A young boy, Pip, living in the marshes of Kent, encounters an escaped convict, Magwitch, and is frightened into providing him with food and a file. Magwitch is recaptured, but the event leaves a lasting impression on Pip. Shortly after, Pip is invited to the decaying mansion of Miss Havisham, a wealthy spinster, jilted at the altar years before, who still wears her wedding dress and keeps the clocks stopped at the moment she received the news. There, he plays with Estella, Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter, a cold and haughty girl. Pip falls in love with her, fueling his desire to become a gentleman.
Years pass, and Pip, now a young apprentice blacksmith to his kind brother-in-law, Joe Gargery, learns from a lawyer, Mr. Jaggers, that he has an anonymous benefactor who will provide for him to be educated as a gentleman in London. Pip, assuming the benefactor is Miss Havisham, readily accepts, believing it is part of her plan to make him a suitable match for Estella.
In London, Pip receives an education, learns refined manners, and befriends Herbert Pocket, a cheerful and somewhat clumsy young man who was initially a rival for Estella. Pip becomes ashamed of his humble origins and avoids contact with Joe and his former life. He continues to pursue Estella, who remains aloof and encourages the attentions of other, wealthier suitors. Pip’s fortunes change when his benefactor is revealed to be Magwitch, the convict he helped years before. Magwitch, having made a fortune as a sheep farmer in Australia, returned to England illegally to see the “gentleman” he created. Pip is initially horrified and disgusted, but gradually develops compassion for the old man. He then learns Estella is the daughter of Magwitch.
Pip and Herbert devise a plan to help Magwitch escape England. They secure a boat, but are intercepted by the authorities, having been betrayed. Magwitch is fatally injured in a fight with Compeyson, a former associate. Compeyson drowns, and, Magwitch dies in prison, comforted by Pip’s revelation that his daughter, Estella, is alive and well. Pip loses his great expectations, falls ill, and is nursed back to health by Joe. He eventually returns to the marshes, humbled, and finds a changed Estella at Miss Havisham’s ruined mansion. The ending suggests a possible future together.
This adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel features memorable performances and stark, evocative visuals. The film expertly captures the atmosphere of the novel, from the bleakness of the marshes to the opulence and decay of Miss Havisham’s mansion. The director creates a world of shadows and secrets, reflecting Pip’s own internal struggles and evolving understanding of his place in society. The acting is of the highest quality.
UK / 1946 / 118 minutes / GFD – Cineguild – The Rank Organisation
Writer: David Lean, Ronald Neame, Anthony Havelock-Allan, Kay Walsh, Cecil McGivern / Story: Based on the Novel by Charles Dickens/ Producer: Ronald Neame/ Director: David Lean / Music: Walter Goehr / Cinematography: Guy Green
Cast: John Mills (Pip), Alec Guinness (Herbert Pocket), Valerie Hobson (Estella), Jean Simmons (Young Estella), Bernard Miles (Joe Gargery), Francis L. Sullivan (Mr. Jaggers), Finlay Currie (Magwitch), Martita Hunt (Miss Havisham), Anthony Wager (Young Pip), Ivor Barnard (Wemmick).
Awards: Won 2 Oscars: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White, Best Cinematography, Black-and-White.
