The Sandpiper (1965)
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10% of critics liked it
(10 reviews) -
49% of users liked it
(431 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
- Directed By
- Vincente Minnelli
- Written By
- Martin Ransohoff, Irene Kamp
- Genres
- Drama, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1965 Wide
Critic Reviews
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, TIME Magazine
The Sandpiper's absurd situations are matched by dialogue that beauty (hers) and talent (his) cannot vanquish.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Trite and often ponderous in its philosophizing by the two principals.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
A truly dire romantic melodrama.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Don't let it fool you. It's the same old Hollywood stuff.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Campy.
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Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Elizabeth Taylor
as Laura Reynolds
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Richard Burton
as Dr. Edward Hewitt
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Eva Marie Saint
as Claire Hewitt
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Charles Bronson
as Cos Erickson
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Robert Webber
as Ward Hendricks
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James Edwards
as Larry Brant
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Torin Thatcher
as Judge Thompson
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Tom Drake
as Walter Robinson
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Morgan Mason
as Danny Reynolds
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Jan Arvan
as 1st Trustee
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Mary Benoit
as Trustee's Wife
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Shirley Bonne
as Celebrant
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Colin Drake
as Administrator
- Mel Gallagher
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Paul Genge
as Architect
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Douglas Henderson
as Paul Sutcliff
- Rex Holman
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April Hyde
as Administrator's Wife
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Pamela Mason
as Ellie
- Jimmy Murphy
- Peter O'Toole
- Douglas Read
- Diane Sayer
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Eric Sinclair
as Beatnik
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Olga Valéry
as Administrator's Wife
- Ron Whelan
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John Hart
as Trooper
- Joan Connors
- Kelton Garwood
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Barbara Somers
as Dancer at the Party
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Karl Studer
as Harold
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Jeff Davis
as Administrator
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Fred Fisher
as Administrator
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Tom White
as Beatnik
