Films Brief Encounter

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Brief Encounter poster

Film · 1945

Brief Encounter

Directed by David Lean · starring Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard and Stanley Holloway

  • 1 h 26 min
  • Drama · Romance
  • UK
  • Released in the UK 25 November 1945
  • 7.2 Users4 votes
Watch trailer Where to watch · from £3.49 Rate it

Synopsis

Director David Lean known for films such as 'Lawrence of Arabia', 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' and 'Doctor Zhivago', directs this romantic drama based on a play of the versatile Noël Peirce Coward. The story tells the behind the 'Brief Encounter' of a doctor (Trevor Howard) with a married woman that he meets on a train station. Celia Johnson plays the better half of the doctor, in this story of love so powerful that even his secondary characters stole hearts. Like the ones of the director Billy Wilder and screenwriter IAL Diamond who were inspired by a friend who helps the couple meet in secret to create the plot of his famous film 'The Apartment'. In 'Brief Encounter' also stars Stanley Holloway and Joyce Carey.

Where to watch Brief Encounter

All the options

Available now in the UK:

Availability checked on 8 November 2026.

The essentials

Runtime
86 min1 hour and 26 minutes
Budget
$1m
How long is Brief Encounter?
1 hour and 26 minutes (86 minutes).
When was Brief Encounter released in the UK?
It was released in the UK on 25 November 1945.
Who directed Brief Encounter?
David Lean.
Who is in Brief Encounter?
It stars Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway and Joyce Carey.
Where can I watch Brief Encounter?
In the UK it is available to buy on Prime Video.
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Cast

Full cast (9)
Director
David Lean
Writers
David Lean, Ronald Neame
Producers
Ronald Neame

Videos and trailers

See the video
'Brief Encounter' trailer 2:0121 October 2015

Reviews

7.2 4 votes

Soundtrack

All 4 songs
  1. Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2.Played, Eileen Joyce, with, The National Symphony Orchestra, Conducted Spotify
  2. March MilitaireJames Whitebread on Wurlitzer organ at the Metropole Cinema, Mimed by the organist at the Palladium Spotify
  3. BoleroPlayed the small orchestra in the Kardomah Café Spotify
  4. Let the Great Big World Keep TurningNat Ayer, Song played the barrel organ

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