Great Expectations (1946)

This is a fabulous adaptation of Charles Dickens' magnum opus. The performances were marvelous all around, with special mentions to Finlay Currie (Magwitch) and Francis L. Sullivan (Mr. Jaggers). Further, the dialogues taken verbatim from the source material served to appease the biggest fans of his work (among which I must, with no restraint, count myself as one).The only qualm I have with this film is that it is guilty of overlooking some key moments and plot threads which made the original work the true classic it is. I speak not so much of the creative licence which justified some subtle deviations at no cost of diluting the storyline, but rather of outright omissions such as Magwitch's account of his miserable past, Orlick's twin assaults and Pip's tear-filled apology to Joe on his final return. I also felt the ending did not do Dickens justice; it felt unnecessarily rushed and passionate for an exchange should leave the viewer still wondering.These musings aside, Lean's Great Expectations (1946) remains a classic in its own right; one that stands alongside Dickens' work as an equal.9/10

This handsome adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic gets something that any adaptation of Dickens should understand -- Dickens was more than anything really funny. His stories are grim and gothic on paper, and he had serious things to say, but he wanted us to be laughing as he said them.David Lean, who before becoming the preeminent director of epic blockbusters made a series of smaller, quieter films in the late 1940s, captures Dickens's tone perfectly. This "Great Expectations," while it looks like a film noir, carries a screwball vibe all the way through. John Mills plays Pip, our dog-eared hero who is taken up by the famous Miss Havisham and whose fortune comes at the hands of an escaped convict turned gentleman. A truly satisfying adaptation would have to be much longer than movies in the 1940s were allowed to be, so this film almost by definition feels truncated -- I think even if you hadn't read the novel you'd still be able to tell that the film is racing through it at breakneck speed. But it's probably as satisfying a version as anyone from that time period was capable of making."Great Expectations" captured the Oscars for black and white art direction and cinematography, and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.Grade: A-

The movie roles along nicely until the announcement of the benefactor in the blacksmith's shop. I expected Pip at that time to be a young man still working on his apprenticeship, yet the actor playing the role, John Mills, is 37 years old at the time.Though closer in age to her character, Estella, played by Valerie Hobson, is 10 years beyond being a teenager at the time of filming as well. John Mills is an excellent actor, but his casting in this movie, based on his mature features, certainly pushes this past the realm of believability.

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.