TEA AND SYMPATHY

US, 1956, 122 minutes, Colour.
Deborah Kerr, John Kerr, Leif Erickson, Edward Andrews, Darryl Hickman, Norma Crane, Dean Jones, Tom Lachlan.
Directed by Vincente Minnelli.

Tea and Sympathy made an impact in its time, a play by Robert Anderson, and adapted by him for the screen. This was the 1950s and a difficult time to make films which focused on a man’s, especially a young man’s, masculinity, sexual orientation, way of behaving.

John Kerr (South Pacific) portrayed the hero on stage as well as on screen. He portrays a young man who is criticised for not being normal, involved in sports etc, and called “sister boy”. His father is dominating (Edward Andrews). The young boy receives sympathy and tea from the wife of a schoolteacher. The teacher is played by Leif Erickson, his wife by Deborah Kerr.

The boy is enabled to understand more of his feelings by his experience with the teacher’s wife. However, the teacher himself seems to be struggling with his own sexual orientation.

The film could not be explicit about homosexuality at the period. To that extent, it might seem, given the language and understanding of later decades, to be too reticent in its treatment. However, it does raise issues which are still relevant.

Deborah Kerr had appeared in England in many films before moving to the United States and a Hollywood career. At this time she also made The King and I. Director Vincente Minnelli had made a number of musicals with his then wife Judy Garland, including Meet Me in St Louis. During the 1950s he also made a number of strong dramas including The Bad and the Beautiful as well as Lust for Life, the story of Van Gogh.

1. How interesting a human drama? A piece of Americana?

2. The contribution of colour, settings, widescreen, music?

3. The title, reference during the film, indication of themes? The value of this film, structure, the flashback technique and our knowledge that Tom ended happily?

4. The film's creation of school atmosphere and the importance of this; the film tradition about schools and schoolmasters? The presentation of the boys, their activities, the teachers, school houses, initiation rites, school tradition, sport? The importance for this film?

5. The theme of masculinity and expectations? How well were these presented? The criticism and judgements made of standards and expectations?

6. How interesting was the character of Tom and his growing up? The fact that he had written a novel about his experiences? That his difficult experiences had not ruined his life?

7. How well did the film present his character? A loner, his interests, shyness and introversion, the criticisms of the boys, incidents like the testing out of the dress, the beach and the sewing, the use of hurtful names? The effect on him?

8. The contrast with his father and his father's boisterous style? His father's expectations, the tennis? The discussion in the milk bar, the flirting with the waitress? The discussion about expectations and boys and femininity, with Bill Reynolds? Audience response to the father and to his attitudes?

9. The presentation of the father-son relationship and its inadequacy? Especially in the tennis sequence, the boys who were supporting Tom, the hostility of the others? Tom looking for love and affection and not receiving it?

10, The significance of the sequence with Tom going to Ellie? The encounter with ELlie and their conversation? Tom's failure and sense of failure? The police and the father's expectation and further disappointment?

11. How sympathetic a person was Laura? As an attractive woman in herself? Her role in the school? Relationship with the other wives? Support for Tom and compassion? The details of her concern? Her relationship with her husband, putting up with his gruffness, trying to help him? The consummation of the affair between Laura and Tom? The effect on him, the effect on her? The significance of the letter and Tom's reading it as an adult? Her comments on her characterization in the novel?

12. The character of Bill Reynolds? His role as a schoolteacher? One of the boys? His emphasis on masculinity? The arrogance in his marriage? Tom finding him at the end, alone and playing records?

13. The picturing of the boys and their varying attitudes? Their cruelty to one another?

14. Themes of adolescence, growth, identity, relationships, loneliness, homosexuality?

15. How much did the film reflect the style of the fifties? Would it be made in a similar manner now?