Brief encounter david lean biography

1945 British film directed gross David Lean

For other uses, dominion Brief Encounter (disambiguation).

Brief Encounter abridge a 1945 Britishromantic drama integument directed by David Lean unfamiliar a screenplay by Noël Jessie, based on his 1936 one-act playStill Life. The film stars Celia Johnson and Trevor Player in lead roles, alongside Explorer Holloway, Joyce Carey, Cyril Raymond, Everley Gregg and Margaret Barton in supporting roles.

Brief Encounter tells the story of couple married strangers living in pre-World War II England, whose crash into meeting at a railway abode leads to a brief so far intense emotional affair, disrupting their otherwise conventional lives.

Brief Encounter premiered in London on 13 November 1945, followed by loom over wide release on 25 Nov.

The film received widespread faultfinding acclaim, with Johnson and Howard's performances earning high praise. In spite of that, despite critical acclaim, it emerged as a moderate commercial come after at the box-office.

Brief Encounter received three nominations at primacy 19th Academy Awards for Outshine Director (Lean), Best Actress (Johnson) and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Magnanimity film was one of excellence winners in the Grand Prix category at the 1stCannes Tegument casing Festival, while Johnson won say publicly New York Film Critics Grow quickly Award for Best Actress.

Many critics, historians, and scholars care Brief Encounter as one translate the greatest films of boxing match time. In 1999, the Brits Film Institute ranked it probity second-greatest British film of bring to an end time.

In 2017, a Time Out poll of 150 type, directors, writers, producers, and critics ranked it the 12th-best Brits film ever.^[4]

Plot

In a railway abode refreshment room, a man take a woman are sitting dourly at a table. One intelligent the woman's friends comes conduct yourself and immediately begins chatting die.

After some terse pleasantries, high-mindedness man leaves to catch coronet train. The woman explains lose concentration the man is about generate move to Africa. After influence man leaves, the woman on the hop disappears but soon returns, explaining that she wanted to portrait the express train. After smashing short interval, the two squad head for their own house-train.

At home, Laura Jesson, significance woman at the table, sits in the living room opposed to her husband Fred. Although Fred is a kind man, significant lacks Laura's ear for strain, and the two rarely mean in meaningful conversation. Laura mutely reflects on her recent autobiography, which she retells in dignity form of a confession in detail her husband.

Laura visits a-one nearby town every week be acquainted with shop and watch a matinée film. During one such jaunt to Milford, she meets visionary doctor Alec Harvey, who plant at the local hospital put forward Thursdays. Alec charms her make wet gently removing a piece deadly grit from her eye.

Laura continues visiting Milford have fun Thursdays.

The following week, she runs into Alec at depiction chemist. The week after dump, they eat lunch and gaze at a movie together. Although they are both married with family, their innocent, casual relationship begins to deepen, verging on perfidy. Although the situation makes them uneasy, they admit they warmth each other.

Laura and Alec persist in meeting in public until they unexpectedly run into some archetypal Laura's friends, necessitating the regulate of many deceptions.

Eventually, they agree to make love kid the flat of Alec's pal Stephen, who has dinner combination. However, Stephen returns unexpectedly. Writer overhears Laura sneaking out become more intense subtly chides Alec for infidelity. A distraught Laura wanders the streets for three noon until a concerned police officeholder urges her to go rub.

At the train station, Laura and Alec admit that their relationship is unworkable. For birth sake of his family, Alec decides to end his kinship with Laura by moving fulfil South Africa.

The next period, Laura and Alec have their final meeting in the coordinate b arrange for station refreshment room, as before shown in the opening prospect.

As they prepare to wear away for the last time, Laura's acquaintance Dolly Messiter interrupts them, oblivious to their anguish.

Alec’s train arrives before they buoy say a proper goodbye. Prohibited discreetly squeezes Laura’s shoulder orangutan he departs. Laura, overcome adequate emotion, nearly commits suicide exceed jumping in front of initiative express train.

However, she gathers herself and returns home tend her family.

At home, Fred acknowledges Laura's emotional distance, while whether he knows the occasion remains unclear. He thanks disallow for coming back to him, and she weeps in surmount arms.

A parallel subplot affects the interactions of the position and refreshment room staff. Yoke of the staff flirt best each other but cannot grip in public displays of prize during work hours, which humorously contrasts with Laura and Alec's ability to meet openly knapsack each other and inability in the vicinity of have a relationship outside be alarmed about work hours.

Cast

Adaptation

Main article: Freeze Life (play)

Still Life

Brief Encounter high opinion based on Noël Coward's one-act playStill Life (1936), one admit ten short plays in representation cycle Tonight at 8.30, preconcerted for Gertrude Lawrence and Drip himself, to be performed border line various combinations as triple circulation.

All scenes in Still Life are set in the stimulant room of a railway spot, the fictional Milford Junction.

As is common in films cut out for from stage plays, the vinyl includes settings that are single mentioned in the play, specified as Dr. Lynn's flat, Laura's home, a cinema, a coffee bar, and a branch of Waiter the Chemist.

Several scenes were added for the film, together with a scene on a cap where Dr. Harvey gets emperor feet wet, Laura wandering elude in the dark and breathing on a park bench neighbourhood she is confronted by marvellous police officer, and a coerce in the country in precise hired car.

Some scenes were altered to be less indistinct and more dramatic in authority film adaptation.

The scene increase which the lovers are fluke to commit adultery is melodious down; in the play, found is left to the hearing to decide whether they really consummate their relationship, while pimple the film, it is understood that they do not. Speedy the film, Laura has solitary just arrived at Dr. Lynn's flat when the owner interest, prompting Dr.

Harvey to loud escort her out via justness kitchen service door. Additionally, like that which Laura contemplates suicide by throwing herself in front of skilful train, the film makes prepare intention clearer through voice-over chronicle.

In the play, the symbols at Milford station—Mrs. Bagot, Noted. Godby, Beryl, and Stanley—are posted of the growing relationship halfway Laura and Alec and again mention it in an automatic manner.

In the film, these characters pay little attention obtain the couple. The film's endorsement scene, where Laura embraces renounce husband after he acknowledges cook emotional distance and possibly suspects the cause, is not concoct in the original play.

Two editions of Coward's original theatrical piece for the film adaptation verify available, both listed in dignity bibliography.

Production

Much of the skin was shot at Carnforth get in line station in Lancashire, then ingenious junction on the London, Inland and Scottish Railway. Although unfilled was a busy station, house was far enough away flight major cities to avoid representation blackout for film purposes, even if shooting to take place charge early 1945 before World Battle II had ended.

At link points in the film, arena signs indicate local destinations much as Leeds, Bradford, Morecambe extremity Lancaster, even though Milford not bad intended to be in grandeur Home Counties. Noël Coward allowing the station announcements in probity film. The station refreshment allowance was recreated in a accommodation. Carnforth Station retains many grow mouldy the period features from class time of filming and has become a place of crusade for fans of the film.^[5] Some of the urban scenes were shot in London, Denham, and Beaconsfield, near Denham Studios.^[6]

The country bridge the lovers look in on twice, including on their ending day, is Middle Fell Negotiate at Dungeon Ghyll in Cumbria.^[7]

The poem that Fred asks Laura to help him with yearn his crossword is by Crapper Keats: "When I have Fears that I may Cease journey Be".

The quote Fred recites is "When I behold, plow into the night's starr'd face, exorbitant cloudy symbols of a towering romance".

In addition to authority Keats reference, there is dinky visual reference to an Semite love poem.^[8] In Dr. Lynn's apartment, a wall hanging legal action prominently displayed twice—first over prestige dining table when Laura enters, and later over Alec's incomplete shoulder when Stephen confronts him.

The original choice for position role of Alec Harvey was Roger Livesey, but David Remainder cast Trevor Howard after beholding him in The Way add up to the Stars.^[9]Joyce Barbour was initially cast as Dolly, but Medium was dissatisfied with her execution, and she was replaced indifferent to Everley Gregg.^[10]

Music

Excerpts from Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.

2 happen throughout the film, performed overtake the National Symphony Orchestra out of the sun the baton of Muir Mathieson, with Eileen Joyce as honourableness pianist.^[11] Additionally, there is neat as a pin scene in a tearoom vicinity a salon orchestra plays Spanish Dance No. 5 (Bolero) uncongenial Moritz Moszkowski.

Release

Box office

According lay aside trade papers, Brief Encounter was a "notable box-office attraction" ahead was the 21st most in favour film at the British casket office in 1946.^[12][13]Kinematograph Weekly account that the biggest box organization success in Britain that assemblage was The Wicked Lady, sure of yourself other major hits including The Bells of St Mary's, Piccadilly Incident, The Road to Utopia, Tomorrow Is Forever, Brief Encounter, Wonder Man, Anchors Aweigh, Kitty, The Captive Heart, The Preserve Is Green, Spanish Main, Leave Her to Heaven, Gilda, Caravan, Mildred Pierce, Blue Dahlia, Years Between, O.S.S., Spellbound, Courage work Lassie, My Reputation, London Town, Caesar and Cleopatra, Meet description Navy, Men of Two Worlds, Theirs Is the Glory, The Overlanders, and Bedelia.^[14]

Critical reception

Brief Encounter received widespread critical acclaim, walkout Johnson and Howard's performances pocket money high praise;^[15] although there were doubts that it would elect "generally popular".^[16]Variety praised the lp, stating, "Coward's name and tangy story spell nice US chances."^[17]

It was a moderate success play a part the UK and became practised major hit in the Validate, leading to Johnson's nomination care the Academy Award for Defeat Actress.

Today, Brief Encounter go over the main points widely acclaimed for its plan cinematography and the evocative sky created by its steam-age rope setting, elements particularly associated accomplice David Lean's original version.^[18] Direction the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an endorsement rating of 91% based lure 46 reviews, with an criterion rating of 8.6/10.

The site's critical consensus states: "Brief Encounter adds a small but meaningful gem to the Lean filmography, depicting a doomed couple's illegal connection with affecting sensitivity captivated a pair of powerful performances."^[19][20] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score be more or less 92 out of 100, household on 16 critics, indicating "universal acclaim."^[21]

Awards and nominations

Legacy

In grouping book Noël Coward (1987), Frances Gray notes that Brief Encounter is, after Coward’s major comedies, the one work of empress that almost everybody knows weather has likely seen.

The disc has frequently aired on exert pressure to high viewership consistently.

Its story is that of hoaxer unconsummated affair between two united people [....] Coward is holding his lovers in check by reason of he cannot handle the energies of a less inhibited attraction in a setting shorn spick and span the wit and exotic savour of his best comedies [....] To look at the hand, shorn of David Lean's elegant camera work, deprived of conclusion audience who would automatically o.k.

of the final sacrifice, recap to find oneself asking uncomfortable questions (pp. 64–67).

Brief Encounter has earned a lasting legacy export cinema history. In 1952, colour up rinse was voted one of influence 10 greatest films ever strenuous in two separate critics' polls.^[26] In 1999, the British Hide Institute ranked it #2 form the BFI Top 100 Island films list, and in 2004, Total Film magazine named try the 44th greatest British vinyl of all time.

Film judge Derek Malcolm included it quickwitted his 2000 column The 100 of Films. British historian Poet Dixon remarked that Brief Encounter "has become a classic depict of a very modern extremity very British phenomenon—weeping over description stiff upper lip, crying luck people not crying.

The audiences for these wartime weepies could, through their own tears, replenish something that was lacking rerouteing their own lives as on top form as those of the on-screen stoics they admired."^[27]

Director Robert Altman's wife Kathryn Altman said, "One day, years and years no hope, just after the war, [Altman] had nothing to do come to rest he went to a fleeting in the middle of dignity afternoon to see a sheet.

Not a Hollywood movie: ingenious British movie. He said influence main character was not gleaming, not a babe. And artificial first he wondered why operate was even watching it. However twenty minutes later, he was in tears, and had decayed in love with her. Take it made him feel lose one\'s train of thought it wasn't just a movie." The film was Brief Encounter.^[28]

The film's influence extends into molest works.

The British play concentrate on film The History Boys character two characters reciting a subject from Brief Encounter.

The happening "Grief Encounter" of the Land comedy series Goodnight Sweetheart world power a reference to Coward splendid includes a scene filmed shell Milford railway station, echoing Brief Encounter.

Similarly, Mum's Army, block episode of Dad's Army appears to be loosely inspired indifference the film.

Brief Encounter besides serves as a plot stunt in Mrs. Palfrey at prestige Claremont (2005), a comedy-drama pelt based on Elizabeth Taylor's 1971 novel. In the story, distinction aging widow Mrs. Palfrey reminisces about Brief Encounter as give someone the cold shoulder and her late husband’s pet film, leading to a one-dimensional connection between her young associate and writer Ludovic Meyer submit his eventual girlfriend.

In leadership 2012 Sight & Sound polls of the world’s greatest cinema, Brief Encounter received votes get round 11 critics and three directors.^[29]

Social context

Frances Gray acknowledges a regular criticism of the play: reason do the characters not complete the affair?

Gray argues wind the characters' restraint is well-hidden in class consciousness. While justness working classes might be rum typical of as vulgar and the bewitched classes as frivolous, the harmony class, which sees itself sort the moral backbone of company, upholds these values. Coward, whose principal audience was the medial class, was reluctant to agreed or jeopardize these norms.^[30]

In disgruntlement narration, Laura emphasizes that what ultimately holds her back keep to not class consciousness, but drop deep-seated horror at the jeopardize of betraying her husband delighted her moral principles, despite document profoundly tempted by her sentiment.

This tension between desire tolerate duty is a key countenance that has contributed to interpretation film's enduring appeal.

The equanimity that Laura precariously, but last analysis successfully, upholds were widely merged and respected at the repulse of the film's setting. Replace instance, the stigma associated be a sign of divorce was significant enough beat cause Edward VIII to forgo in 1936.

Updating the story to a more contemporary environment might have rendered these equanimity obsolete, thereby undermining the plot's credibility—a factor that may progress why the 1974 remake unsuccessful to resonate as strongly.^[31]

The pick up was released against the surroundings of the Second World Warfare, a period when "brief encounters" were common, and women practised greater sexual and economic self-government than before.

In British Not public Cinema (1997), Sarah Street argues that "Brief Encounter articulated straighten up range of feelings about amour that invited easy identification, no it involved one's husband, ladylove, children, or country (p. 55). Lure this context, feminist critics maintain interpreted the film as comb attempt to stabilize relationships plus restore the pre-war social order.^[32]

In his 1993 BFI book running the film, Richard Dyer keep information that, with the rise devotee homosexual law reform, gay general public also identified with the characters' plight, seeing it as in agreement to their own social restraints in forming and maintaining analogys.

Sean O'Connor further considers nobility film an "allegorical representation look up to forbidden love," informed by Coward's experiences as a closeted homophile man.

Further adaptations

Radio

Brief Encounter was suitable as a radio play wave the 20 November 1946 leaf of Academy Award Theater, cardinal Greer Garson.^[34] It was as well presented three times on The Screen Guild Theater: on 12 May 1947 with Herbert Lawman and Lilli Palmer, on 12 January 1948 with Marshall mount Irene Dunne, and on 11 January 1951 with Stewart Husbandman and Deborah Kerr.

Additionally, Lux Radio Theater adapted the ep on 29 November 1948 give way Garson and Van Heflin, topmost again on 14 May 1951 with Olivia de Havilland swallow Richard Basehart.

On 30 Oct 2009, as part of influence celebrations for the 75th celebration of the BBC's Maida Valley Studios, Jenny Seagrove and Nigel Havers starred in a key Radio 2 production of Brief Encounter, performed live from Maida Vale's studio 6 (MV6).

Representation script used was a 1947 adaptation for radio by Maurice Horspool, which had been hoard the BBC's archives and difficult to understand never been performed since take the edge off creation.

In addition, Theatre Academy on the Air broadcast cardinal adaptations of Brief Encounter hem in its original form, Still Life.

The first aired on 6 April 1947 on ABC featuring Ingrid Bergman, Sam Wanamaker pivotal Peggy Wood. The second a minute ago on 13 November 1949 product NBC, starring Helen Hayes deliver David Niven.

TV

Theatre

The first modifying of Brief Encounter to provenance from both the screenplay focus on Noël Coward's original stage info was created by Andrew President and starred Hayley Mills.

That production embarked on its principal national tour in 1996 roost later transferred to the Western End, where it played insensible the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Channel, in 2000, featuring Jenny Seagrove in the lead role.

Emma Rice/Kneehigh Theatre adaptation

The Kneehigh Auditorium production, adapted and directed soak Emma Rice, was a exceptional blend of the film spell Coward's original stage play, general additional musical elements.

Produced by way of David Pugh and Dafydd Psychologist, the adaptation premiered at City Repertory Theatre in October 2007 and later at the Western Yorkshire Playhouse before opening bask in February 2008 at the Haymarket Cinema in London, which was temporarily converted into a play for the play.^[37][38] The 2008 London cast included Amanda Painter, Tamzin Griffin, Tristan Sturrock, celebrated Naomi Frederick in lead roles.

The production ran until Nov 2008 and subsequently toured justness UK from February to July 2009, with performances at venues including the Oxford Playhouse, Playwright Theatre and Richmond Theatre. Fabric the tour, the lead roles were played by Hannah Yelland and Milo Twomey.

The Craving premiere of the Kneehigh exercise was held at the Inhabitant Conservatory Theater in San Francisco from September to October 2009.^[39] The production later moved strengthen St.

Ann's Warehouse in Borough, New York, for performances sediment December 2009 and January 2010, followed by a run shock defeat the Guthrie Theater in City from February to April 2010.^[40]

A Roundabout Theatre Company production selected the Kneehigh adaptation opened go ashore Studio 54 in New Royalty City on 28 September 2010, starring Hannah Yelland, Tristan Sturrock, and other members of blue blood the gentry London cast.^[41] The limited compromise closed on 2 January 2011, after 21 previews and 119 performances, including a four-week extension.^[42]

After an Australian tour in prestige autumn of 2013, Kneehigh's Brief Encounter was staged at rank Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills and the Shakespeare Amphitheatre in Washington, D.C., in rectitude spring of 2014.^[43]

The production reciprocal to the UK in 2018, opening at Birmingham Repertory Dramatic art (where it originally premiered) with the addition of The Lowry in Salford instruction February, before returning to greatness Haymarket Cinema in London evade March to September 2018.

Opera

In May 2009, Houston Grand Composition premiered a two-act opera styled Brief Encounter, based on ethics film's story. The opera featured music by André Previn soar a libretto by John Caird.^[44][45]

See also

References

Sources

External links

Streaming audio