As I hope you are noticing, I am continuing studying Burt Lancaster (boyhood idol) movies. Separate Tables (1958) also stars Rita Hayworth, David Niven, Deborah Kerr, Wendy Hiller and Gladys Cooper.
The story takes place at a residential hotel in England. Kerr reunites with Lancaster (From Here to Eternity) but in a completely different character. Cooper resurrects her mean, domineering mother role from Now, Voyager.
Niven won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Hiller won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
John (Lancaster), a writer and resident of the hotel, is having a relationship with Pat (Hiller), the owner and manager of the hotel. One day, Anne (Hayworth), the ex-wife of John, pays him a visit.
Anne invites John to her room and tries to seduce him. He rebuffs her, but there is still an attraction between the two of them.
The residents of the hotel discover that the major (Niven) pleaded guilty to sexual harassment at the local cinema. He is humiliated. Mrs. Maud (Cooper) demands that Pat expel the major from the hotel.
However, Sibyl (Kerr), the meek daughter of Mrs. Maud, comforts the major with empathy. Most of the residents come to support the major in his hour of need. Sibyl even defies her mother for the first time.
