Supelice Dreadfully Boring

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Cheryl A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

leethomas-11621 Brief in name and length. Though of its era, a perfect little film. Direction and acting, lighting, camerawork, script and score all combine to make this a classic. Despite its brevity the film seamlessly includes three romances as well as young Beryl's who works at the refreshment room with Myrtle. All balance each other and are meant to be contrasted.

frankwiener First of all, I love Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto Number 2 and the sight of express trains rolling through empty stations in 1945, so what could possibly go wrong here? Unfortunately, at some point during this viewing, I realized that my interest in the relationship of the two lead characters, played by Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard, two very capable actors, could not be sustained for very long. Caution, dear reader, because I am not much of a love story fan, but at least this one featured Rachmaninoff's beautiful music throughout and those speeding express trains.Just when the action was becoming rather dull, enter Joyce Carey and Stanley Holloway as two very amusing train station employees. Do you remember Stanley as Alfred P. Doolittle, Eliza's colorful father, in "My Fair Lady", who knocked our socks off during his unforgettable "Get Me to the Church on Time"? I've got to see more movies with this guy!The best part was that whenever I stream "tcm on demand", I can skip the likes of Alec Baldwin and that bearded wonder, Grandpa Dave Letterman, pontificating so self importantly about classic motion pictures, a subject in which they both somehow believe they have expertise. Really now.

lynpalmer1 I just don't get the raves for this movie. Maybe from a technical or acting viewpoint it might be good but the story is ridiculous. True love is formed by shared experiences, deep bonds and understanding of the other person. This supposed great love is formed over a few hours of brief, superficial, polite, flirtatious banter. Anything else is lust, which I also can't fathom as neither one is particularly attractive, physically or emotionally. The scene in the pub between the owner and the 2 men is pointless. The scene where she almost commits suicide but doesn't and then admits no thoughts of her children or husband made her stop is weird. I don't have children but from my understanding that is certainly not typical of mothers. The most baffling aspect is why she would go home and confess all this to her husband, which is the epitome of cruel and selfish behaviour. No wait, the most baffling aspect is probably her husbands reaction. Many people state the music it what makes this movie so good. Go by the soundtrack. The film itself is WAY over-hyped.

Python Hyena Brief Encounter (1945): Dir: David Lean / Cast: Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Cyril Raymond, Everley Gregg, Valentine Dyall: Dark romance that regards that peak moment when sin emerges and the gradual path to its growth. Celia Johnson plays Laura Jesson, a house wife who is dissatisfied with her marriage. Trevor Howard plays doctor Alec Harvey whom she encounters at a coffee shop while awaiting her train. She is transfixed by his charms after he assists her in dealing with a speck in her eye, and soon they are off to the movies. A romance blossoms and she soon becomes paranoid to the thoughts of those around her and the fear of being found out. Cyril Howard plays her husband who is supportive in his role as husband and father but his routines of cross-word puzzles and such lead Laura to boredom. There is a host of colourful supporting characters including Everley Gregg as Laura's very talkative friend. Valentine Dyall plays a doctor acquaintance of Alec's who learns of the forbidden romance and makes his opinion known. Directed by David Lean with a clever screenplay that is insightful despite being, at times, corny. It contains the so-called innocence and passion of sin that eventually catches up with us and turns our brief encounter into a lifetime mistake. That is, unless those whom can be damaged most reverse the pain with understanding. Score: 9 / 10