The Sandpiper (1965)

Academy Awards, USA 1966

Won Oscar

Best Music, Original Song Johnny Mandel (music) Paul Francis Webster (lyrics) For the song "The Shadow of Your Smile"

MGM
Directed by Vincente Minnelli
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Turner Classic Movies)

Elizabeth Taylor is an artist living on a remote California beach with her young son. She gets the attention of a local judge when her boy shows up in court for a series of minor offenses, and sends him off to a religious school headed by Richard Burton much against her wishes. Taylor and Burton butt heads over ethics, marriage and religion, to name a few topics, but ultimately fall in love. The reverend Burton must deal with the fall out with his wife and parishioners. Taylor and Burton are fascinating to watch as always, and Dalton Trumbo's screenplay is not afraid to tackle difficult subjects, although in the end it feels dated and falls to easily into the melodramatics of a love triangle.