This year marks the eightieth anniversary of one of the greatest romantic films ever made. SPENCER VIGNES looks back at its enduring appeal and the wartime snags it overcame to get made

It remains one of the most popular, evocative and enduring films ever made ­in the UK. Set in and around the fictional Milford Junction, the plot tells the story of two married strangers who meet by chance in a railway station café and fall helplessly ­in love.

There’s no nudity, no sex scenes and no consummation of the relationship, which somehow only adds to its charm. Instead we get 86 minutes of middle-class English reserve, cut-glass accents and repressed ardour. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

The film is, of course, Brief Encounter starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard, made during the

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