Fresh
Sheer perfection-the gold standard of tragic romances whose influence can still be seen to this day.
Keith Uhlich, Time Out New York
Brief Encounter
A story of the most precious moments in a woman's life!
1945 · 1h 26m · Approved
Drama, Romance
Directed by
David Lean
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Brief Encounter
Overview
Returning home from a shopping trip to a nearby town, bored suburban housewife Laura Jesson is thrown by happenstance into an acquaintance with virtuous doctor Alec Harvey. 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 and cast
- David Lean Director
- Celia Johnson as Laura Jesson
- Trevor Howard as Dr. Alec Harvey
- Stanley Holloway as Albert Godby
- Joyce Carey as Myrtle Bagot
- Cyril Raymond as Fred Jesson
- Everley Gregg as Dolly Messiter
- Marjorie Mars as Mary Norton
- Margaret Barton as Tea Room Assistant Beryl Walters
- Wilfred Babbage as Policeman at War Memorial (uncredited)
- Alfie Bass as Waiter at the Royal (uncredited)
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
95%
Tomatometer
Fresh
Cyril Raymond manages to invest the stodgy character with a lovable quality.
Variety Staff, Variety
Rotten
Rarely rises above the level of the old women's magazines.
Don Druker, Chicago Reader
Rotten
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.
Dave Calhoun, Time Out
Fresh
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.'
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
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