Great Expectations

Watching this 1946 version of “Great Expectations” again after many years, took me back to my school days.

I was doing “Great Expectations” as part of my English Literature exam in the mid 1970’s.

My school gave a showing of this version of “Great Expectations” in the lecture hall and the whole of my school year crammed into the room to watch, everyone enjoyed it.

This is definitely the best version of all.

This so called 'masterful' adaption of Dickens' great work does a great job of recreating some of the images which are so vividly sketched into one's mind after reading the novel. Magwitch, Miss Havisham and Satis House are all accurate representations of what come to mind for most people when imagining the story I'm sure.

Young Estella, not to mention, is one of the most beautiful girls you're likely to see in the movies.

Played pitch perfectly by a 17 year old Jean Simmons, she's a joy to watch, and it's a shame her appearances are so short lived.

Unfortunately, the film gets so much of the basic formula wrong that it really brings the film down as a whole. Here is an example. When Pip is introduced six years older, emerging from the forge with Joe, I can't for the life of me think of a more ridiculous image. He somehow manages to age a good 20 years in a mere six, seeming older than his own step-father Joe, and looks about as much of a blacksmith as I do. Of all the people they could have chose to Pip, that they chose this man is a mystery. Somehow he manages to suck every last drop of humanity out of the character. When reading the novel, you ache alongside Pip, when watching this film you say to yourself, 'This Guy? I'm supposed to feel sorry for this guy?'

Moving on from one travesty to another, consider how the film ends. Within a few seconds Estella sheds her cold exterior and instantaneously falls in love with Pip, together they walk off joyously into the future. In the novel, they meet some 10 years later, Estella has been broken down by a series of awful men, and can now relate to the way Pip felt as a younger man. Why on earth would they change such a perfect ending?

Overall, Dickens story almost redeems it's worst features and makes it into an average film. I'd say it's worth watching again for Jean Simmons.

Fantastic to watch again. As I've written before, if a film can pass the wandering teenage attention test it must be good. This one was seen from start to finish by my 11 and 15 year old children without moan, murmer or disturbance.

My wife and I found the whole thing magical for the umpteenth occasion. Each time the story becomes enriched by Lean and that wonderful staging, lighting and cinematography.

Excellent, proper Sunday afternoon entertainment, a classic in all the best senses of the word.

A lovely and heartwarming film with a fantastic cast including Alec Guinness (who later went on to play Obi Wan Kenobi) and a young Jean Simmons. A little scary at the beginning for young children. Also, Pip the main character whilst he is meant to be 20 looks about 40. Aside from that a lot has been condensed into this film and is perfect for those nostalgic Sunday afternoons. British film at its best.