Home / Tea and Sympathy

Tea and Sympathy

Year:

1956

Duration:

122 min

Genres:

Drama

IMDB rate:

7.3

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1956-11-05

Filming Locations: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Cast

Actor

Character

Chuck Courtney

Deborah Kerr

Laura Reynolds

John Kerr

Tom Robinson Lee

Leif Erickson

Bill Reynolds

Edward Andrews

Herb Lee

Darryl Hickman

Norma Crane

Ellie Martin

Dean Jones

Ollie

Jacqueline deWit

Lilly Sears

Tom Laughlin

Ralph

Ralph Votrian

Steve

Steven Terrell

Phil

Kip King

Ted

Jimmy Hayes

Henry

Richard Tyler

Roger

Don Burnett

Vic

Bob Alexander

Bob (uncredited)

Paul Bryar

Alex (uncredited)

Parker Eggleston

Boy in Soda Fountain (uncredited)

Virginia Eiler

Alumna (uncredited)

Robert Ellis

Second Boy (uncredited)

Del Erickson

Ferdie (uncredited)

Ron Gans

Dick (uncredited)

Sol Gorss

Burly Man (uncredited)

Harry Harvey Jr.

First Boy (uncredited)

Mary Alan Hokanson

Mary Williams (uncredited)

Byron Kane

Tennis Umpire (uncredited)

Mike Lally

Man at Bonfire (uncredited)

Peter Leeds

Headmaster at Bonfire (uncredited)

Tom McKee

Alumnus (uncredited)

Madge Meredith

Alumna (uncredited)

Gene Merlino

Tom Robinson Lee

Harold Miller

Alumnus (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)

Bert Stevens

Man at Bonfire (uncredited)

Dale Van Sickel

Burly Man (uncredited)

Charles Webster

Alumnus (uncredited)

Wilson Wood

Alumnus (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

The original stage production of Tea and Sympathy ends with the line, "When you speak of this in future years...and you will...be kind." Fearing censorship, MGM insisted upon an epilogue indicating that Deborah Kerr's character deeply regretted her "wrong" behavior of offering herself to young Tom.

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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.

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Goofs

While Tom Lee (Class of 1946) is still in school, Laura Reynolds drives a 1950 Dodge.

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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.

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After Tom's roommate Al hangs up with his father, he goes downstairs to tell Ms. Reynolds he will be moving out. The shadow of the moving boom mic is clearly visible between Ms. Reynold's door and the pay phone in the hall.

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Quotes

Tom Lee: I'm always falling in love with the wrong people.

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Laura Reynolds: Years from now when you talk about this - and you will - be kind.

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

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