IMDb > Great Expectations (1946)
Great Expectations
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Great Expectations (1946) More at IMDbPro »

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Great Expectations (1946) -- A humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor.

Overview

User Rating:
8.2/10   9,030 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 24% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
David Lean
Writers:
Charles Dickens (novel) and
Anthony Havelock-Allan (adaptation)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Great Expectations on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 December 1946 (UK) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
From the Vivid Pages of Charles Dickens' Masterpiece ! more
Plot:
A humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 nominations more
User Comments:
Great version of the Dickens novel...beautiful B&W photography... more (70 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

John Mills ... Pip
Tony Wager ... Young Pip (as Anthony Wager)
Valerie Hobson ... Estella

Jean Simmons ... Young Estella
Bernard Miles ... Joe Gargery
Francis L. Sullivan ... Mr. Jaggers
Finlay Currie ... Abel Magwitch
Martita Hunt ... Miss Havisham

Alec Guinness ... Herbert Pocket
Ivor Barnard ... Mr. Wemmick
Freda Jackson ... Mrs. Joe Gargery
Eileen Erskine ... Biddy
George Hayes ... Convict
Hay Petrie ... Uncle Pumblechook
John Forrest ... The Pale Young Gentleman
Torin Thatcher ... Bentley Drummle
O.B. Clarence ... The Aged Parent
John E. Burch ... Mr. Wopsle
Richard George ... The Sergeant
Grace Denbigh Russell ... Mrs. Wopsle (as Grace Denbigh-Russell)
Everley Gregg ... Sarah Pocket
Anne Holland ... Relation
Frank Atkinson ... Mike
Gordon Begg ... Night Porter
Edie Martin ... Mrs. Whimple
Walford Hyden ... The Dancing Master
Roy Arthur ... Galley Steersman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Howard Lang ... Man sitting next to Pip at Magwitch's Trial (uncredited)
Ernie Pratt ... Police officer in boat (uncredited)
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Directed by
David Lean 
 
Writing credits
Charles Dickens (novel)

Anthony Havelock-Allan  adaptation
David Lean  adaptation
Cecil McGivern  adaptation
Ronald Neame  adaptation
Kay Walsh  adaptation

Produced by
Anthony Havelock-Allan .... executive producer
Ronald Neame .... producer
 
Original Music by
Walter Goehr 
 
Cinematography by
Guy Green (photographed by)
 
Film Editing by
Jack Harris 
 
Casting by
Pat MacDonnell (uncredited)
Adele Raymond (uncredited)
Maude Spector (uncredited)
 
Production Design by
John Bryan 
 
Art Direction by
Wilfred Shingleton 
 
Costume Design by
Sophie Devine  (as Sophia Harris of Motley)
 
Makeup Department
George Blackler .... makeup artist (uncredited)
Ernest Gasser .... makeup artist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Norman Spencer .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Pollock .... assistant director
Eric Braun .... third assistant director (uncredited)
Philip Shipway .... second assistant director (uncredited)
Victor Wark .... second assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
John Elphick .... chief assistant art director (uncredited)
T. Hopewell Ash .... draughtsman (uncredited)
William Hutchinson .... assistant art director (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Stanley Lambourne .... sound recordist
Gordon K. McCallum .... sound recordist
Winston Ryder .... sound editor
Bill Daniels .... dubbing crew (uncredited)
John Dennis .... production sound mixer (uncredited)
Desmond Dew .... sound recordist (uncredited)
Charles Knott .... maintenance engineer (uncredited)
Gordon K. McCallum .... sound mixer (uncredited)
John W. Mitchell .... sound effects recordist (uncredited)
George Paternoster .... boom operator (uncredited)
Jack Slade .... assistant sound editor (uncredited)
J.B. Smith .... dubbing crew (uncredited)
C.C. Stevens .... production sound mixer (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
Les Bowie .... matte painter (uncredited)
Syd Howell .... back projection (uncredited)
Douglas Woolsey .... models (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Huke .... camera operator (as Nigel Huke)
Jim Body .... focus puller (uncredited)
Peter Davies .... music sound camera (uncredited)
John Godar .... focus puller (uncredited)
Tony Hermes .... clapper loader (uncredited)
Alan Hume .... second camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Arthur Ibbetson .... camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Skeets Kelly .... second camera operator (uncredited)
Robert Krasker .... director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Henry Slagter .... clapper loader (uncredited)
Cyril Stanborough .... still photographer (uncredited)
Ernest Steward .... director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Margaret Furse .... assistant costumer
 
Editorial Department
John Cook .... second assistant editor (uncredited)
Margery Saunders .... assistant editor (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Walter Goehr .... conductor
Roy Douglas .... additional orchestrator (uncredited)
Roy Douglas .... orchestrator: title sequence (uncredited)
John Huntley .... music technician (uncredited)
Kenneth Pakeman .... composer: additional music (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Suria Magito .... dance arranger
J. Arthur Rank .... presenter (as J.Arthur Rank)
Maggie Unsworth .... continuity (as Margaret Sibley)
John Alderson .... location manager (uncredited)
Yvonne Axeworthy .... script supervisor: second unit (uncredited)
Vicky Fuggle .... production secretary (uncredited)
Martita Hunt .... voice: cow (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Runtime:
118 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Australia:G | Germany:16 | Sweden:15 | South Korea:15 (2003) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | UK:PG (re-release)
Company:
Cineguild more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
First cinema feature of Howard Lang. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Joe drops his hat into a saucer during his visit with Pip and Herbert Pocket, the hat is crushed slightly and leaning towards Pip. In the next shot, the hat is in its original condition and is leaning towards Herbert. more
Quotes:
Magwitch: Keep still, you young devil, or I'll slit your throat! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Good Eats: Crepe Expectations (#5.3)" (2001) more

FAQ

How does the ending differ from the book?
more
28 out of 33 people found the following comment useful.
Great version of the Dickens novel...beautiful B&W photography..., 28 May 2001
Author: Neil Doyle from U.S.A.

The Dickens novel is given classic treatment in David Lean's "Great Expectations". The opening scene is so atmospheric it sets the tone for the convoluted story to follow. The earlier scenes with young Pip are the most enjoyable for me--especially those involving Estella (Jean Simmons) and Miss Havisham (Martita Hunt).

Brilliant performances from all concerned. John Mills is wholly satisfying as the adult Pip and Valerie Hobson as the adult Estella--but it is Martita Hunt's Miss Havisham, sitting among the ruined finery of a wedding that never took place, everything exactly the way it was on that fateful day--and waging war on men ever since--that lingers in the memory.

Some of the best black and white photography seen until that time and an absorbing story with twists and surprises that have logical explanations. Compares favorably with the other great British film, "Oliver Twist" and, by all means, recommended viewing.

Not only worthy of its Best Picture nomination, it should have won over "Gentleman's Agreement" which now seems preachy and artificial.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Great Expectations (1946)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
40 year old Pip? VTPooh
Dalai Lama Quotation - Miss Havisham goodjourney
Anyone have to watch this at school? lenny_rocks2678
NOT IN TOP 250 Steve79
Hilarious Death (spoilers) calvindyson
Wemmick is awesome. jenienhuis
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