Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

This is a classic version of one of Dickens' great works. It involves the story of Pip (Philip Pirrip) orphaned and raised by his sister. It starts with an assault by a criminal who terrorizes him. Pip dreams of being a gentleman and at some point money shows up from an unnamed benefactor. This sets his life in motion. One day he is called to the house of Miss Havisham and meets Estella (Jean Simmons/Later Valerie Hobson) the snobbish ward of the old lady. Pip's life takes a series of dramatic jolts that almost ruin him. The acting is wonderful and the story tight and well plotted. What is missing are some very important interactions among significant characters from the book. I know a movie can only be so long, but it cheats out of some really significant action. I am particularly fond of the Disney mini-series that came out a few years ago, starring Jean Simmons, this time as Miss Havisham.

"Great Expectations" is another Dickens novel adapted for the screen and directed by David Lean. I recently saw "Oliver Twist" and thought it was exceptional in all respects, and I would put "Great Expectations" in the same category. Both pictures excel especially in two areas; acting and photography, and I should also mention their faithfulness to the original story.David Lean said he wanted no other actor for Pip than John Mills, and it would seem he was right, as Mills captured the essence of Pip to the last jot. Martita Hunt as Miss Havisham was an inspired choice, but the best choice was Francis L. Sullivan as Jaggers. Sullivan elevated any film he appeared in with his bigger-than-life characterizations and his elegant speaking voice, a George Sanders sound-alike.It's all been said in many other reviews, so I just wanted to weigh in with these few comments above. With Cineguild and The Archers, British film production reached its zenith during the 40's to mid 50's, and since that time the movie industry has not been able to recapture the same standard of excellence on either side of the Atlantic, form over substance being the rule nowadays.

Young Pip has a hard life: His parents have died, he lives with his shrewish sister, and he's destined to be a lowly blacksmith. Fate smiles on him, however, when a mysterious old lady pays him to play at her estate. It's there he meets the love of his life, the beautiful, but heartless, Estella.This is a great Dickens story, full of emotional ups and downs, following Pip from childhood to adulthood. Tony Wager is endearing as the sweet younger Pip and John Mills is equally sympathetic as adult Pip. Teenaged Jean Simmons is remarkably lovely as the bred-to-be-cruel Estella.The 1946 David Lean movie has many twists and turns and a warm, satisfying ending. Outstanding in every way and a true classic.

There are only a few directors who can take a Classic Book and create a equally Classic movie. Written by Charles Dickens, it was transferred to the Silver Screen in 1946, by David Lean. It relates the story of young 'Pip' ( Tony Wager) who was orphaned and sent to live with in laws. While there he is set as apprentice to learn the Blacksmith trade and one dark night has an encounter with two escape convicts. However it is as a youngster, he comes to visit a strange old woman with a secret agenda for pip. Rich, solitary and always morose the old woman called Miss Havisham (Martita Hunt) brings pip in contact with a pretty young girl named Estella (Jean Simmons) to be his companion. The two grow to adulthood, becoming fond of one another. During the following years Pip suddenly comes into enough money to become a Gentleman, yet never knowing just who has becomes his patron. The Black and White movie has become a worthwhile movie and a Classic. The list of Cast Members add resonance to the film and indeed notable in their own right. Actors such as John Mills, Valerie Hobson and Alec Guinness. This movie is easily recommended to all. Great Book and Great Movie. ****