i don't know if its because I'm a hopeless romantic -but I have cried EVERY SINGLE TIME i have seen this film. Does that happen to everyone else? I seriously don't usually bawl my eyes out in films, but its just so tragic that they have fallen so deeply in love and have to part forever!
"Everything in this room is eatable. Even I'm eatable. But that’s called cannibalism."
I did, the first time, God I was depressed for days afterward. But I recently picked it up on Criterion and the sad scenes still got to me and I adore Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #2, but I didn't remember the hilarity of Mrs. Baggot and Beryl - also that annoying friend of hers who breezes in and interupts Alec and Laura while they're saying goodbye. I loved the spot on the train when this one kept rattling on about nothing and the camera zoomed in on her mouth. I thought that was a hilarious shot. Then Laura's thoughts, "I wish you'd stop talking...I wish you were a trusted friend...I wish you were dead...no I don't really, that's very unkind, but I wish you'd stop talking..."
The son and daughter who argue about what they're going to do on his birthday. If you watch carefully, you'll see the actress who plays the daughter look into the camera after she utters her line. It's hysterical. Yes, it's very sad and beautiful, but some scenes are rip-roaring - any time Mrs. Baggot's in it.
Are you familiar with the psychological term "blow me"?
Who doesn't cry when they see this film? The music coupled with the poignancy of the lovers' dilemma makes for a shattering viewer's experience. Appreciate your comments about some humorous touches, brendanchenowith, but I have to admit, nothing is likely to help. This movie just makes me lose it.
"We counterfeited once for your disport
Men's joy and sorrow: but our day has passed.
We pray you pardon all where we fell short--
seeing we were your servants to this last." -Kipling, "Actors"
I also have to admit that when I bought the disc, after having not seen it in many years, that I was really looking forward to a good sob. The first thing I put on was the trailer and Albert and Mrs. Baggott were shown, I didn't want to laugh, I wanted to cry - that's part of the fun of watching this, but now I go into scene selection just to hear Mrs. Baggott order Beryl to be quiet. That voice of hers just cracks me up.
I'm a Gemini - I either want big belly laughs or heaving sobs.
I'm going to tell! Oh, I am, I am going to TE-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-LLLLL!
It didn't actually bring tears to my eyes but I was definitely moved by the idea of it - the lovers parting for ever.
I also agree with what's been said in other threads - that this is love its in infancy when it's almost a 'madness' but not the real love that lasts the years. Although, perhaps this is the kind of love they could have had if they had not been parted?
However, I think the ending, with Laura essentially 'returning' to her husband definitely offers an optimistic view of their future together.
The music is spell-binding - totally makes the film for me and it would be an utterly different film without it.
[deleted]
I think that a more accurate question would be who DOESN'T cry when they watch this film?
Excepting people who need explosions and all whatnot and probably turned it off after the first five minutes.
It's difficult to not cry when seeing this film. I played the Rachmaninoff Concerto all next day after I first saw this film. I think I'm in love with Celia Johnson myself. The film is well done...the acting superb. Trevor Howard always was one of my favorite actors. Amazing how a simple subway station can be so transformed.
share[deleted]
I cried at the very end.
X
www.X-Evolutionist.com
http://X-Evolutionist.spaces.live.com
[deleted]
I always want to cry for Fred. I mean to say - he always helps but has missed all the passion. Hardly fair. And what about the kids? 'My Birthday's in June and there are no pantomimes in June.' A wonderful line.
A trully great film - but a creature of it's time and a subtext for how homosexuality was viewed before the liberating social legislation of the sixties.
Celia Johnson was Ian Fleming's sister-in-law. She was married to his brother - Peter.
It's heartbreaking. I always cry, or at least, want to. Then I tend to want to have a devestatingly romantic and tragic affair. Life was so proper in the sixties, couldn't imagine a film of this simplistic emotional depth today. A true classic
shareI didn't cry but was touched at the very end when her husband simply says "Thanks you for coming back to me"...
shareOh, I most definately cried. how could you not? The final train station scene. Incredibly moving.
Time rushes byshare
Love rushes by
Life rushes by
But the Red Shoes stay on
I have seen this film twice and I cried both times. I will add this film to my DVD collection one of these days...
"Look after yourself,seeing that's what you're best at!"
Get the Criterion Collection DVD. I'm not a cineaste snob, but seriously,
Criterion's edition are crammed with so many stuff-you-really-want (and
can watch more than once) bonus features they have completely spoiled
me for ordinary discs.
I felt hardly any emotion at all. I guess I felt bad for Fred, but that was about it. It may be because I found Alec to be extremely uncharasmatic.
shareI was quite taken by the comment made by xerxes legend about feeling bad for Fred, and must agree. I do find that Alec has charisma, and of course his parting scene with Laura is very touching. I imagine that most viewers who cry do so because of sadness over these lovers, Laura and Alec, nobly bidding farewell forever.
However, many of my sympathies lie with Fred. He is basically a good husband and father, maybe not quite attentive enough to this wife, as can often happen with long married spouses, but he's kind, caring, and even displays a sense of humour. He may not be dashing, exciting, and charismatic but he's likeable!
It seems obvious at the end that Fred has come to realize his wife's unhappiness and may well suspect some relationship with another man, or emotional pining at least on her part. He isn't likely to ever discuss it with Laura, IMO, but surely he would feel hurt. It would be a blow to his own esteem and sense of security in the marriage, albeit he's relieved she has come back to him. It would appear that for some time Laura may not be emotionally "there" with him and the children as she will be grieving in a sense the loss of Alec. Therefore Fred is probably going to have to "carry" this marriage for awhile, subtly trying to find ways to support Laura and restore her happiness, while atempting to maintain his own trust in her.
If I were to cry during this movie, it would be because I find Fred's kindness to Laura at the end so touching and because he is truly her best friend that she can always count on.
Very much so - I highly agree with your sentiments as expressed. I found the movie wonderfully tragic, some memorable quotes coming to mind include those when Trevor Howard expresses to Celia Johnson again and again very directly that he loves her, he loves her so very much, and Celia Johnson's equally passionate but equally hesitant responses. But the phrase that touched me most and even now tears come to my eyes when I think of it is Fred's statement at the end of the movie, "Thank you for returning back to me" and Celia throwing herself into his arms sobbing - it seems very much the statement of a loving and understanding husband who only wants to forgive his wife and move on.
And Celia Johnson's response was, I'd like to think, that of a wife who realises that no matter what happens and how depressed she is by Trevor Howard's departure, she will always have and appreciate the existence of, the support and love of her husband, which I think makes this movie extra special - a nice, if not completely happy, ending all round.
Hi roghache. This is very well said. I know its 6 years since you posted it, but even so. :)
You have captured exactly how I feel about the movie, and why I love it. Its Fred. What a dear, sweet, gentle, caring man. And as you say, the best friend she will ever have. And in the end I think even she realises this.
I dont think there are any 'bad' people in this movie. Just flawed people who are the victims of their emotions - and of fate.
So, there are no 'villains' in BE. But there is only one hero. ;)
_____________
"Maybe I should go alone"
- Quint, Jaws.
I just got it in the Rank boxset.
Time rushes byshare
Love rushes by
Life rushes by
But the Red Shoes stay on
I didn't cry but I found this movie sad and similar to Bridges of Madison County.
The sad thing is that a woman would consider a brief contact with a stranger the "most precious moments of her life." Anyone can look good for a few afternoons. If someone finds their daily life unsatisfying they should focus on fixing that, and not delude themselves that they fell in love with the perfect person and that person would have made their life great if only they didn't leave.
I don't know that I cry (I may, for all I know), but I can and gladly will say this: this is probably one of the two or three most romantic films of all time.
And when I say I "romantic", I mean it in the purest, most genuine sense of the word. It is gut-rippingly realistic (yes, it is), it doesn't have gorgeous settings and glamorous people, it doesn't have swahsbucklery and swooning... What it does have is true heroism of the very "ordinary" - and heartbreaking - kind. Which is precisely what makes it so romantic.
[deleted]
[deleted]
I've never cried watching a movie, but this film did bring tears to my eyes. Particularly in the scene where the pair are in the café and they are interrupted by Laura's annoying friend. The first time that you see the scene from the perspective of the friend it really doesn't seem that bad moving, but the second time once you've seen all that has lead to that point and the desperation and unhappiness on Laura's face, you really feel for her and Dr Harvey. There aren't that many films when I've been very emotionally attached to the characters, but this is one of them.
Hector Barbossa; now that's a pirate!
BlueGreen
My sentiments exactly. But I definitely find tears rolling down my cheeks at the end. She does what she knows is right. She loves her life with Fred, and Fred loves her all the more because she chose to live her life with him.
maperette
Every single time. I had to buy the video, too. [SPOILER FOLLOWS]
The simplicity of the characters and the honesty of her feelings.... She reveals, "I meant to [jump in front of the train]. I wish I could say I didn't because of Fred and the children, but no. Just did not want to feel anything." I think that anyone who has had a great love and lost it can definitely relate to the pain...
David Lean is my favorite director. Favorite movie, Great Expectations, of course!
maperette
[deleted]