Brief Encounter (1945)
Average Rating: 8.2/10
Reviews Counted: 32
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 4
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 6.5/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 2
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 4.2/5
User Ratings: 10,439
My Rating
Movie Info
Based on Noël Coward's play "Still Life," Brief Encounter is a romantic, bittersweet drama about two married people who meet by chance in a London railway station and carry on an intense love affair. Sentimental yet down-to-earth and set in pre-World War II England, the film follows British housewife Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson), who is on her way home, but catches a cinder in her eye. By chance, she meets Dr. Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard), who removes it for her. The two talk for a few minutes
Nov 26, 1945 Wide
Sep 7, 2004
Universal Pictures
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Cast
-
Celia Johnson
Laura Jesson -
Trevor Howard
Dr. Alec Harvey -
Stanley Holloway
Albert Godby -
Joyce Carey
Myrtle Bagot -
Cyril Raymond
Fred Jesson -
Valentine Dyall
Stephan Lynn -
Everley Gregg
Dolly Messiter -
Margaret Barton
Beryl Waters -
Marjorie Mars
Mary Norton -
Dennis Harkin
Stanley -
Wallace Bosco
Doctor -
Sydney Bromley
Johnnie -
Irene Handl
Organist -
Jack May
Boatman -
Avis Scott
Waitress -
Wilfred Babbage
Policeman -
Richard Thomas
Bobbie -
Nuna Davey
Mrs. Rolandson -
Edward Hodge
Bill
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All Critics (32) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (29) | Rotten (4) | DVD (10)
Sheer perfection-the gold standard of tragic romances whose influence can still be seen to this day.
Top CriticCyril Raymond manages to invest the stodgy character with a lovable quality.
Rarely rises above the level of the old women's magazines.
Some films don't age well, and no doubt Brief Encounter had more of an emotional effect in the social climate of post-war Britain.
An uncommonly good little picture -- and one which is frankly designed to appeal to that group of film-goers who are provoked by the 'usual movie tripe.'
... still embraced as one of the most romantic films ever made, and it has earned its reputation.
Haunting in its evocative mood -- one enhanced by Robert Krasker's cinematography and Lean's meticulous, muted direction -- Brief Encounter primarily hinges on the extraordinary performance by Celia Johnson.
Retrata seu par romântico com sensibilidade e complexidade (especialmente para a época), pecando apenas pela insistência em introduzir diversas cenas de alívio cômico conduzidas por Holloway e Carey.
Lovely, small-scale romance by David Lean.
Solid romantic classic directed by David Lean. Johnson and Howard are terrific.
David Lean finds poetry and lyricism in Noel Coward's initimate dram about the romance between two ordinary people married to others, acted with admirable restraint by Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson.
Back in cinemas and welcomed by me.
Stodgy and dated.
Go and see it again - and try not to giggle at the clipped accents.
David Lean paints heartbreak with perfect decorum.
The loveliest period piece imaginable.
Twee, but you can't help but get involved.
Noble and utterly heartbreaking.
Beautifully monochrome rendering of a love that cannot be.
A classic of passionate reserve.
Perfect.
Audience Reviews for Brief Encounter
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Foreign Titles
- Brief Encounter (1945) (DE)
- Brief Encounter (1945) (UK)
