Other reviewers have noted the differences in plot, setting and circumstance between the original 1945 film and this 1974 TV remake of "Brief Encounter." I agree that the circumstances are so different that it's impossible to change the situation of the encounter and make it work. For instance, this rendition struck me rather clearly as the story of an unhappy and unsatisfied middle-aged man putting the make on a beautiful woman he meets. Richard Burton's character, Alec Harvey, is having what today is called a man's midlife crisis. But there's no such sign of unhappiness or uneasiness in Sophia Loren's Anna Jesson. It's almost laughable that Alec declares that they love each other after just a couple of meetings when she shows no sign of anything more than interest in him.
So, this isn't anything like the original play and movie set in wartime England. But perhaps the producer, Carlo Ponti, and/or the director and writers intended such a different situation in a more modern setting. Suppose they wanted the film to be about an encounter in which one person is clearly "on the make," while this other is not, but instead is confronted with the temptations the encounter presents. Then I can see this movie develop as it did. For it clearly shows Anna's struggles after a time. She loves her husband and family, and wouldn't hurt them or leave them for anything in the world. On the other hand, the allure of a forbidden romance with an attractive and persuasive man like Alec leads to her confusion. The film shows this struggle with temptation quite well, I think. But, whether that was an intended redirection of the story, I don't know.
Indeed, some of Anna's lines lead one to believe that that may have been the intent of this film's makers all along. If that is the case, I think they might better have changed the name to divert as much direct comparison that was sure to find many flaws. So, here are some telltale lines from Anna that point in this direction.
"Loving each other isn't enough. Other things matter decency, self- respect."
"It all seemed so innocent to start with. Meeting by the cathedral. Having lunch. It was so innocent. It couldn't be dirty or furtive. It was like a dream of love. Well, we know the answer now. It is degrading."
Because this film doesn't have the circumstances of the original, it moves very slowly, as others have noted. Some said they found it boring. It didn't quite seem that way to me, because I was interested in seeing how Anna dealt with the conflicting thoughts and temptations. From that standpoint, I like the way the film ended.
But, as others have noted, there isn't much more to this remake. And it can't hold a candle to the quality, plot, direction and story of the original film that starred Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson. Still, this film is worth a watch for movie buffs to see two big box office draws of the past in a calmer and more mature setting in later life – and beyond the hay days of their stardom.
So, this isn't anything like the original play and movie set in wartime England. But perhaps the producer, Carlo Ponti, and/or the director and writers intended such a different situation in a more modern setting. Suppose they wanted the film to be about an encounter in which one person is clearly "on the make," while this other is not, but instead is confronted with the temptations the encounter presents. Then I can see this movie develop as it did. For it clearly shows Anna's struggles after a time. She loves her husband and family, and wouldn't hurt them or leave them for anything in the world. On the other hand, the allure of a forbidden romance with an attractive and persuasive man like Alec leads to her confusion. The film shows this struggle with temptation quite well, I think. But, whether that was an intended redirection of the story, I don't know.
Indeed, some of Anna's lines lead one to believe that that may have been the intent of this film's makers all along. If that is the case, I think they might better have changed the name to divert as much direct comparison that was sure to find many flaws. So, here are some telltale lines from Anna that point in this direction.
"Loving each other isn't enough. Other things matter decency, self- respect."
"It all seemed so innocent to start with. Meeting by the cathedral. Having lunch. It was so innocent. It couldn't be dirty or furtive. It was like a dream of love. Well, we know the answer now. It is degrading."
Because this film doesn't have the circumstances of the original, it moves very slowly, as others have noted. Some said they found it boring. It didn't quite seem that way to me, because I was interested in seeing how Anna dealt with the conflicting thoughts and temptations. From that standpoint, I like the way the film ended.
But, as others have noted, there isn't much more to this remake. And it can't hold a candle to the quality, plot, direction and story of the original film that starred Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson. Still, this film is worth a watch for movie buffs to see two big box office draws of the past in a calmer and more mature setting in later life – and beyond the hay days of their stardom.