Brief Encounter with its dark, wartime stations. The steam train flying through at speed covering silhouetted buildings with smoke, and the roar of wheels on metal and the way the station shakes as it passes.

Then there is the station itself with its quirky personnel, and the tearoom where the “sugar is in the spoon” and the Banbury buns that get spilt on the floor, all that and the main story line itself backed by Racmaninov’s (sic?) 2nd piano concerto. High drama that is always thrilling, but now I all but know the script and the action scene for scene.

However, the comment about neurotic women reflects the period. I think Laura shows a remarkable strength of character to split from a man she clearly loves to “do the decent thing” and return to her husband and children. There is no suggestion that she was some kind of whore at all.

I also love that the film was made in black and white. It just adds to the dramatic atmosphere.

It’s so long since that first viewing that I would love to remember what it was like to watch it for the very first time.