Great Expectations

Released Dec 26, 1946

1h 58m

Drama

List

100%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this Dickens adaptation, orphan Pip (John Mills) discovers through lawyer Mr. Jaggers (Francis L. Sullivan) that a mysterious benefactor wishes to ensure that he becomes a gentleman. Reunited with his childhood patron, Miss Havisham (Martita Hunt), and his first love, the beautiful but emotionally cold Estella (Valerie Hobson), he discovers that the elderly spinster has gone mad from having been left at the altar as a young woman, and has made her charge into a warped, unfeeling heartbreaker.

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Critics Consensus

Furnished with striking visual detail and told with great narrative economy by director David Lean, Great Expectations is an exemplary adaptation of Charles Dickens' dense and episodic novel.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Only rabid Dickensians will find fault with the present adaptation, and paradoxically only lovers of Dickens will derive maximum pleasure from the film.

Mar 26, 2009

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

An unmissable rerelease.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 6, 2007

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

The graveyard scene is still a shocker, the details are still astonishingly well assembled, and the performances are wonderful.

Nov 6, 2007

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

David Lean’s handsome adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel captures the warm humor and richness of character that so many filmmakers miss in their reverent recreations of Victorian England.

Oct 6, 2023

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Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Definitive

Rated: 4/4

Jun 11, 2023

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James Agee

The Nation

The film is almost never less than graceful, tasteful, and intelligent, and some of it is better than that.

Jun 28, 2021

Full Review

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Nathan A

The film has great acting while the rating of the film is a bit generous in my viewing with G or general audience. The movie is not for a general audience while the book may just be is the difference I would suggest at least PG since there are fighting scenes and leaning towards adult themed scenarios such as payments for information but in the light of manipulation while the scene showing the burning of a character makes this film in my opinion not for the general audience. This rating is short of so fresh according to the rating star system since it is an adaptation.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/30/23

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Georgius w

One of the Best British Movies. I Love It.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/10/23

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Paul G

Its a classic for a good reason. The story is timeless, the acting holds up well today, it is simply a lovely film to watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/01/23

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matthew d

A fantastic adaptation with Gothic film noir style! Director David Lean's romance drama Great Expectations (1946) is an enthralling and comprehensive version of Charles Dickens' legendary novel. Lean's direction is super Gothic and cool as he leans into shadows and darkness. From the dismal marshes to the shadowy Gothic London streets, Great Expectations looks incredible and moves so fast. David Lean tells Dickens' story in 118 slick minutes. Guy Green's moody cinematography is fabulous to look at his stunning framing and shadowy dark shots. Every Gothic shot and swift panning shot remains glorious to this day. David Lean's visual aesthetics are hard to beat and make the fascinating first half with young Pip a moody delight and the nuanced adult Pip story engaging too. Author Charles Dickens is the greatest humanist in the history of literature as far as I'm concerned. Between A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations, Dickens shows the benefits of kindness with his deeply empathetic writing. His care and consideration for the poor and working classic is both admirable and impressive. His words sound sincere and thoughtful. Great Expectations is a wonderful story about changed circumstances as the consequences of being bright and nice. I also think about Joe's gentle kind nurturing of Pip versus Miss Havisham's vindictive nurturing of Estella. Pip's nature was also kind to begin with, but it always shocks me to see how cruel Estella can be in Great Expectations. John Mills is quite touching as adult Pip the young gentleman. I know he's too old for the part, but Mills really leans into being a nice man. He pulls off profound sorrow, hopeful innocence, arrogant wealthy gentleman, jealous boyfriend, and adoring lover. I like how nervous Mills plays Pip when he meets the convict again. His face when he realizes that the criminal Abel Magwitch was his mystery benefactor. Tony Wager is outstanding and moving as the adorable and impressionable young Pip. He's very likable and provides that childlike innocence. Valerie Hobson is beautiful and wicked as the sadistic adult Estella. She excels at depicting Estella's cold manipulative nature that's been twisted by Miss Havisham's jaded personality. Jean Simmons is so pretty and sublime as the cruel young Estella. She's excellent during Estella's sadistic taunting of Pip. Her commanding tone is brutal that shows Estella privilege that she can be so judgemental and twisted because of her wealth and beauty. Jean Simmons has these lovely eyes that mesmerized me when I saw her in Spartacus. Bernard Miles is so kind and gentle as Joe Gargery, the blacksmith who raised Pip. "What larks we'll have Pip!" has always stayed with me as a nice line. Francis L. Sullivan's massive figure and booming voice are fun as Mr. Jaggers, screaming out orders for Wemmick to pay Pip his allowance. Finlay Currie is fearsome and intense as the convict Abel Magwitch on the run. His return sequence is genius and a moving scene. Martita Hunt is supremely cruel and intriguing as the elderly Miss Havisham. Alec Guinness is shocking to see so young and thin as the friendly Mr. Herbert Pocket. Seeing Pip and Pocket fence and box together is fun. It really was the art of pugilism and fisticuffs then. Freda Jackson is amazing and intense as the stern Mrs. Joe, who looked after Pip when he was a boy. Eileen Erskine is nice as Biddy. Editor Jack Harris uses all these cool fade-in transitions that look dreamy and timeless. John Bryan made really neat homes, including Miss Havisham's ghostly estate. Wilfred Shingleton's art direction features shadows and cobwebs galore. I like the dark photography of Great Expectations. Composer Walter Goehr's score is triumphant and epic like Dickens' masterpiece. He fits all the various tones of this thrilling picture with a majestic and sometimes eerie score. Sound designers Winston Ryder, Stanley Lambourne, and Gordon K. McCallum captures water gently being rowed to all the noise of London's streets. I love the howling winds! Sophie Devine's costumes nail the old fashions for Pip's tailored suits and Estella's lovely dresses. George Blackler and Ernest Gasser's make-up transforms Finlay Currie into Abel Magwitch's as very rugged and dirty. The polar opposite of Pip and Estella. In all, Great Expectations is a story that's always resonated with me and often well adapted in live plays and other films. But, David Lean's 1946 classic is perhaps even greater than Alfonso Cuaron's entertaining 1998 version. This is simply astounding filmmaking all around.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

SICKS6SIX

Script is everything in a film and they don't get much better than this script. Some bloke write it who often commented on social issues of the day. I forgot his name but he should do well.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Dickens is never too deep. We have one dimensional characters but the plots tend to be fun and warm. This is an example of nailing an adaptation of the book. Really enjoyed it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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David Lean

Director

John Mills

Pip

Valerie Hobson

Estella

Bernard Miles

Joe Gargery

Francis L. Sullivan

Mr. Jaggers

Finlay Currie

Abel Magwitch

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Synopsis

In this Dickens adaptation, orphan Pip (John Mills) discovers through lawyer Mr. Jaggers (Francis L. Sullivan) that a mysterious benefactor wishes to ensure that he becomes a gentleman. Reunited with his childhood patron, Miss Havisham (Martita Hunt), and his first love, the beautiful but emotionally cold Estella (Valerie Hobson), he discovers that the elderly spinster has gone mad from having been left at the altar as a young woman, and has made her charge into a warped, unfeeling heartbreaker.

Director: David Lean
Screenwriter: David Lean, Ronald Neame, Anthony Havelock-Allan
Production Co: Cineguild
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 26, 1946, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Runtime: 1h 58m

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