I had wanted to see this David Lean film for years, having been a huge fan of his 1948 production of Oliver Twist. I was very taken with the opening ten minutes... gorgeous B&W cinematography of bleak landscapes and a very stark graveyard. The young actor portraying Pip captures all the fear and surprise of the situation. Finley Currie gives one of the best performances as Magwich: brutal and threatening in the opening scenes, but transformed into a loving father by the end. Jean Simmons gives perhaps the strongest performance of the film as the selfish, often cruel and arrogant Estella. This was her first film appearance and she is unforgettable. Martita Hunt is the definitive jilted-at-the-altar Miss Havisham, not the caricature other actresses have created. She is not overtly cruel, perhaps even capable of love - however well hidden it may be - but definitely not sane.
Now we come to the problems with this movie: the casting of adult Pip and adult Estella. There is definitely a jolt when young Pip is suddenly a 20 yr old Pip... but he's portrayed by 38 yr old John Mills, looking every one of his years. But he's a great actor and almost convinces us of the character's youth, but it took me 45 minutes to fully accept him. We have a reaction almost as jolting when we see Estella, now a young woman. Valerie Hobson looks quite different from Jean Simmons, and not as beautiful. We imagined what Estella would look look like at 22 or 23 but for me Hobson isn't it. Beyond that her speaking voice and delivery are too different from Simmons. Some have speculated that Simmons could have also played the adult Estella, but - uh - big problem: John Mills would have looked even older seeing the two of them paired. So we can only fantasize about these casting questions.
Other performances are very fine, especially Frances L. Sullivan in the pivotal role of Mr Jaggers. This is largely a characterization not calling for humor, so it's fun seeing him deliver out and out laughs in Oliver Twist two years later! ("The law is a ass!")
In one of his earliest film performances it is wonderful to see Alec Guiness as Herbert Pockett. At 32 he was also portraying a 20 yr old and almost pulls it off thru shear acting talent. The earlier scene between Pip and Herbert Pockett boxing each other in a garden is one of the most memorable in the film.
David Lean's pacing and direction are most impressive through the first 45 minutes. The central section in London bogs down a bit as Pip evolves into something of a bore and feels sorrier and sorrier for himself. We just wish he'd take control of his life and move on. But perhaps this makes sense as he living off the generosity of some unknown figure and really is not in control of his life. He clearly loves (or is just obsessed?) with Estella, even though she warns him she has no heart and is incapable of love. It if finally the sudden appearance of his secret benefactor and jolts Pip into action.
The concluding third of the film portrays the melodrama Dickens concocted, and there is excitement and plenty of tears as relationships are revealed. The closing sequence back in the grand country home of Miss Havisham allows Pip and Estella to finally come to full terms with each other. This scene is thrilling and exhilarating, as only great filmmakers are able of creating! Few will watch this without shedding some tears. I only wish it had not been so brief.
Now we come to the problems with this movie: the casting of adult Pip and adult Estella. There is definitely a jolt when young Pip is suddenly a 20 yr old Pip... but he's portrayed by 38 yr old John Mills, looking every one of his years. But he's a great actor and almost convinces us of the character's youth, but it took me 45 minutes to fully accept him. We have a reaction almost as jolting when we see Estella, now a young woman. Valerie Hobson looks quite different from Jean Simmons, and not as beautiful. We imagined what Estella would look look like at 22 or 23 but for me Hobson isn't it. Beyond that her speaking voice and delivery are too different from Simmons. Some have speculated that Simmons could have also played the adult Estella, but - uh - big problem: John Mills would have looked even older seeing the two of them paired. So we can only fantasize about these casting questions.
Other performances are very fine, especially Frances L. Sullivan in the pivotal role of Mr Jaggers. This is largely a characterization not calling for humor, so it's fun seeing him deliver out and out laughs in Oliver Twist two years later! ("The law is a ass!")
In one of his earliest film performances it is wonderful to see Alec Guiness as Herbert Pockett. At 32 he was also portraying a 20 yr old and almost pulls it off thru shear acting talent. The earlier scene between Pip and Herbert Pockett boxing each other in a garden is one of the most memorable in the film.
David Lean's pacing and direction are most impressive through the first 45 minutes. The central section in London bogs down a bit as Pip evolves into something of a bore and feels sorrier and sorrier for himself. We just wish he'd take control of his life and move on. But perhaps this makes sense as he living off the generosity of some unknown figure and really is not in control of his life. He clearly loves (or is just obsessed?) with Estella, even though she warns him she has no heart and is incapable of love. It if finally the sudden appearance of his secret benefactor and jolts Pip into action.
The concluding third of the film portrays the melodrama Dickens concocted, and there is excitement and plenty of tears as relationships are revealed. The closing sequence back in the grand country home of Miss Havisham allows Pip and Estella to finally come to full terms with each other. This scene is thrilling and exhilarating, as only great filmmakers are able of creating! Few will watch this without shedding some tears. I only wish it had not been so brief.
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