Help me identify this film from the John Lewis advert?

[BOFster]

It's driving me crazy

Here's a link to the John Lewis advert- take a look at the old movie showing on the television at 1 minute in, please.

Everybody thinks it's from It's A Wonderful Life, the embrace you can see at 3:21 in this clip:

But it really really isn't.

Someone India Knight on Twitter said it was Casablanca. Do we add this to the list of stuff she's wrong about?

It's not Maureen O'Hara though, surely?

Yep, she's wrong, Coumarin.

The hair's wrong for Maureen O'Hara.

Miracle On 34th Street kiss, at 1 hr 30 seconds...

Nope, we need to keep looking

Brief Encounter?

Least Christmassy film ever mind you.

I thought it was Brief Encounter too. Always on at Christmas.

His clothes are wrong for everything.
Looks like something Rudolf Valentino would wear, in his exotic roles.

No, definitely not Brief Encounter. Too joyful, and totally different looking actress from Celia Johnson.

Watched it again and I'm 99% sure it's Brief Encounter.

Do I win a John Lewis hamper or summink if I'm right?

Damn, x posts. I was so sure!

I think it is Celia Johnson, the cheek bones look right.

No, def. not Celia Johnson.
Look at the eyebrows.

And the hair. All wrong.

Wrong shaped head for Montgomery Clift, I'd say. And a bit early- the film looks 1940s to me.

I thought it was from 'The Shop around the corner' (and have been trying to find the answer since i saw your post on the JL thread hours ago)- but I don't think it's Maureen Sullavan. It has made me want to watch the film though far superior to 'You've got mail'

I'm here BOF!

My theory is that they didn't get permission or couldn't afford to get the It's a Wonderful Life clip. So they've re-created it for the ad.

I've tweeted the ad agency to ask them.

No idea but I love this thread.

It has to be a Christmas film, surely?

And I'm pretty sure we don't ever see Trevor Johnson without his suit jacket in Brief Encounter anyway. It's a pretty chaste tryst.

I love The Shop Around The Corner and You've got Mail.

Squeaver, we WILL find out

Actually you're right about Celia Johnson, def not her now I've got them side by side.

Oh, I love The Shop Around The Corner too. I saw it in a proper cinema in Paris