist and Bohemian who is raising a her teenage son, Danny (Morgan Mason), conceived out of wedlock, on her own. Laura has issues with conventional teaching methods, and prefers to educate Danny about both intellectual and ethical matters on her own. However, Danny has become something of a problem, and child welfare authorities demand that Danny either be sent to school or become a ward of the state. Rather than send Danny to public school, Laura arranges for him to attend a private academy run by Dr. Edward Hewitt (Richard Burton), an Episcopalian minister. Edward is at first shocked by Laura's embrace of free love and rejection of conventional moral codes, but as he gets to know her better, he finds himself increasingly attracted to her, despite the fact he has a wife, Claire (Eva Marie Saint), and two children. Before long, Edward's desire overpowers his scruples and he begins an affair with Laura. Wracked with guilt over his infidelity, Edward confesses his indiscretion to Claire, which proves to have severe and unexpected consequences. While saddled with poor reviews upon its initial release, The Sandpiper did win an Academy Award for Johnny Mandel's theme song, "The Shadow of Your Smile." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 56 min.
Directed By: Vincente Minnelli
Written By: Martin Ransohoff, Irene Kamp
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1965 Wide
On DVD: Dec 5, 2006

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
The Sandpiper's absurd situations are matched by dialogue that beauty (hers) and talent (his) cannot vanquish.
Variety Staff, Variety
Trite and often ponderous in its philosophizing by the two principals.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Don't let it fool you. It's the same old Hollywood stuff.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Campy.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A superfluous, ponderous and pretentious sudser about a married minister having an affair with a single mom non-conformist artist.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A star vehicle for Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, The Sandpiper is one of Minnelli's most embarrassing films, which is poorly scripted (by Dalton Trumbo), helmed, and acted and doesn't even qualify as high camp.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
It must rank as one of the most expensive and pretentious loads of garbage ever foisted upon an adoring public.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Take a snapshot of Taylor next to her wooden likeness and you'd need a caption to distinguish between the two.
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Underrated feminist drama.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
A truly dire romantic melodrama.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

beautiful locations, silly but entertaining story
Michael G

Lots of amazing scenery (Liz Taylor included.) The Sandpiper is also a precursor to the beginning of the ratings system as its a bit racy and liberal-minded for the mid-60s. Burton and Taylor are as always great together, Eva Marie Saint plays a WASP doormat and Charles Bronson plays… More
Lots of amazing scenery (Liz Taylor included.) The Sandpiper is also a precursor to the beginning of the ratings system as its a bit racy and liberal-minded for the mid-60s. Burton and Taylor are as always great together, Eva Marie Saint plays a WASP doormat and Charles Bronson plays a hipster beatnik. By no means essential and even though its a little drawn out, its not a bad watch.

Cast

            Elizabeth Taylor as Laura Reynolds

            Richard Burton as Dr. Edward Hewitt

            Eva Marie Saint as Claire Hewitt

            Charles Bronson as Cos Erickson

            Robert Webber as Ward Hendricks

            James Edwards as Larry Brant

            Torin Thatcher as Judge Thompson

            Tom Drake as Walter Robinson

            Morgan Mason as Danny Reynolds

            Jan Arvan as 1st Trustee

            Mary Benoit as Trustee's Wife

            Shirley Bonne as Celebrant

            Colin Drake as Administrator

            Mel Gallagher
            
            Paul Genge as Architect

            Douglas Henderson as Paul Sutcliff

            Rex Holman
            
            April Hyde as Administrator's Wife

            Pamela Mason as Ellie

            Jimmy Murphy
            
            Peter O'Toole
            
            Douglas Read
            
            Diane Sayer
            
            Eric Sinclair as Beatnik

            Olga Valéry  as Administrator's Wife

            Ron Whelan
            
            John Hart as Trooper

            Joan Connors
            
            Kelton Garwood
            
            Barbara Somers as Dancer at the Party

            Karl Studer as Harold

            Jeff Davis as Administrator

            Fred Fisher as Administrator

            Tom White as Beatnik
See full cast