And sympathy (Tea and Sympathy) is an American film carried out by Vincente Minnelli and left in 1956. It is an adaptation of the play éponyme created to Broadway in 1953, work of the playwright and American scenario writer Robert Anderson.

Synopsis

Tom Lee, a 17 year old student, is attracted more by the literature and arts that by the sports too violent ones with his taste practiced in his boarding school. Separately the friendship without prejudice which his/her only comrade Al testifies to him, Tom is marginalized by the other boys of the boarding school who called it “the sister”. He sympathizes with Laura Reynolds, the woman of the professor of gymnastics, itself having some relational difficulties with a husband conformist and rough. A true dialog is established between them and Laura will help Tom to assume his differences by highlighting its address at tennis and showing to him that sensitivity and refinement riment not inevitably with homosexuality of which he is suspected in this medium highly machist…

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Data sheet

Distribution

Around film

• Deborah Kerr and John Kerr, creators of the roles to the scene with Broadway in 1953 do not have any relationship.

• With the the United Kingdom, the film was interdict for its allusions to homosexuality.
• In 1956, parallel to Deborah Kerr with the cinema, Ingrid Bergman incarnated, in France, with the Théâtre of Paris, the character of Laura near the young Philippe Jean-Wolf in the role of Tom. She was disapproved in her choice by Roberto Rossellini, her husband of the time which, disturbed by the evocation of the possible homosexuality of the character of Tom (following the example machist attitude of the other males of the part!), refused to carry out of it the setting in scene which, so was entrusted to Jean Mercure. Starting from the will of Bergman to play costs which this role costs, their artistic divergences were at the origin of their rupture. Bergman reports it in its memories where, at the end of the first of the part that Rossellini predicted “catastrophic” and who was triumphal, she writes: The room was in is delirious. Upright, the spectators howled and applauded. And then I went to only greet in the middle of the scene, and while concerned me with my reverence, I turned the head and I saw Roberto. Our glances met, we looked at themselves well opposite. And I understood that, even if we remain together, my marriage was finished.

Distinctions

• 1958 : Nomination of Deborah Kerr in the category “Better British actress” with BAFTA (British Academy off Film and Television Arts)

External bonds