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Great Expectations

Play trailer Poster for Great Expectations 1946 1h 58m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In this Dickens adaptation, orphan Pip discovers through lawyer Mr. Jaggers that a mysterious benefactor wishes to ensure that he becomes a gentleman. Reunited with his childhood patron, Miss Havisham, and his first love, the beautiful but emotionally cold Estella, he discovers that the elderly spinster has gone mad from having been left at the altar as a young woman, and has made her charge into a warped, unfeeling heartbreaker.

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Great Expectations

Great Expectations

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Critics Consensus

Furnished with striking visual detail and told with great narrative economy by director David Lean, Great Expectations is an exemplary adaptation of Charles Dickens' dense and episodic novel.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
Only rabid Dickensians will find fault with the present adaptation, and paradoxically only lovers of Dickens will derive maximum pleasure from the film. Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian 11/06/2007
4/5
An unmissable rerelease. Go to Full Review Don Druker Chicago Reader 11/06/2007
The graveyard scene is still a shocker, the details are still astonishingly well assembled, and the performances are wonderful. Go to Full Review Andrew Collins Radio Times 07/22/2024
5/5
This is superlative film-making from one of Britain's greatest directors. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 10/06/2023
David Lean’s handsome adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel captures the warm humor and richness of character that so many filmmakers miss in their reverent recreations of Victorian England. Go to Full Review James Agee The Nation 06/28/2021
The film is almost never less than graceful, tasteful, and intelligent, and some of it is better than that. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Russ G Mar 3 A movie based on a book that was crammed down every 8th Grader's throat back in the 60's. Decent moviemaking for post-war Britain but not something that's going to appear plausible or engaging to modern audiences especially younger ones. See more alan g @agenser 01/25/2025 Best version. Nothing more needs to be said. See more Georgan G 07/20/2024 A classic tale acted by some of the best. One of those movies you should have on a desert island. Next I'll be viewing the 1934 & 2012 versions. See more Morvia 8thsin/ 3 09/30/2023 The film has great acting while the rating of the film is a bit generous in my viewing with G or general audience. The movie is not for a general audience while the book may just be is the difference. I would suggest at least PG since there are fighting scenes and leaning towards adult themed scenarios such as payments for information but in the light of manipulation while the scene showing the burning of a character makes this film in my opinion not for the general audience. This rating is short of so fresh according to the rating star system since it is an adaptation. See more Georgius w 06/10/2023 One of the Best British Movies. I Love It. See more Paul G 01/01/2023 Its a classic for a good reason. The story is timeless, the acting holds up well today, it is simply a lovely film to watch. See more Read all reviews
Great Expectations

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Cast & Crew

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David Lean

Director

John Mills

Pip

Valerie Hobson

Estella

Bernard Miles

Joe Gargery

Francis L. Sullivan

Mr. Jaggers

Finlay Currie

Abel Magwitch

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Great Expectations

Great Expectations (1946) Great Expectations (1946) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this Dickens adaptation, orphan Pip discovers through lawyer Mr. Jaggers that a mysterious benefactor wishes to ensure that he becomes a gentleman. Reunited with his childhood patron, Miss Havisham, and his first love, the beautiful but emotionally cold Estella, he discovers that the elderly spinster has gone mad from having been left at the altar as a young woman, and has made her charge into a warped, unfeeling heartbreaker.
Director
David Lean
Producer
Anthony Havelock-Allan, Ronald Neame
Screenwriter
David Lean, Ronald Neame, Anthony Havelock-Allan
Production Co
Cineguild
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 26, 1946, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Runtime
1h 58m
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