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Separate Tables (1958)

Rate: 4
Viewed: 6/24

SepTab
6/24: Separate Tables is another star-studded film that was overnominated to death by the Academy Awards.

It's hard to look past the stagy dialogue about a bunch of losers whom I don't care about. Failing badly in juggling the characters on Grand Hotel-like setting, Delbert Mann can't make any of their stories matter to me. At least, I like the concept of "separate tables" when everybody is in the dining room, but I don't know why it's supposed to be interesting.

The only standout of the cast is Gladys Cooper as Mrs. Maud Railton-Bell, but what a surprise that David Niven and Wendy Hiller won Oscars for their brief "nothing special" performances. The former always played himself in everything he did, and the latter couldn't believe it by saying, "All you could see of me in the picture was the back of my head. Unless they give some award for acting with one's back to the camera, I don't see how I could have won." Deborah Kerr is annoying as the mentally retarded girl while Rita Hayworth looks good. Everybody else is average.

All in all, instead of a sleeping pill, Separate Tables will do because it's very dull.