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Brief Encounter

Play trailer Poster for Brief Encounter 1946 1h 26m Romance Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 48 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Returning home from a shopping trip to a nearby town, bored suburban housewife Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson) is thrown by happenstance into an acquaintance with virtuous doctor Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard). Their casual friendship soon develops during their weekly visits into something more emotionally fulfilling than either expected, and they must wrestle with the potential havoc their deepening relationship would have on their lives and the lives of those they love.
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Brief Encounter

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Critics Consensus

Brief Encounter adds a small but valuable gem to the Lean filmography, depicting a doomed couple's illicit connection with affecting sensitivity and a pair of powerful performance.

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Critics Reviews

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Zadie Smith Daily Telegraph (UK) 01/17/2018
Lean's sad, buttoned-up account of unconsummated love is about all of us and our cautious natures. Go to Full Review Sophie Monks Kaufman Little White Lies 11/09/2015
5/5
Romance and goodness are evoked with equal power and from these conflicting impulses, voluptuous demons spring eternal. Go to Full Review Kate Muir The Times (UK) 11/05/2015
5/5
One of cinema's classic love stories. Go to Full Review Daniel Barnes Dare Daniel Mar 17
4.5/5
A finely detailed, almost dream-like tragic romance that lives on the face of star Celia Johnson. Go to Full Review Sean Burns Crooked Marquee Apr 19
By the time Alec and Laura bid their understated farewells, you’ll probably have something in your eye yourself. Go to Full Review Ruth Maramis FlixChatter Film Blog 02/16/2024
4.5/5
One of the greatest classic romances, beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. This timeless cinematic gem is just as memorable as David Lean's big, epic films. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephanie 02/09/2023 Brief Encounter was excellent. The cinematic elements of the film deserved an Oscar! See more Russ G @RT78760655 Feb 3 I tried to get into this slow-moving melodrama but the atmospherics alone weren't enough to hold my attention; I bailed on it after about half an hour. See more Ed . @RT01276001 Aug 29 Miss Mackay would NOT approve. aka Don't wanna be all by myself It's rare for a motion picture to have as its protagonist someone who would be viewed with both disdain and compassion. It's rarer for such a film to do so in the most tasteful way. This is a testament to the writing and directing skills of a Coward and a Lean, mean directing machine. A must viewing for all affair partners! See more Will G @Wgoodeve Jun 21 A great noir film. A good example of Golden Age cinema. This is a classic Hollywood film. There are British people in this movie. Also there is a lot of romance. I enjoyed the scenes on trains. See more Graham L @RT09561044 May 20 Brief Encounter is a beautiful example of Less is More. Produced in thoroughly war-weary 1945 England on a tight budget, it pulled the best work from its' writers, actors, editors and a great score (Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto); then combined all that into a sum even greater than the parts. The story may seem contrived, but it unveils the universal heart-breaking human tale of falling hopelessly in love despite knowing deeply that it will be impossible in the end. That direct connection to the viewer forces us to face that devastating reality but also makes us stronger by acknowledging that we all share in this bit of tragedy and go on with our lives, nonetheless. An all-time gem! See more Marit Risto F @RT66247982 May 19 Again the nevrotic split between the husband, and the lover. So tragic. A love trip is essential for our evolution, but there are many reasons why this is so feared and suppressed. We've had a certain liberation, but few, if any, found a solution. I haven't given up though 😊 See more Read all reviews
Brief Encounter

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Cast & Crew

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David Lean

Director

Celia Johnson

Laura Jesson

Trevor Howard

Dr Alec Harvey

Stanley Holloway

Albert Godby

Cyril Raymond

Fred Jesson

Joyce Carey

Myrtle Bagot

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Brief Encounter

Brief Encounter (1945) Brief Encounter (1945) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Returning home from a shopping trip to a nearby town, bored suburban housewife Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson) is thrown by happenstance into an acquaintance with virtuous doctor Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard). Their casual friendship soon develops during their weekly visits into something more emotionally fulfilling than either expected, and they must wrestle with the potential havoc their deepening relationship would have on their lives and the lives of those they love.
Director
David Lean
Producer
Noël Coward, Anthony Havelock-Allan, Ronald Neame
Screenwriter
Noël Coward, Anthony Havelock-Allan, David Lean, Ronald Neame
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Company, Paramount Pictures, Criterion Collection, Universal Pictures
Production Co
G.C.F., The Rank Organization [gb], Cineguild
Genre
Romance, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 24, 1946, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 18, 2016
Runtime
1h 26m
Sound Mix
Mono
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