Woman gets a piece of grit in her eye and a doctor whips out his (whoops, no missus, this movie's not like that at all!) hankie to help get it out. Thus begins a passionate, but unconsumatable, love affair in Milford train station and its environs.

Celia Johnson is utter priceless perfection as a love wrought middle aged woman who finds passion with her doctor friend (played by Trevor Howard). They go to the theater together and the cinema but, on borrowing a friend's room for sex, they are disturbed and it looks as if the affair is to end 'all of a sudden'...

"Celia Johnson could not be more perfect. She has got that bunny rabbit caught in the headlights look down to a tee. Marvelous."

"Always high up in any UK based best movie of all time list. Deservingly so."

"My only objection to this movie was that I saw two moments of 'eye wander' - once by the daughter in bed and one in the cheeky chappie train inspector."

"Trevor Howard could not have been more of a charm."

"Boots the chemists has a library in it..? Now that's service!"

"Rarely has such dialogue been handled with such tonguey aplomb!

The doctor gets a job in Africa so the affair must end. Their farewell is spoiled by an annoying old woman. They say good-bye forever with him putting his hand on her shoulder... She runs out to kill herself, but doesn't. They all live miserably ever after.

Stunning! Stupendous! Perfection (apart from the odd eye looking off screen)! Apart from the plummy accents, the performances are truly stunning. Celia Johnson is truly amazing in this movie, and yes, folks, people do still talk like this in places in England today!

The movie combines music hall shtick (the love affair between the guard and the owner of the cafe is comic perfection) with a deeply passionate, unconsummated, love affair. Timed perfectly, acted stunningly, both a piece of social commentary and a cursory swipe at loneliness in a secure family environment. Take that!

The movie is a time piece, and so holds up well as time progresses. A rare smoke filled joy.

Milky tea, with Banbury cakes scraped straight off the floor.

In the totally infatuated position for polite gentle girls.

There is no licky lust here at all, although one or two passionate kisses do slip through. The affair is not consummated.

The bit where she says good-bye to the doctor on the train (when he has just failed to turn up for their second date) is sheer movie poetry. Perfection.

This was the problem we had with watching this movie the first time. It was far too plummy-accented for our ears. But then we grew up, got over it, watched it all the way through and were truly in awe.

The sheer hopelessness of the love affair is its sheer beauty. (Yes, we are welling up even now. Booooo... hoooooooo....)

This is a middle - to - old aged persons movie, and a movie students essential viewing. (whyohwhyohwhyho.. boooo hoo...)

Even plummy accented English folk can fall passionately in love.

23 minutes (including a glass of brandy for 10 pence (15c (USA)).

A small serving of fresh fish.

Now, you won't be watching this movie if you intended to watch something like 9 1/2weeks, and if you only go to the movies to see those big tonguey kisses, then this movie is not for you.

However, the sheer understated passion in this movie is truly awesome. That old devil called love lives here.

Pure love. An amazing movie. Celia Johnson is sheer perfection. Can on-screen passion with all your clothes on be better than this? We don't think so...

Unmissable, but only for black and white movie buffs.

April 8 , 2003