Brief Encounter- the film

[Orangesandlemons77]

We watched this film on TV last night. DH confided in me he used to watch it years ago, over and over and had been in tears over it.

To be honest I didn't really like it. A bit boring. All about an emotional affair between two random people in the 1940s who meet in a train station and go to the pictures etc despite having husbands / wives and children at home.

It just went on and on and then finishes with them saying goodbye and her crying in the arms of her husband who she has been lying to throughout.

AIBU?

Loved him in The Rockford Files! 😃

I go back a bit further and loved him in Maverick. I also loved him in a Marlon Brando film, think it was called Sayonara. I haven't seen it in about 50 years. I'm torn now id love to see it again but maybe the reality might be a let down. It was about love between an American and a Japanese woman. Bit frightened it might seem very different through 21st century eyes.

Seen The Great Escape so many times. I suppose I loved him in everything.

I think he had a sad childhood with his mother dying when he was very young and I think a cruel stepmother but maybe that is stepmother prejudice. Must look it up.

Well I wish I didn't look it up. Horrific childhood, no good father and sadistic stepmother. I feel so sad for that little boy.

He was a raging alcoholic and died of cirrhosis of the liver, sadly.

What surprises me was the age of the actors when they made it. When watching is as a youngster, I always assumed Laura and Alec were in their mid to late 40s. Watching it the other day as a fifty year old, I can see that Celia Johnson was younger than that, and it's her hair and clothes which age her in the film. She was 37 when she made it. Trevor Howard was....32!!!

I adore it. It’s shot so well. Together with Rachmaninoff I think it’s wonderful! The hand on the shoulder in their last moments speaks volumes. It’s given me goosebumps thinking about it.

I absolutely adore this film.
I vould watch this all day it's up there with one of a bunch of films i never get tired off.
Your husband has great taste.

Spring and Port Wine is a nice enough kitchen sink drama to enjoy on a Sunday afternoon

Yes, it is kind of sweet to think of him watching this as a young man.

I was just about to say! I thought it was just because I was young when I watched it but when I googled their ages recently I was shocked! People really seemed older back then.

Celia Johnson was married to Peter Fleming who was Ian Fleming's brother.

You have a gift with words. Really enjoyed your synopsis.

Her daughter is Lucy Flaming who was Jenny in Survivors, the original one in the 70s.

A very interesting family. Celia's daughters own the rights to Ian Fleming's writings.
Most notably, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang😉

Never seen it but it sounds dull as fuck 😂 I doubt I’d last 15 minutes into it

I wouldn't be proud of that. If you can conclude that after reading some of the very beautiful reflections here, you must be very lacking in sensitivity..

On a boiling afternoon in NY, I rashly suggested to a similarly unairconditioned acquaintance that we go to see Some Like it Hot at the (cold) cinema. I love that film.

At the end she said it was soooo boring and weird and she’d just dozed. I know “Nobody’s perfect” (!) but really …

😂 sorry I’m just not into soppy shite

Well this thread clearly got into my head last night as I had a dream about Clint Eastwood, I mean not as he is now but when he was a very handsome young man which is clearly very ageist of me as a 72 year old.

It got very hot and steamy. .........................................................................................
when he asked me for a black coffee with two sugars. Not sure what a psychiatrist would make of that.

Clint Eastwood was the most charismatic sexy man in the history of cinema. Fact.

I was honoured to make him a dream coffee. He smiled such a lovely smile. I think I want to go to sleep again.

Crikey. I'd have been avoiding her thereafter. There are some others on this thread putting themselves in a similar position. (I'm sure they're devastated!)

Public Service Announcement: Kind Hearts and Coronets is on Film4 at 11am today. One of my all-time favourite films, even higher on the list than Brief Encounter, and slugging it out with The Third Man, The Maltese Falcon, Withnail and I and Some Like it Hot for the runner up position to The Godfather. Anyone who thinks Brief Encounter is boring, dated and immoral had probably best give this a swerve.

I had a dream about Clint Eastwood, I mean not as he is now but when he was a very handsome young man

Keep rollin', rollin', rollin'
Though the streams are swollen
Keep them dogies rollin', rawhide

Through rain an' wind an' weather
Hellbent for leather
Wishin' my gal was by my side....

It does of course seem very dated especially with the absurdly clipped accents, but it's quietly erotic in my opinion.

They have obviously fallen for each other and you can see given the chance they would have had sex!

But they accepted that they couldn't be together and so had to part.

Trivia: Celia Johnson was extremely shortsighted and the only film in which she wore her glasses was in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

I love this photo of her instantly recognisable from her school days.