SEPARATE TABLES

USA. Directed by Delbert Mann, 1958.

Date: Sep 23rd, 2005. Format: Dvd. Surrounding: Home, Tampere.

We get to know a bunch of uncertain people here; people who feel themselves unable to live like they would like. They are staying at hotel in Bournemouth. The most interesting inhabitants include the neurotic major (David Niven) who is protecting an embarrassing secret from others, the decent and tender girl (Deborah Kerr) who's heart beats for major but is put down by his moralistic mother (Gladys Cooper), the alcoholist (Burt Lancaster) who has a love affair with the hotel's sort-of-realistic owner (Wendy Hiller) and is visited by his former, very beautiful but sad wife (Rita Hayworth). A real dream cast! I've always loved these kind of films where depressed people spend their time in a closed space and really talk and talk talk until they have to open their hearts. And you don't always have to adapt Tennessee Williams for that! The ending is quite optimistic, and there's no reason why it shouldn't be. These characters belong to each other. ****½