Great Expectations (1946) (Criterion Collection Spine #31)
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Movie Reviews of Great Expectations (1946) (Criterion Collection Spine #31)
Movie Review: The Gold Standard!
Summary: 5 Stars
There are some films, such as "Casablanca," that should never be remade. David Lean's "Great Expectations" is one of them.
The cast--headed by John Mills as the grown-up Pip, and which includes the rotund Francis L. Sullivan as the lawyer Jagger (whose clients are hanged as a matter of course), Finlay Curry as the convict Magwitch, and Alec Guinness as Herbert Pocket--is pitch-perfect (although I always thought the excellent Valerie Hobson was a bit of a disappointment after the brittle hauteur of Jean Simmons).
This film has everything: humor, suspense, and a lack of the sentimentality that seems to have crept into Dickensian films of late.
Lean, who was to become famous for his sweeping desolate landscapes of "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Dr. Zhivago," captures the essence of the lonely English fog-bound marshes with swirling swathes of grey in this glorious black and white film. The image of young Estella (a bewitching Jean Simmons) leading young Pip by candlelight up the darkened staircase into the cobweb-enshrouded inner sanctum of the demented Miss Havisham (the incomparable Martita Hunt), is unforgettable, as is the sight of the jilted bride's rat-infested wedding cake. Without computer-generated effects or even color, David Lean has created a cinematic masterpiece.
Movie Review: Classic Movies
Summary: 5 Stars
I watched this classic story long ago and had forgotten about it until reading the story again. I had a hard time finding this old English version. My personal opinion is that the English productions are much better quality than what comes out of Hollywood for the classics especially. I have a sentimental attachment to this film because it came out the year I was born and has such great character actors and actresses in it. As in other classical movies it does not match the book in the way it develops the characters. Case in point - there was no development of Estella's mother in the movie until right at the end. Whereas in the book it started early in developing that she might be the mother of Estella. Still all in all it came through with a great depiction of a Charles Dickens masterpiece.Movie Review: Lean meets Dickens' 'Great Expectations.'
Summary: 5 Stars
Who doesn't like a David Lean film or a great Victorian story like Great Expectations? Except for the ending, David Lean's 1946 film follows Dickens' original novel closely. Set in 19th Century England, Great Expectations tells the story of a young orphan, Pip (Anthony Wager), who befriends an escaped convict, Magwitch (Finlay Currie), in a graveyard, before later falling in love with a cruel, but beautiful girl, Estella (Jean Simmons). As a teenager, Estella mocks Pip's coarse and common manners. She aspires to become a lady, and Pip has great expectations of becoming a gentleman. At age 21, Pip learns that Estella has been raised by Miss Havisham (Martita Hunt) to break men's hearts. Although Estella warns him, "You must know, Pip, I have no heart," he continues to love her nonetheless. Despite its happy Hollywood ending, which differs greatly from Dickens' novel, many (including me) consider Lean's film to be the best version of the novel. In 1948, Lean (The Bridge on the River Kwai; Doctor Zhivago; Lawrence of Arabia) went on to film another Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist. The Criterion edition of Great Expectations offers surprisingly few extras: the original theatrical trailer and subtitles for the hearing impaired.
G. Merritt
Movie Review: BENEFACTORS
Summary: 4 Stars
Dickens' tale of an abused orphan gets a deluxe production here with lively direction by David Lean, a shapely script by, among others, Anthony Havelock-Allan, some splendid performances (& a few clinkers as well) which is all served up in glorious Black & White by Guy Green, The first part is so good it carries you through the somewhat disappointing second part. The opening in the churchyard where Pip meets the escaped convict Magwitch (Finlay Currie) is so expertly staged it's thrilling & you can't wait to see what happens next. Soon Pip is employed by and eccentric lady who has a fancy to see him 'play'. She was betrayed & abandoned years earlier on her wedding day &, for her, time stopped that same moment. In her great moldering house Pip meets the ward, Estella, who is being schooled to be a heart breaker of men. Later a mysterious benefactor makes Pip a young person of great expectations & he is off to London for a new life, more adventures & perhaps discover the identity of his patron. Anthony Wager is wonderful as the young Pip. He doesn't have the creepy precociousness of some Hollywood child stars of the era. His vulnerability is part of his appeal. When John Mills takes over the part you understand what he is trying to do; play the part of a young man who doesn't know what to do with his new wealth, how to wear his new clothes or dine on strange foods with his new friends. Play the part of a young man with no confidence. Unfortunately Mills' performance has no confidence either. Freda Jackson is his abusive sister with whom he lives along with his brother-in-law (Bernard Miles who showed up the next year as Newman Noggs in Cavalconti's NICHOLAS NICKLEBY). Martita Hunt is the Miss Havisham you always wanted to see. She gives a superb demonstration of how less is more. Jean Simmons is luminous as Estella. According to James Agee she is the first British actor to come to acting solely from the movies. What she does here would be astonishing from anyone but from a teenager it's jaw dropping. When Valerie Hobson takes over the role it's like going from Being to Nothingness. John Forrest is young Herbert Pocket & when he morphs into Alec Guinness they are so perfectly matched you may find yourself grinning. Francis L. Sullivan is Mr Jaggers forever.
A word of caution: The character Pip's sister is so verbally & physically abusive that perhaps her scenes are unsuitable for children & young teens. If you are a survivor of child abuse and/or family violence these scenes can trigger flashbacks.
Movie Review: Another Famous Dickens Book Comes To Life
Summary: 4 Stars
As I watched the beginning of this film, I couldn't help but compare the story to the only other Charles Dickens story I was familiar with: Oliver Twist. It looked like it was going to be another story of a nice, respectful boy being abused by nasty adults. However, as soon as the young boy turned into a man, the similarities ended. Poor Oliver had a lot of ups and downs but life was basically pretty good for the boy, "Pip" in "Great Expectations." Because of that, I didn't think this Dickens tale had the emotional impact of Oliver Twist, but still was great storytelling. The last 20-30 minutes of this film tied so many things together it really made it a satisfying film. From what I just researched, it sounds like the book was a lot harsher story.
John Mills looked way too old to be playing a 20-year-old "Pip Pirrip." In truth, he was too old. Mills was 38 when doing this role. At any rate, I enjoyed a number of actors in here, mainly three older ones: Martita Hunt, Findlay Currie and Francis L. Sullivan. Hunt was just great as "Miss Haversham." I found her fascinating in every sentence she delivered, all of which she did while just sitting in a chair. Currie was genuinely frightening in the beginning as the escaped convict "Magwitch." However, what a transformation that man made in this story! Francis L. Sullivan emotes convincingly enough to play the
To me, the acting took a back seat to Dickens' story and to the film's cinematography. Knowing David Lean directed this film, that Criterion usually produces nice-looking DVD transfers and that "Oliver Twist" looked fantastic on disc, I was paying as close attention to the cinematography, and I enjoyed it. The story wasn't that intense until the finale, which was very well done. Even though the screenplay is softer than the novel, most people say it still captures Dickens' flavor, and few critics had anything but praise for this classic film. Lean and cinematographer Guy Green won Oscars for their work here, so you know it's not too shabby.
The combination of Dickens, Lean, Green and a fine cast all make this a classic movie that is certainly recommended. Don't make the mistake of choosing the insipid 1998 version with Ethan Hawke and Gywneth Paltrow. This is the only version you want to see.