Brief Encounter

Lew Grade strikes again as he brings star power together for this television remake of David Lean's classic.

This modern updating has Dr Alec Harvey (Richard Burton) meeting housewife Anna Jesson (Sophia Loren) after she gets some grit in her eye.

Both are trapped in mundane marriages, just pottering along. Harvey and Jesson find a spark, maybe destined to be soulmates.

As Anna works part time at a Citizens Advice Bureau. They start to regularly meet then both go in opposite directions on the train.

Is their growing relationship enough for both of them to walk out on their respective families.

Loren is too glamorous to be an ordinary housewife. Burton at least relishes a chance to be gentle and romantic.

The movie does not work, it is too flat and dull. I think the Lean version was of its time and works in that respect.

This movie reminded me of Falling in Love, starring Meryl Streep and Robert DeNiro in 1984, since both plots involve two married people falling in love when they meet during their daily train ride to work. In both movies, the affair is built on companionship rather than sex, but when I looked it up to find out if Falling in Love was a remake of Brief Encounter, the director and screenwriter specifically stated that their film wasn't a remake. I suppose in Hollywood, you can get away with something like that, but in my opinion, the original deserved a nod and credit as such. Also, this version is itself a remake of the 1945 Brief Encounter, but at least it gives credit to the Noel Coward play both films were based on.

Brief Encounter stars Richard Burton and Sophia Loren, but for some unknown reason, there isn't much chemistry between the two. And it's Sophia Loren—are we really supposed to believe Richard Burton is only interested in her personality? He's awkward and anxious at best, and she seems utterly disinterested in him, so the overall story doesn't really work. I'd recommend watching the 1984 version instead; it's quite cute.

Remakes (and sequels) have been a staple of Cinema from the beginning of the media. It is pretty much a hit or miss venture though. If you take what's good of the original and build upon it and update key features too current standards, you can have a success. Note, such films like THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1924/1940) or KING KONG (1933/2005) succeeded in their attempts. Others like KING KONG (1976) fail, miserably.

BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945) is the template for this film. It is as perfect as could be made on such a subject and we rate it IMDb**********Ten. The story is simple, Love, innocently found by accident and tragically lost. Why, it just happened for the two (2) principals involved at the wrong time. These are portrayed in a convincing and sensitive manner by TREVOR HOWARD and CECILIA JOHNSON. Neither are conventionally leading Star material, but quality Character Actors. For the details watch the film.

Now what went wrong? A T.V. Movie, remade practically scene for scene with name actors RICHARD BURTON and SOPHIA LOREN should have at least scored IMDb******Six. Both actors though appear disinterested, just showing up to punch their time-clocks and pick up their checks. Neither are involved with their characters or with each other. You do not believe they are in Love or when they finally separate it is any great loss to either of them. That should not be and that's why it fails in its intent. Sometimes it is just better to leave things alone.

I only saw this because I fancied watching a Richard Burton film, and I wish I had watched Night of The Iguana or The Sandpiper etc. It was ok, but it lacked the desperate longing of Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson that anyone who has ever been in love knows only too well. My eyes were completely dry which they never are when watching the original. Hey ho, Ive seen it now. I don't think it works in a more modern setting, albeit the 1970s, as it loses something fundemental. Sophia Loren is of course beautiful and Burton's performance is for once quite understated and his voice as gorgeous as ever. My overall view is it was an unnecessary remake of a beautiful original.

Not because it's so bad, as many reviewers would have you believe. We should not compare with David Lean's masterpiece. That was a romance. It sweeps us along with period charm, superb cinematography and Rachmaninov's gushing music. This is altogether different. We are disturbed and embarrassed because that's what the "sordid affair" is! We just want the two "lovers" to stop and we hate Dr. Harvey for his selfishness. The goings on of ordinary life - the excellent soundtrack conveys this - is a jarring accompaniment and distraction. We just want the pair to blend back into it and return to their day jobs and, in the case of Anna/Laura, her family. I was glad when it was all over. Good job!