It’s a tremendous film. The scene where CPO Hardy finds out about his wife is very affecting. Sometimes seems that Britain’s view of how we used to be is based on Noel Coward’s version. This Happy Breed was another.
Dilys Powell’s contemporary review of Brief Encounter said the audience were shouting - Come on. Is he ever going to give her one?
Suggesting it was an idealised view of Britain even then.

Dont forget, Above Us The Waves, The Cruel Sea, The Longest Day, Bridge To Far.

It seems to me the 'Brits' really knew how to make a damm good war film & not distort the truth, unlike our cousins across the pond.

This operation, will make the 'Charge Of The Light Brigade' seem like a simple military exercise.

I'm sure some film student has done a comparison between wartime movies in Britain and America.

My take is that British movies often had class distinctions so stories would include upper / middle class authority figures and your cheerful cockney "strewth, cor blimey guvnor" types. British movies didn't shy away from the reality of death and self sacrifice and the overall theme is one of we're all in this together be it commoner or posh. Quite socialist and gritty in their outlook predating those Northern dramas of the fifties and sixties.

America is a country founded on individual liberty so unsurprisingly this is the key motif in there propaganda films. "One GI John Wayne is worth twenty dirty stinking ...."" There soldiers are superheroes who buck authority and the enemy are portrayed as mindless and soulless automatons.

One more point

Blimey I only put my feelings about this country.
Now we've got a Barry norman thread

Proving the HOL, still is working normally & without a slanging match in sight. Anyhoo, what films of the genre we are discussing do you enjoy?

This operation, will make the 'Charge Of The Light Brigade' seem like a simple military exercise.

An old friend of mine was in "A Bridge Too Far". Speaking role too! He said two words to his sergeant.

As he is now the executive director of one of the longest running soaps on TV it just proves every journey needs a first step.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.