Great Expectations (TV 1999)

Young Pip is expected to become a blacksmith, but, hating the soot and smoke, he secretly dreams of becoming a gentleman. When he meets the mysterious Miss Havisham and her haughty niece ... See full summary »

Director:

Julian Jarrold

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel), Tony Marchant

Stars:

Ioan Gruffudd, Justine Waddell, Charlotte Rampling

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Ioan Gruffudd	...	Pip
Justine Waddell	...	Estella
Charlotte Rampling	...	Miss Havisham
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Laura Aikman	...	Young Biddy
Nicholas Blane	...	Wopsle
Selina Cadell	...	Sarah Pocket
Jo Cameron Brown	...	Miss Skiffins
Emma Cunniffe	...	Biddy
Tony Curran	...	Orlick
Laurence Dobiesz	...	Young Herbert
Leo Dolan	...	Sheriff's Officer
Sarah Durham	...	Maid
Michael Eaves	...	Police Officer
Daniel Evans	...	Herbert Pocket
Gemma Gregory	...	Young Estella

Storyline

Young Pip is expected to become a blacksmith, but, hating the soot and smoke, he secretly dreams of becoming a gentleman. When he meets the mysterious Miss Havisham and her haughty niece Estella, Pip is confident that his dream is to come true.

---

Plot Keywords:

blacksmith | rags to riches | lawyer | victorian era | charles dickens | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Official Sites:

PBS [us]

Country:

UK

Language:

English Greek

Release Date:

9 May 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Grandes Esperanças

Filming Locations:

Oakham, Rutland, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

168 min 168 min (Ontario)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Pip: It seems that these past few years I have been harbouring an illusion. More than one, in fact... And you humoured them. You led me on...
Miss Havisham: Yes, I let you go on.
Pip: Was that kind?
Miss Havisham: Who am I, for God's sake, that I should be kind?

---

Connections

Version of Great Expectations (1989)

User Reviews

Stunning

This absorbing adaptation is a pleasure to watch. Inevitably some of the nuances of the novel, such as the turning of Pip from his roots, are made abrupt in this three hour adaptation. The acting is superb and not overly mannered. Ian McDiarmid makes a complex Jaggers, and Charlotte Rampling is ravishing and vulnerable as Miss Havisham. There are fine performances from familiar actors as Joe and as Abel as well. Ioan Gruffudd is a stunning Pip. An ideal romantic hero, as we have already seen in the Hornblower series, he is physically stunning and manages to act as well. (For my liking a bit more smoldering wouldn't go amiss.) I enjoyed his reading of Latin to Abel with a Welsh accent!