Principal cast
Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway, Joyce Carey and Cyril Raymond
Film 280 of 498 on the Screen Path
Brief Encounter
A story of the most precious moments in a woman's life!
About the film
Brief Encounter at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1945 film at stop 280 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
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.
Key craft credits
Robert Krasker (director of photography), Jack Harris (editor), Noël Coward (screenplay) and Lawrence P. Williams (art direction)
- Director
- David Lean
- Release
- 1945-11-24
- Runtime
- 86 minutes
- Genres
- Drama and Romance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Quiz
- 50 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 50 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
50 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Celia JohnsonCharacter: Laura Jesson
- Trevor HowardCharacter: Dr. Alec Harvey
- Stanley HollowayCharacter: Albert Godby
- Joyce CareyCharacter: Myrtle Bagot
- Cyril RaymondCharacter: Fred Jesson
- Everley GreggCharacter: Dolly Messiter
- Marjorie MarsCharacter: Mary Norton
- Margaret BartonCharacter: Tea Room Assistant Beryl Walters
- Wilfred BabbageCharacter: Policeman at War Memorial (uncredited)
- Alfie BassCharacter: Waiter at the Royal (uncredited)
- Wallace BoscoCharacter: Doctor After Bobbie's Accident (uncredited)
- Sydney BromleyCharacter: Johnnie, the Second Soldier (uncredited)
Full crew
Full crew
- David LeanCredits: Director, Additional Writing
- Anthony Havelock-AllanCredits: Producer, Additional Writing
- Robert KraskerCredits: Director of Photography
- Jack HarrisCredits: Editor
- Noël CowardCredits: Producer, Theatre Play, Screenplay
- Ronald NeameCredits: Producer, Additional Writing
- Harry MillerCredits: Sound Editor
- Lawrence P. WilliamsCredits: Art Direction
- Winston RyderCredits: Assistant Editor
- Charles StaffellCredits: Visual Effects
- George PollockCredits: Assistant Director
- Stanley LambourneCredits: Sound Recordist
- Desmond DewCredits: Sound Recordist
- Margery SaundersCredits: Associate Editor
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.