Separate Tables 1958

In the luxurious Hotel Beauregard on England’s south coast, Major David Angus Pollock (David Niven) makes a desperate attempt to conceal an article about himself from prying eyes, but his efforts only serve to pique the interest of fellow guests. The fastidious Mrs Railton-Bell (Gladys Cooper) and her more empathetic counterpart, Lady Matheson (Cathleen Nesbitt), are particularly intrigued by the revelations contained within the West Hampshire Weekly News. As they devour the pages, their curiosity is sparked by the news that Major Pollock has pleaded guilty to allegations of sexual harassment against multiple young women in a theatre setting. However, the validity of these claims remains dubious, leaving the residents of Hotel Beauregard with a moral dilemma.

Mrs Railton-Bell takes it upon herself to galvanize her fellow guests into action, rallying them behind a call for Major Pollock’s expulsion from the hotel. Despite opposing viewpoints, she presents her case to Miss Pat Cooper (Wendy Hiller), the hotel’s manager, and subsequently informs him that Major Pollock must vacate the premises.

Meanwhile, outside the hotel, a complex reunion unfolds between Anne (Rita Hayworth) and John (Burt Lancaster), two individuals with a tumultuous past. As they engage in a charged conversation, Anne reveals her engagement, prompting John to counter with his own news of an impending nuptial - although he omits the crucial detail that his betrothed is none other than Miss Cooper.

John’s assertion that Anne chose him over more financially and socially advantageous suitors solely for the purpose of manipulation and degradation is met with a mix of hurt and lingering attraction from Anne. Despite their tumultuous history, they both acknowledge an enduring emotional connection. As she invites John to her room, it becomes clear that old flames still burn bright, even amidst the complexities of their intertwined pasts.

As John (character) steps into the opulent hotel lobby, Miss Cooper discreetly whispers a crucial revelation to him: a pending phone call from his ex-wife Anne. With an air of knowingness, Miss Cooper implies that Anne’s visit is shrouded in ulterior motives, particularly since only John’s publisher, privy to the clandestine engagement between John and Miss Cooper, possesses this information. Initially, John defends Anne’s character, attributing his own misfortunes solely to his own doing, but Miss Cooper’s words slowly erode his resolve, ultimately leading him to confront Anne in her hotel room.

When Anne attempts to rekindle their past passion, John brutally strips away the facade of her physical beauty, revealing a woman ravaged by time and desperation. Her pleas for him to stay fall on deaf ears as he departs the hotel, striking her with a harsh reality before storming out into the night. Miss Cooper subsequently comforts Anne, who divulges the truth: her supposed engagement was a ruse, and she’s been struggling with debilitating pain, resorting to sleep aids even during the day.

The next morning, Sibyl (Deborah Kerr), Mrs. Railton-Bell’s downtrodden daughter, shares an unsettling revelation with Major Pollock: she knows his darkest secret. He confesses to being perpetually fearful of people and finding solace in attempting to connect with strangers. Major Pollock reveals that this affinity is rooted in their shared phobia of life itself, which has forged a peculiar bond between them. As he prepares to leave the hotel, Sibyl worries about his ability to find a new home.

Upon John’s return, Miss Cooper briefs him on Anne’s emotional state, imploring him to see her before she checks out. After John departs, Miss Cooper attempts to persuade Major Pollock to stay, but he remains resolute in his decision.

The morning’s awkward silence is broken when Major Pollock enters the dining room, only to be warmly greeted by John. The atmosphere shifts as the hotel residents begin to converse with him, while Mrs. Railton-Bell seethes with anger at her daughter Sibyl’s refusal to leave. For the first time in her life, Sibyl stands firm against her mother’s demands and insists on finishing her breakfast.

As Major Pollock decides to stay on at the hotel, John and Anne appear to reconcile, but their fragile understanding is tempered by the reality that they may never be able to find happiness together or apart.