Brief encounter

[Shebertherbert]

I watched brief encounter last night. It's largely regarded as a very romantic film. I just don't get it. They barely knew one another. There is actually a scence where they are declaring their love where they say they have only met something like 4 times. That they only really started to speak on the second meeting. The whole film spans something like 8 weeks.
Every interaction the hero is driving the relationship forward. He kind of lovebombs her, declares his love first, invites her to his friends flat ect I can't help thinking he's a bit of a player. This is not his first affair. She starts to come to her senses. Realises she can't go through with a physical romance. Suddenly he's got a job in africa. How convenient. Or did he just move on to the next bored house wife and get a different train home to avoid our heroine.
There is more of a romance blossoming here between the station master and the cafe owner.
The movie is well told. I like how the story unfolds. I like that we see there parting from two perspectives. I like the end bit with the husband.

It’s an epic film. The sound track of Rachmaninov always moves me. British cinema at its best!

Thanks for this thread. I have watched this film lots of times and I love it. I never thought of him as a player, but it is a point worth thinking about. I think the job in Africa was genuine. It quite interesting to think of him going to another platform or another station and working his charm on a different lady.

Thank you for starting this thread. I love the film. I’ve seen it about six times! I agree with you about some things. It’s possible that Alec is a bit of a player, but I prefer to think not. I like him and I can see why Laura does - he’s very charming and his declaration of love is heartfelt. He does lack the moral fortitude that Laura has. He drives the affair but she is the main protagonist. She is the one who resists the affair, who makes sure that they both do the decent thing in the end.
It’s quite unique for a film of its time I think. In most films of the era, it’s rare to have a female character narrating the film, being in control of the story and being the main character. Laura tells her own story.
The romance between the two working class couples is interesting, because they are both successful. They are all free to fall in love.
Poor Laura, poor Alec.

(Searches for DVD in DVD rack).

I love Brief Encounter though (like many films) it doesn’t bear too much analysis! But the emotional impact of that moment when the friend comes in as they are in the flat, and suddenly something which has been beautiful/intense becomes sordid/grubby - wow!

OP, I've seen Brief Encounter loads of times and I love it, but I'd never thought of Alec's Africa job not being genuine! V v interesting! I prefer to think it is, rather than him being a player, but he is a really smooth operator, it has to be said.

I think it's very suspenseful, eg, when they see Laura's friends at a restaurant and she makes up that stupid story on the spot - they're always on the brink of being caught out, and the film does a brilliant job of showing how totally disastrous that would be - for her, mainly.

I find it really moving at the end with her husband, and he says how happy he is she's come back to him (can't remember the exact line). Agree with PP about the music as well. Great film, although I don't find it romantic as such either. Summertime (also David Lean) - now that's a true romance imho...

Your right ox about the flat scene being like a breaking of a spell. The whole thing suddenly becomes grubby. I didn't think about it like that.

Its a beautifully told story. Ahead of its time I think in its delivery. I just can't buy into the love. Maybe if they had seemed to know each other longer it might have helped. It seems I am just an unromantic cynic. But it is a film about adultry. I thought the husband was lovely and would have been perfectly happy doing a crossword with him.

Do you think they could do a sucessful remake?

Yeah, but who would be better in bed - Alec with a twinkle in his eye or dear old Fred?

I wonder if she even thought about intercourse when they went to the flat. Did she just think it might be a kiss and a cuddle. She was a romantic and I believe , if the friend had not come back, she would have run away from doing the deed.

On classics, has anyone seen Jezebel with Bette Davis. Another favourite of mine.

I think your right . She wouldn t have done the deed. I think she was in an exciting fantasy break away from reality. But that would have made it all too real.

I just love Bette Davis. I have alot of her movies. I will need to rewatch Jezebel I am getting confused which one it is. Did she have a child and her friend raised it? I am off work for a few days and it's raining. I will try and give it a rewatch. Another classic for my rainy weather watchlist is Roman holiday.

I love her too. It is the one set in New Orleans and the leading man is Henry Fonda. She is a spoilt Southern Belle and very headstrong. She decides to wear a red dress at a Ball where all young women wear white. I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil it.

I always thought it was more infatuation than real love. They came to their senses in the end but the final scene of their parting at the station, with the friend wittering on, was very poignant. The film was ahead of its time.

Funny enough, they played the Racmaninov music on classic fm this week and I sat in my car and listened to the end. Beautiful piece.

I first saw Bette Davis in Dead ringer when I was in my teens. I have loved her ever since. I have just been through my dvds I have 13 Bette Davis movies. Including Dark victory, the letter and now voyager. But I don't have Jezebel I am wondering now if I have seen it at all. I have just ordered it on amazon.
I think I was thinking of The old maid.

I love the old movies they show on Saturday afternoons. 'The Women' and 'The Shop Around the Corner' are favourites of mine, as well as Now Voyager

I had to order my copy from Amazon too. I am sure you will enjoy it.

The thing about Bette Davis's red dress in Jezebel is that the film was in black & white!
There was a competition on R4 a couple of years ago where people wrote the next part of the story continuing on from the end of Brief Encounter. I believe Alec was portrayed as a Player more than once. I think Brief Encounter is overrated but I do like it