1946 was a great year for director David Lean. The former screen editor made two films that year, and both were highly acclaimed and influential. Brief Encounter, a romantic tear-jerker, was released in February. Great Expectations, an adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel, was released in time for the Christmas holidays.

The British Film Institute recently issued their list of the top 100 British films, with Lean snaring three of the first five. Brief Encounter was #2, Lawrence of Arabia (1962) was #3, and Great Expectations was #5. (Lawrence of Arabia also ranked highly in the AFI top 100 list, which was surprising as it was not an American film!)

As a story, the first half of "Great Expectations" has structural similarity to Dickens' "David Copperfield" and "Oliver Twist". A preteenaged boy who is naive, honest, and passive has been separated from his birth parents. The earnest and bland central character is surrounded by interestingly eccentric adults who control his destiny, for better and for worse. These themes work very well, creating excellent roles for talented supporting actors.

Once our protagonist grows up, we lose some interest in him. He is content to idle as a 'gentleman', and is fixated with winning the hand of the clearly disinterested Stella. Later, when he tries to help his friends, noble character traits suddenly arise. Now pro-active, even heroic, this transformation seems more convenient than natural.

In the world of Dickens, 19th century England has three classes of society: the gentry, the merchants, and the poor. There is little movement between the classes. Society has no use for the poor, who are herded into orphanages, workhouses and gallows.

Any David Lean film is not without its moments of unintentional humor, and Great Expectations is no exception. As part of the legendary graveyard scenes that open the film, Pip is accused of crimes by a series of talking cows. While working as an apprentice to Joe, he apparently ages in dog years, transforming from the boy Anthony Wager into the middle-aged John Mills.

During the dramatic finale, Pip demands that the curtains be opened, as if he were Moses commanding the parting of the Red Sea. Another scene has Pip visiting the office of his lawyer Jaggers. Jaggers notes that a public hanging is occurring on the street below. Pip is duly astounded, but wouldn't he have noted such an assemblage before arriving? Later, Pip is caught helping the fugitive Magwitch to escape the law. Magwitch is sentenced to death. Pip isn't even charged!

In some cases the casting is perfect. Francis L. Sullivan is excellent as the booming, droll barrister Mr. Jaggers. Martita Hunt is memorable as reclusive, vengeful Miss Havisham. Jean Simmons, in her first significant role, is like a young Vivien Leigh, vibrant and petulant. Also good is Bernard Miles as the gentle blacksmith Joe, and Finlay Currie as the imposing convict Magwitch.

In other cases, the casting is curious. Valerie Hobson is dull as the grown Estella. John Mills plays a man nearly half his age. Freda Jackson acts more like a shrewish stepmother than a sister. Alec Guinness, as Pip's ingratiating roommate, is also ten years too old for his character.

Great Expectations did mark the debut of Guinness as a screen actor, not counting some work as an extra years before. Guinness became David Lean's good luck charm, as five of the six films that they made together would receive Oscar nominations for Best Director. The exception was another movie based on a Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist (1948).

Great Expectations is generally regarded as the best film adaptation of Dickens, but this is not the case. Both David Copperfield (1935) and Scrooge (1951) are superior. While a very good film, Great Expectations is slightly overrated, due to the presence of Lean as director and because of the visual impact of the opening graveyard scenes.

Great Expectations won two Academy Awards, for Best Art Direction and Best Black & White Cinematography (Guy Green). The film was also nominated for Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay. (77/100)

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Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8