Favourite shot/moment?
-
michael_wallace_ellwood — 12 years ago(August 24, 2013 04:33 PM)
There are lots of fabulous shots in this film. It's hard to pick just one.
Laura's face as she tries to throw herself in front of the express.
The high shot over the war memorial, as Laura sits on the bench smoking, after her escape from the flat.
Almost anything involving the trains
Dolly Messiter's face, especially in close up as she gabbles away.
Laura's face as she stops listening to Dolly and withdraws into her own thoughts.
Alec falling into the water.
I don't get as emotionally invoilved with this film as some, although I think it's a perfect film. In some ways, what I love most are the social and historic aspects. The steam trains of course; the pre-nationalised railways. I believe there were two railway companies operating at Carnforth - LMS as we saw, and another, whom I can't remember. (With help from google, I see it was Furness trains).
http://www.carnforthstation.co.uk/
I like the street scenes, Boots library and also the chemists department where Laura bought toothbrushes (not self-service. The assistants stood in between two counters, in a rectangle. Woolworths also used to be set out like this). The cinema with its circle seats and theatre organist. The pedestrian crossing with Belisha Beacons but no zebra stripes. They must have come later. (We still have Belisha Beacons). The ticket barrier where a ticket collector demanded your ticket (later done away with when "open stations" came in, and now back in electronic form).
All these things, set in a world that is just a little too long ago for me to have known, although I can remember the late 1950s, which was probably not so different. -
whostercogburn — 10 years ago(May 10, 2015 01:06 PM)
Cyril Raymond was just wonderful as Fred. For Brief Encounter to become the ultimate tear-jerker, Fred had to be very likable to the audience. Because Raymond did such a brilliant job, the audience understood and totally sympathized with what Alec and Laura were going through - because the concrete truth was that a genial, kindly, understanding and thoughtful man was in serious danger of having his heart broken.
I must confess I only know Cyril Raymond from this film, but he played his part beautifully. -
guigukn — 11 years ago(May 29, 2014 06:15 AM)
It's beautiful when she says that she should feel guilty but doesn't. It's a very sensitive movie, it feels real, personal, intimate. The actress, who I didn't know, was amazing. Her performance felt honest and intense.
-
freshy — 11 years ago(October 08, 2014 06:56 PM)
I liked the part when they run into each other just after they met. Before their relationships really starts off. They bump into each other in a corner and say hello to each other smiling, completely happy and oblivious of what was in store for them. After they greet each other politely, Alec: "I'm off to the hospital" Laura: "I'm off to the grocers'" Alec: "How exciting lives we lead" LOL! Such an innocent and sweet moment.
-
Unayok — 11 years ago(March 08, 2015 01:09 PM)
I like the shot at the end where, after being interrupted by "poor, well-meaning, irritating" Dolly Messiter, Alec has to leave the tea shop to catch his train.
You see him go through the door, and then Dolly's face immediately comes into shot obscuring the door, robbing Laura of even a lingering look at the last place she would ever see Alec again.
The camera focus switches instantaneously from the door in the distance to Dolly in the immediate foreground. Fantastic and impactful direction. -
nel501 — 10 years ago(August 24, 2015 11:58 AM)
Having watched this amazing film dozens of times, there are 2 moments that still affect me.
The first is where Stephen Lynn comes back to the flat and surprises them both, Laura makes a hasty retreat down the back stairs, Alec and Stephen have their conversation and right at the end of that scene, it cuts to Laura running in the rain, the charge of emotion and the sudden change of scene is a brilliant piece of directing.
The second is where they have decided to finish their relationship and Alec is talking to Laura has they wait for the train to leave, the scene that is generally on the DVD case and seems to depict the film. The moment the train leaves and Alec shouts "Next Thursday" laura turns back into the carriage with emotion on her face, after all these viewings I still feel that emotion Laura is feeling, which can only be down to the incredible acting of Celia Johnson and brilliant directing of David Lean.
nel -
Peterlh — 10 years ago(February 25, 2016 12:33 PM)
My favorite moment is just before, during, and after she tries to throw herself in front of the express train.
The movie builds up so you know it's coming which makes it just so much more powerful, and the way that the camera makes a smooth transaction to the most perfect use of dutch angle I have ever seen is just magnificent.
All this brilliance and I haven't even mentioned the lighting yet! -
AmyLouise — 9 years ago(June 26, 2016 09:08 PM)
For me, the moment Laura realises she's falling in love. In the tea shop, she tells Alec "You looked like a little boy" - the camera focuses on her face, and his voice becomes a little muted as a fleeting look passes over her face. A couple of seconds, but we know she's falling in love and is intensely aware of him.
-
zwot — 9 years ago(July 15, 2016 11:49 AM)
For me, the moment Laura realises she's falling in love. In the tea shop, she tells Alec "You looked like a little boy" - the camera focuses on her face, and his voice becomes a little muted as a fleeting look passes over her face. A couple of seconds, but we know she's falling in love and is intensely aware of him.
I agree. That was a magnificent bit of acting, by both of them.