Tea and Sympathy (film)

Tea and Sympathy 1956 is an adaptation of Robert Andersons 1953 stage play directed by Vincente Minnelli and produced by Pandro S. Berman for MGM in Metrocolor. The music score was by Adolph Deutsch and the cinematography by John Alton. Deborah Kerr, Leif Erickson, and John Kerr recreated their original stage roles. Also in the cast were Edward Andrews, Darryl Hickman, Norma Crane, Tom Laughlin, and Dean Jones.

The other boys torment Tom for his unmanly qualities and call him sister boy, and he is treated unfeelingly by his father, Herb Lee Edward Andrews, who believes a man should be manly and that his son should fit in with the other boys. Only Al Darryl Hickman, his roommate, treats Tom with any decency, perceiving that being different is not the same as being unmasculine. This growing tension is observed by Laura Reynolds Deborah Kerr, wife of the coach. The Reynolds are also Toms and Als house master and mistress. She tries to build a connection with the young man, often inviting him alone to tea, and eventually falls in love with him, in part because of his many similarities to her first husband John, who was killed in World War II.The situation escalates when Tom is goaded into visiting the local prostitute Ellie Norma Crane to dispel suspicions about his sexuality, but things go badly. His failure to lose his virginity causes him to attempt suicide in the womans kitchen. His father arrives from the city to meet with the dean about Toms impending expulsion, having been alerted to Toms raffish intentions by a classmate. Assuming his sons success, he gets one of the films biggest sendups as he boasts of his sons sexual triumph and timehonored leap into manhood until the Reynoldses inform him otherwise. Laura goes in search of Tom and finds him where he often goes to ruminate, near the golf courses sixth tee. She tries to comfort him, counseling that hell have a wife and family some day, but hes inconsolable. She starts to leave, then returns and takes his hand, they kiss, and she utters the films famous line, Years from now, when you talk about this, and you will, be kind. ........

Source: Wikipedia