"GREAT EXPECTATIONS" (1946) Review
"GREAT EXPECTATIONS" (1946) Review
If there is one adaptation of a Charles Dickens' novel that has received a high number of acclaim, it is the 1946 version of his 1861 novel, "Great Expectations". It is so highly regarded that many view it as the benchmark of all Dickens adaptations. After learning this, a part of me had to watch this film.
Directed by David Lean, "GREAT EXPECTATIONS" was also co-adapted by him, along with Anthony Havelock-Allan, Cecil McGivern, Ronald Neame and Kay Walsh. Ironically, Lean had become interested in Dickens' tale after seeing the 1939 London stage version, written by cast member Alec Guinness. The actor also had a role in the play - the same role he had portrayed in this movie, seven years later.
"GREAT EXPECTATIONS" told the story of a young orphan named Philip "Pip" Pirrip, who lived with his shrewish sister and her kind-hearted blacksmith husband Joe Gargery near the marshes of northern Kent. While visiting his parents' graves, Pip encountered an escape convict named Abel Magwitch, who intimidated him into providing blacksmith tools to remove his chains. Pip also provided him with some food. Before Magwitch could make good his escape while the authorities hunt for him, the convict encountered another one, his former partner-in-crime named Compeyson. The authorities captured the pair, while they were in the middle of a brutal fight on the marshes. Later, a local wealthy spinster named Miss Haversham invited young Pip to visit her dilapidated mansion and serve as a companion for her and her adopted daughter, Estella. Despite the latter's cold and dismissive attitude toward him, Pip developed an infatuation with her.
Pip's visits came to an end when Miss Havisham arranged for him to become Joe's apprentice, much to the former's disappointment. Several years into Pip's apprenticeship, a London solicitor named Mr. Jaggers informed him of a provision of money sent to him from an anonymous patron. Due to his newfound windfall, Pip ended his apprenticeship with Joe and traveled to London to study law at Banard's Inn under Jaggers' supervision. with plans to become a gentleman. Pip planned to use his new situation as a means to become a gentleman and be more worthy of Estella's hand. But London and his expectations proved to be more than he had bargained for.
Did "GREAT EXPECTATIONS" live up to my expectations? Do I believe it deserved its reputation as one of the best Dickens screen adaptations? I cannot deny that Lean and his fellow screenwriters - Anthony Havelock-Allan and Ronald Neame - had created a very solid adaptation. The film's narrative had touched on all the novel's important subplots and arcs. I was especially impressed by three sequences in particular - Pip's initial encounters with Abel Magwitch early in the story, his experiences at Satis House with Miss Havisham and Estella; and his attempts to help Magwtich (who had illegally traveled to Britain) escape via a packet ship leaving England in the movie's second half. I believe the writing and Lean's direction were exceptional in these particular sequences.
Sophie Devine delivered first-rate costumes, perfectly reflecting the story's late Georgian period. I also found myself impressed by the film's production design team - art director John Bryan and set decorator Wilfred Shingleton. They did an excellent job in re-creating Britain of the 1820s and the 1830s - especially during the film's London sequences. Both Bryan and Singleton deservedly won Academy Awards for their work. Guy Green and Robert Krasker (who worked on the film's opening shot) also deserved their Academy Awards for Best Cinematography - Black and White. All one has to do is view the scenes below:
I mean . . . what can I say? The cinematography for "GREAT EXPECTATIONS" still strikes me as absolutely breathtaking. Is it any wonder why Green and Krasker's work have developed an iconic reputation over the years?
"GREAT EXPECTATIONS" featured some truly solid performances. Some of the solid performances came from Valerie Hobson as the adult Estella, Bernard Miles as Joe Gargery, Freda Jackson as Mrs. Gargery, Eileen Erskin as Biddy, Hay Petrie as Uncle Pumblechook, Torin Thatcher as Bentley Drummle. I do believe that both leading man John Mills as "Pip" Pirrup and Alec Guinness as Pip's friend Herbert Pocket gave first-rate performances. But if I must be honest, they did not exactly knock my socks out. For me, at least five cast members gave outstanding performances. Two of them were Anthony Wager and Jean Simmons as the young Pip and Estella. I believe another outstanding performance came from Francis L. Sullivan as Mr. Jaggers. The actor had portrayed the same character in the 1934 adaptation of the novel. I believe Abel Magwitch had proven to be Findlay Currie's best role. I had marveled at how he gradually transformed from a desperate and frightening man to a very sentimental one. But the one performance that really blew me away came from Martita Hunt, who portrayed slyly eccentric Miss Havisham. I believe that Hunt, along with two other actresses, gave the best interpretations of the character.
After all this, do I believe this version of "GREAT EXPECTATIONS" is the best Dickens adaptation? Honestly? No. Dickens' 1861 novel is a sprawling saga. And if I must be honest, I found Lean's adaptation just a bit too streamlined for my tastes. Thanks to the movie's screenplay and his direction, the movie managed to hit the marks of Dickens' novel. But aside from two or three scenes, those marks had merely touched upon a particular arc or subplot. They did not really explore it. Of course they did not. This is not surprising. Due to the movie's 118 minute running time, Lean lacked the opportunity to do so. This especially seemed to be the case regarding the death of Pip's sister Mrs. Gargery, Pip's chaotic relationship with Estella and Bentley Drummle; along with the connections between Magwitch, Compeyson and Miss Havisham. Why did Lean and his fellow screenwriters make Pip indirectly responsible for Miss Havisham's death? What was the point of that? And then we have the movie's final scene in which Estella nearly adopts Miss Havisham's odd behavior after inheriting Satis House. What on earth was that? Was this some convoluted effort by Lean, Havelock-Allan and Neame to end the movie with Pip as Estella's "savior"? What was the point of that scene?
In conclusion, "GREAT EXPECTATIONS" struck me a solid adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1861 novel. Granted, I believe it is a beautiful looking film, thanks to John Bryan and Wilfred Shingleton's award winning art direction, along with Guy Green and Robert Krasker's award winning photography. However, I believe 118 minutes is not long enough for an adaptation of Dickens' sprawling saga. Also, director David Lean and fellow co-writers Anthony Havelock-Allan and Ronald Neame made some writing choices that did not set well with me. Despite the latter, I believe "GREAT EXPECTATIONS" remains a damn good film worth countless re-watches, thanks to Lean's direction and a first-rate cast led by John Mills.