192. Great Expectations (1946)

Directed By David Lean

Synopsis

Pip helps escaped convict, Pip gets to visit freaky old Miss Havisham. Pip gets suddenly rich from a hidden benefactor who he presumes is Miss Havisham, but it's the criminal, shock horror. Oh Pip was also in love with this bitchy girl who was an adoptive daughter of the eccentric old lady and she was the natural daughter of said rich escaped convict who eventually dies, and Pip and Estella ,the daughter, end up together on estate of said eccentric old lady, cobwebs are cleaned, windows are opened, Finis. Use the Force Pip!

Review

Well if you don't know the story my synopsis will not help you, as it is incompetently written but I have no desire to fix it. That being said this is a good film, David lean is deservedly renowned as one of the best British directors, and his career will be examined in depth throughout this list, this film is a good example of a very entertaining adaptation of a classic.

For a Dickens adaptation from 1946 to grab you is not the easiest of thing, but for the two hours that this took I was quite riveted by it. The acting is great, with John Mills as Pip and Obi-Wan Kenobi himself, Sir Alan Guiness as his best friend Mr. Pocket.

Another thing that deserves particular attention in the film are the pretty spectacular set designs, the rooms of Miss Havisham's house are particularly noteworthy with their studied decay as is the whole character of Miss Havisham quite spectacular. A good adaptation. Watch it.

Final Grade

8/10

Trivia

From Wikipedia:

Many consider this version, directed by David Lean, the best version, and it is certainly the most popular. Because of its enormous popularity and the strength of the actors and their characterizations, this version has tended to define the popular conception of many key characters, especially that of the young Estella, Miss Havisham, Herbert Pocket, Abel Magwitch and Mr. Jaggers. This film also helped establish the primacy of the love theme in Great Expectations above that of the class strivings of the protagonist Pip. Conversely, other characters with important roles in the novel, such as Biddy, Orlick, Mr. Wopsle and Wemmick, are diminished.

Opening Sequence: