Tea and Sympathy (1956)

Deborah Kerr John Kerr (no relation) and Leif Erickson recreated their stage performances in this censored version of Robert Anderson’s play that was directed by Vincente Minnelli. John Kerr plays Tom Robinson Lee a sensitive young college man whose interests are gardening & reading in lieu of more manly pursuits. His father Herb (Edward Andrews) is rather of ashamed of his son’s behavior which has earned Tom the nickname “sister boy” from his college peers. Deborah Kerr plays Laura Reynolds the house mom of Tom’s residence and wife to perhaps the campus’s most macho alpha male coach Bill Reynolds (Erickson). Herb Lee was a college buddy of Bill’s so he’s asked his friend to look after Tom (hence Tom stays in Bill’s dormitory). Tom’s roommate Al (Darryl Hickman) one of the better athletes on campus himself is seemingly Tom’s only friend and defender against the other young men’s taunts. Against her husband’s wishes (and because of his neglect of her) Laura befriends Tom and takes an active role in his maturation. In fact when Tom’s virginity is jeopardized by an arranged “event” with the town’s everyone’s party girl Ellie Martin (Norma Crane) Laura takes an even keener interest in Tom’s would-be internal & emotional struggles. She provides much more than “tea and sympathy” (the expected extent of her involvement in the house boys’ lives). Dean Jones is relatively unrecognizable as Ollie a boy Tom plays in tennis one afternoon.

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