Separate Tables

Audience Reviews

View More

sebastian andres o @Yoamoalcine Nov 3 A magnificent film that is pure history. That unfiltered cinema, with impeccable screenwriters and dazzling stars. That cinema where dialogue builds stories and spaces, that wonderful cinema that always makes us fall in love. One of those great films that deserves to always be in our cinephile memory. See more Naomi L @RT97740323 Aug 26 Such an unpleasant testament to how physical abuse and sexual harassment of women were played down at this point in history, taints the whole film. It's quite strong, especially as it is clear that these are expected behaviours of the time; it's not a satire on these behaviours. Mr Malcolm has clearly hit his wife in the past because they talk about a scar on her head which needed 5 stitches and a week in hospital (!), and he dismisses it as surely gone by now. He accuses her of being manipulative and then holds her head aggressively and states that he can see beneath the makeup and she is getting older, and will therefore soon lose any power she had to manipulate men. Shortly after, he knocks her down on the stairs and leaves. When he returns, the woman he is engaged to is deeply concerned about how he is, and dismissive of the hurt occasioned to his former wife. Incredibly Mr Malcolm and his ex wife get back together because she is afraid of being alone and would rather go back to an abuser. The other would-be couple involves a military man who wasn't actually in the war and confesses that from childhood he has been ridiculed and made to feel excluded. This means that he repeatedly sexually harasses women in cinemas - the darkness and strangers being the key factor that enables him as he has never been with a woman. This comes out in the film, the police are involved, but the women's reports of sexual harassment are pooh-poohed even though he later confirms them. This is the first time he has been caught, so he got away in the past by presumably the women not reporting it or being disbelieved. We are then expected to be sympathetic, because the hotel is painted as a refuge for these abusers against a backdrop of charming music. None of it is satire, and I also knew that all of this was acceptable at the time, but as an example of how wrong our attitudes were in the past, it's quite incredible as it would take only slightly different music and direction to show these characters as the unforgivably bad men they are. See more Alain E @AlainE 03/15/2025 It’s a little melodramatic, with characters that exist to serve the story as opposed reflecting actual human beings. The acting however is measured. The situations don’t exactly make sense. David Niven plays a fraudster who exaggerates his previous military career. He gets arrested at a movie theater for unwelcome advances to several female members of the audience. Somehow, he becomes irresistible to the repressed spinster played by Deborah Kerr, who in addition appears significantly younger than their actual age difference. Burt Lancaster is in a serious relationship with the hotel manager, when a previous paramour shows up. His new fiancée encourages him to reconnect with her predecessor. All that occur documented in nicely restored black and white image. As was the tradition at the time, there are accentuated shadows in every direction inside every room. On Prime. The Academy was impressed enough to give two awards. See more Nicoletta M @RT74672128 08/13/2024 Poignant, well acted, and soothingly just. See more Jeff M @jeffmarshallmovieblogger 01/17/2024 My biggest takeaway when this movie ended was wondering how the devil Niven not only got nominated but actually WON Best Actor for his performance here. He's fine - there's nothing wrong with him - but it's in no way award-worthy, and I'd even suggest it may be a supporting role. And I know it's not his fault, but it didn't help matters that every time he opened his mouth, all I could think of was Harvey Korman's flamboyant stage actor character on THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW. The film surrounding him is a disappointingly lackluster affair. The cast assembled is brilliant - it almost feels like an assemblage for one of those Agatha Christie adaptations. The being said, Gladys Cooper and Deborah Kerr tend to over-play their roles. Wendy Hiller appears bored throughout, and not once do you believe she and Lancaster would say hello passing on the street let alone be engaged. Only Lancaster and Hayworth breathe life into their roles, and their scenes together are the movie's best. The pedigree here is outstanding, but the result is not much different than a passionless episode of the 80s primetime soap HOTEL. See more Anthony J @jenkinsdraws 03/17/2023 I was hoping for more from what proported to be something of a 'classic.' It may have been, once, in a long ago era. Now it seems stuffy and badly dated, except for the Burt Lancaster scenes which, though well acted, clash with the shabby genteel oh-so British atmosphere. Niven is good, not actually playing standard David Niven, but not 'Oscar good, certainly not by today's standards. See more Read all reviews

Separate Tables

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Most Popular at Home Now