Great Expectations (1946)

Director:

David Lean

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel) and
Anthony Havelock-Allan (adaptation)

Release Date:

26 December 1946 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

From the Vivid Pages of Charles Dickens' Masterpiece !

Plot:

A humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor.

Plot Keywords:

Benefactor | Orphan | Lawyer | Caning | Snob

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 nominations

Cast

John Mills	...	Pip
Tony Wager	...	Young Pip (as Anthony Wager)
Valerie Hobson	...	Estella
Jean Simmons	...	Young Estella
Bernard Miles	...	Joe Gargery
Francis L. Sullivan	...	Mr. Jaggers
Finlay Currie	...	Abel Magwitch
Martita Hunt	...	Miss Havisham
Alec Guinness	...	Herbert Pocket
Ivor Barnard	...	Mr. Wemmick
Freda Jackson	...	Mrs. Joe Gargery
Eileen Erskine	...	Biddy
George Hayes	...	Convict
Hay Petrie	...	Uncle Pumblechook
John Forrest	...	The Pale Young Gentleman

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | Germany:16 | Sweden:15 | South Korea:15 (2003) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | UK:PG (re-release)

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Cineguild

Trivia:

Guy Green replaced Robert Krasker as cinematographer on this film. David Lean and Ronald Neame were not satisfied with Krasker's studio recreation of the marshes in the opening scenes.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Early in the movie, when Mrs. Joe is beating the young Pip, she is clearly not touching him, just swinging the switch up and down behind him.

Quotes:

Joe Gargery: Pip! A young gentleman of great expectations.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in License to Wed (2007)

Never read the book, loved the film....

I came to watch this film with no knowledge of the book, having never read it and only the vaguest knowledge of a couple of the characters - Magwitch the escaped convict and the jilted Miss Haversham. I had absolutely no idea how events would turn out or what would happen to the characters involved. Good for me - no baggage!!

Taken, then, in its own right I can say that I was quite staggered at the overall quality of this film in every respect and from the very opening shots: The acting, cinematography, costumes, sets, lighting, effects etc. etc. were all perfect and gave no hint of the film's vintage. Surprise surprise (or maybe no surprise), the storyline was quite superb - the ripe 'Dickensian' dialogue was a pleasure to hear and the plot was intelligent and interesting while maintaining a steady pace throughout.

All in all, a very pleasant experience for me and I'm glad it eventually found its way onto my radar!

So - a timeless masterpiece in my opinion and well worth watching by anyone looking for a break from modern CGI-laden disaster/action movies or who do not want to see yet another instance of the Americans saving the world from extra-terrestrial menace.

Nine out of ten without a moment's hesitation....