Great Expectations (1989– )

Phillip Pirrip, known as Pip, meets a convict or two in a graveyard and sets into motion a series of events that lead him from a comfortable life in his brother-in-law's forge to a ... See full summary »

Stars:

Jean Simmons, John Rhys-Davies, Ray McAnally

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Jean Simmons	...	Miss Havisham (6 episodes, 1991)
John Rhys-Davies	...	Joe Gargery (6 episodes, 1991)
Ray McAnally	...	Mr. Jaggers (6 episodes, 1991)
Anthony Calf	...	Pip (6 episodes, 1991)
Kim Thomson	...	Estella (6 episodes, 1991)
Anthony Hopkins	...	Abel Magwitch (4 episodes, 1991)

Storyline

Phillip Pirrip, known as Pip, meets a convict or two in a graveyard and sets into motion a series of events that lead him from a comfortable life in his brother-in-law's forge to a mysterious inheritance and his acquaintance with the eerie Miss Havisham, her beautiful ward Estella, and the unusual lawyer Jaggers.

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Plot Keywords:

inheritance | adoption | great expectations | orphan | 19th century | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 July 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Grandes esperanzas

Filming Locations:

Chatham Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Harlech Television (HTV), Primetime Television Ltd., Tesauro Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

303 min 60 min (6 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jean Simmons who plays Miss Havisham in this version of the movie, played young Estella in the Great Expectations.

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Quotes

Pip: Out of my thoughts. You're part of my existence. Part of my self. To the last hour of my life you cannot choose but to remain part of my character. Part of the little good in me. Part of the evil. You're in every line I've ever read. Every prospect I've seen since I've been here. In the river. The sails of the ships. The marshes. The clouds. The wind. The woods. The sea. The streets. In light and darkness, you're there. The embodiment of all that's beautiful and graceful..."

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Connections

Version of Great Expectations (1917)

User Reviews

Excellent version of much filmed Dickens classic

Disneys version of Great Expectations is the longest and most complete version of the often filmed Book,and probably would have made Dickins himself proud.Attention is paid to even small details,and the entire cast does a fine job. The really stand out performances however are those of the films two big name actors (and the films greatest talents).Anthony Hopkins plays the convict Abel Magwhich,who the main character Pip meets as a boy in a grave yard and befriends,and who re-appears years late.The other really stand out performence is given by Jean Simmons as Miss Havisham,whom Pip meets soon after the grave yard incident.It is interesting to note that Simmons played Estella as a 15 or 16 year old girl in 1946.In this version she has a much more complex role of the mysterious,eerie and somewhat demented Miss Havisham:a woman of ruined and decayed beauty who has become so thin she is spectre-like in appearence.Disney has gone to considerable length to make Simmons look bad enough for the part,and at times she is unrecognizable except for her voice.At other times even the fright-mare make-up cant make her look quite bad enough.Still Jean Simmons gives the part a grace,dignity,and even a regal quality which is not there in previous versions of the charactor.Simmons version of Miss Havisham is fascinating and she dominates/steals every scene she is in.The rest of the cast also does a fine job,and though the film is more than 3 hrs. in length it is well worth the time.