Tea and Sympathy (1956)

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writers:

Robert Anderson (play)
Robert Anderson (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 May 1957 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Where does a woman's sympathy leave off -- and her indiscretion begin?

Plot:

Tom Lee is a sensitive boy of 17 whose lack of interest in the "manly" pursuits of sports, mountain...

Plot Keywords:

College | School | Bittersweet | Prep School | Masculinity

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Deborah Kerr	...	Laura Reynolds
John Kerr	...	Tom Robinson Lee
Leif Erickson	...	Bill Reynolds
Edward Andrews	...	Herb Lee
Darryl Hickman	...	Al
Norma Crane	...	Ellie Martin
Dean Jones	...	Ollie, Tennis Partner
Jacqueline deWit	...	Lilly Sears, Laura's friend
Tom Laughlin	...	Ralph, 'Regular Guy'
Ralph Votrian	...	Steve, Ralph's side-kick
Steven Terrell	...	Phil
Kip King	...	Ted
Jimmy Hayes	...	Henry
Richard Tyler	...	Roger
Don Burnett	...	Vic
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Del Erickson	...	Ferdie
Peter Leeds	...	Headmaster at bonfire
Bob Alexander	...	Bob (uncredited)
Paul Bryar	...	Alex, Alumnus (uncredited)
Chuck Courtney	...	Boy in Soda Fountain (uncredited)
Parker Eggleston	...	Boy in Soda Fountain (uncredited)
Virginia Eiler	...	Alumna (uncredited)
Robert Ellis	...	Second Boy (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	Burly Man (uncredited)
Harry Harvey Jr.	...	First Boy (uncredited)
Mary Alan Hokanson	...	Mary Williams, One of Three Women on Beach (uncredited)
Byron Kane	...	Umpire, Tennis Tournament (uncredited)
Ron Kennedy	...	Dick (uncredited)
Tom McKee	...	Alumnus (uncredited)
Madge Meredith	...	Alumna (uncredited)
Gene Merlino	...	Tom Robinson Lee (singing voice) (uncredited)
Peter Miller	...	Pete (uncredited)
Michael Monroe	...	Earl (uncredited)
Norman Ollestad	...	New Young Boy (uncredited)
Ralph Reed	...	Boy in Soda Fountain (uncredited)
Bobby Santon	...	Young Boy (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Burly Man (uncredited)
Charles Webster	...	Alumnus (uncredited)
Wilson Wood	...	Alumnus (uncredited)

Directed by
Vincente Minnelli

Writing credits
Robert Anderson		(play)
Robert Anderson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Pandro S. Berman	....	producer

Original Music by
Adolph Deutsch

Cinematography by
John Alton

Film Editing by
Ferris Webster

Art Direction by
Edward C. Carfagno		(as Edward Carfagno)
William A. Horning

Set Decoration by
F. Keogh Gleason		(as Keogh Gleason)
Edwin B. Willis

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist
William Tuttle	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joel Freeman	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Wesley C. Miller	....	recording supervisor (as Dr. Wesley C. Miller)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Helen Rose	....	wardrobe: Miss Kerr

Editorial Department
Charles K. Hagedon	....	color consultant

Other crew
Mary K. Frank	....	producer: stage play

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1956) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)

Other Companies

• The Playwrights' Company  original stage production

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (35 mm optical prints) | 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #18176) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | West Germany:16

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

This film was adapted from a Broadway play that originally starred Deborah Kerr, John Kerr and Leif Erickson, who recreate their stage roles in this film. Also in the Broadway cast in supporting roles were Alan Sues (who later appeared on TV's "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" (1967)) and Dick York (the first actor who played Darrin on TV's "Bewitched" (1964) starring Elizabeth Montgomery). Joan Fontaine and Anthony Perkins also later appeared in the stage version of "Tea and Sympathy" as cast replacements during its long run. The stage production opened on Sept. 30, 1953 at the Ethel Barrymoore Theatre and ran for 712 performances.

Goofs:

Continuity: A pair of china dogs are back to back in a master shot (overall wide view). But when the camera moves in for close-ups, the dogs are face-to-face.

Quotes:

Laura Reynolds: Manliness is not all swagger and mountain climbing. It's also tenderness.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "NYPD Blue: Tea and Sympathy (#7.19)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

The Joys of Love

An Important Film that provides good historic perspective on the treatment of homosexuality in film.

"Tea and Sympathy" will offend many forward thinking people, but it is historically important. It provides good perspective for comparing the early twenty-first century to 1956--the time when this movie was made. The film is representative of people's sentiments during the 1950s. I came of age during this time as an effeminate lad who could not even talk with his parents about the stereotyping I experienced in grade or high school. Kids were cruel; so were many adults! Everyone needs a good dose of history, and this film provides it. Students of Gay and Lesbian Studies or film studies need to see this movie. No this is not a happy film, but neither is "Brokeback Mountain," which was set in the 1960s. "Tea and Sympathy" will not thrill anyone who prefers to forget unpleasant eras of history.