Separate Tables (1958)

This film was not at all what I expected. When I saw that it starred David Niven, Deborah Kerr, and Rita Hayworth -- I thought cute & sweet. I was caught off-guard and loved every minute of it.

This is a deep film with deep emotions. Every single actor on the screen so inhabits their character that it's hard to see the seams. You gotta wonder about Gladys Cooper as Mrs. Railton-Bell, though. She did that same overbearing mother destroying her daughter thing in Now Voyager with Bette Davis. But make no mistake, she does it damn well. Watch Niven's performance, especially near the end in the hotel office. He's extraordinary and pitiful. Great film.

Problems? Yeah, just one. The bouncy score gets almost distracting.

B+

The Killers (1946)

This was a pure treat from start (menace and sarcasm in a normally non-threatening setting) to the final surprise end. The story starts with a murder, then follows the subsequent life insurance investigation. This investigation turns up information from unwilling informants, spinning out the facts in flashback. "A Soldier's Story" copied its structure entirely from this earlier film.

One complaint -- after all is said and done, there's what I like to call a "Scooby-Doo wrap-up." You know, where Fred and Velma explain the mystery to the 3 and 4-year-olds who might not be able to put it together by themselves. Well, as I am an adult, I found this device unnecessary and vaguely insulting. Anyway, even if I had got lost in the plot twists, there's always the rewind button.

A