Great Expectations (1946) 8.0
A humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor. Director:David Lean |
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Great Expectations (1946) 8.0
A humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor. Director:David Lean |
|
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| John Mills | ... | ||
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Tony Wager | ... |
Young Pip
(as Anthony Wager)
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| Valerie Hobson | ... | ||
| Jean Simmons | ... | ||
| Bernard Miles | ... | ||
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Francis L. Sullivan | ... | |
| Finlay Currie | ... | ||
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Martita Hunt | ... | |
| Alec Guinness | ... | ||
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Ivor Barnard | ... | |
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Freda Jackson | ... |
Mrs.Joe
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Eileen Erskine | ... | |
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George Hayes | ... |
Convict
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Hay Petrie | ... | |
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John Forrest | ... | |
Pip, a good-natured, gullible young orphan, lives with kind blacksmith Joe Gargery and his bossy, abusive wife 'Mrs. Joe'. When the boy finds two hidden escaped galley convicts, he obeys under -probably unnecessary- threat of a horrible death to bring the criminals food he must steal at peril of more caning from the battle-ax. Just when Pip fears to get it really good while they have guests, a soldier comes for Joe who takes Pip along as assistant to work on the chains of escaped galley-convicts, who are soon caught. The better-natured one takes the blame for the stolen food. Later Pip is invited to became the playmate of Estelle, the equally arrogant adoptive daughter of gloomy, filthy rich Miss Havisham at her estate, who actually has 'permission' to break the kind kid's heart; being the only pretty girl he ever saw, she wins his heart forever, even after a mysterious benefactor pays trough a lawyer for his education and a rich allowance, so he can become a snob in London, by now '... Written by KGF Vissers
The Dickens novel is given classic treatment in David Lean's "Great Expectations". The opening scene is so atmospheric it sets the tone for the convoluted story to follow. The earlier scenes with young Pip are the most enjoyable for me--especially those involving Estella (Jean Simmons) and Miss Havisham (Martita Hunt).
Brilliant performances from all concerned. John Mills is wholly satisfying as the adult Pip and Valerie Hobson as the adult Estella--but it is Martita Hunt's Miss Havisham, sitting among the ruined finery of a wedding that never took place, everything exactly the way it was on that fateful day--and waging war on men ever since--that lingers in the memory.
Some of the best black and white photography seen until that time and an absorbing story with twists and surprises that have logical explanations. Compares favorably with the other great British film, "Oliver Twist" and, by all means, recommended viewing.
Not only worthy of its Best Picture nomination, it should have won over "Gentleman's Agreement" which now seems preachy and artificial.