GREAT EXPECTATIONS

UK, 19646, 118 Minutes, Black and White.
John Mills, Valerie Hobson, Finlay Currie, Alec Guinness, Martita Hunt, Jean Simmons, Anthony Wager, Bernard Miles, Francis L. Sullivan.
Directed by David Lean.

Great Expectations is a British classic. Director David Lean who had made such impressive films during the war as in Which We Serve and This Happy Breed (in collaboration with Noel Coward) collaborated also with Coward after the war with Blithe Spirit and Brief Encounter. He then made his versions of Dickens' Great Expectations and Oliver Twist. Lean, a careful craftsman, has made very few films comparatively. In the 50s he made Breaking the Sound Barrier, Hobsons Choice, Summertime. Since then he has made The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, Ryan's Daughter. He has provided great entertainment for a vast audience.

His adaptation of Great Expectations is perhaps not so close to the original at times but certainly has the atmosphere of Dickens. John Mills was very good in the lead. Valerie Hobson was popular at the time and an effective Estella. The film also had an early performance by Jean Simmons and introduced Alec Guinness to films. Guinness was then to be Fagin in Oliver Twist and appear in many of Lean's films. Finlay Currie was very good as Magwitch and provides a famous startling scene in the cemetery at the beginning of the film. Martita Hunt was Miss Havisham. The black and white photography, the creation of atmosphere and the Dickens' themes are very much to the fore and are enjoyable and repay reflection. There was a musical remake in the 70s with Michael York and Sarah Miles and James Mason in the leads. It was entertaining but did not compare to this original.

1. This film is considered a classic. Why? How well written, acted, how well filmed was it? Did it do justice to Dickens' work, to Dickens' world? How? How enjoyable was the film? How impressive?

2. The significance of the title and its relationship to Pip: the atmosphere of wealth and snobbery? The emphasis on 'class' and its effects on people? What did the great expectations do to Pip?

3. How successful was the narrative technique of the film? Pip's narrative of himself? Our sympathy with Pip? His moralising comments on his own behaviour? What effect did this have?

4. How well did the film establish the setting? The quality of the black and white photography? The atmosphere of the 19th century and 19th century manners? The initial impact of the marsh? of the home and the Gargerys? Miss Havisham's mansion? The recreation of 19th century London?

5. Dickens relies very much on coincidences. How was this evident in the film? were the coincidences too coincidental? Or were they handled well in the film? what point was Dicken's making by showing how much coincidence there was in the events of life?

6. The cemetery scene is famous. The convict's frightening of Pip. How important was this in itself? Pip's visiting the cemetery, establishing his orphan status, his devotion and his fear, his reaction to the convict, his kindness and the repercussions that this had, his seeing of the other convict? How central was this initial sequence in the cemetery?

7. The importance of Joe and Mrs. Joe for establishing atmosphere? Mrs. Joe and the 19th century manner? Her severity with Pip? Making him afraid, especially as regards honesty and the convict? The kindliness of Joe? Was it weakness? Was it good nature?

8. The arbitrary behaviour of Miss Havisham? What was your response to Miss Havisham? Her cruelty in using Pip for Estella? The whole background of Miss Havisham's story? Was this credible? Comment on the success of her make-up and the decor of her decaying house? The impact of this for the film? How did miss Havisham change towards Pip throughout the film? What were your first impressions of Estella? Was she likeable? Was it credible that she had such an effect on Pip? Her treatment of him? The importance of the fight with Herbert Pocket? Humour? The reaction of Estella? What did this experience at Miss Havisham's do to Pip, especially as regards snobbery and expectations?

9. Did you think that miss Havisham had given him the money? Why? How did the expectations change Pip's outlook? His changing for Estella? The effect that money had on him?

10. How was the change in Pip evident in London? The importance of the journey sequence, the map and the hooves? His meeting with Mr. Jaggers, Wemmick, Herbert Pocket? His vanity in himself, setting up house, dancing lessons, the 'at-home'? What result did the expectations have on him?

11. What was your impression of Mr. Jaggers? A good lawyer? His behaviour and attitudes towards people? His legalism and impersonal touch? In contrast to Wemmick's house with the aged parent? The humour and kindness towards the aged parent?

12. How did Pip respond to the grown Estella? Her explanation of herself, her upbringing, her coolness? Miss Havisham's satisfaction at making Pip unhappy? The importance of the visit of Joe in this regard? The awkwardness of Joe and his being out of place? Pip's snobbish reactions? His later sham-- for this? The importance for Joe's ultimate kindness?

13. Were you surprised that Magwitch was the benefactor? The impression that Magwitch made when he arrived at Pip's rooms? The impact on Pip? How did the film show this affecting him? How did it eventually improve Pip and make him sense true values? His defiance then of Miss Havisham? The irony of Miss Havisham's death and its horror? What impact did this have in the film?

14. How did the tone of the film change with the organizing of the escape? Jaggers' story and the full truth? Pocket's collaboration? Pip's self-sacrifice in organizing the escape? How exciting was the escape itself? How melodramatic the crash with the boat? Magwitch's arrest and his death?

15. How important was loyalty at the end of the film? Pip's loyalty to Magwitch and Estella?

16. Joe's final loyalty? How impressive was Joe as a character? Poverty, simplicity, no great expectations?

17. Was Pip right to challenge Estella? What result did this have in opening her eyes to the world? In not being another Miss Havisham? What future did they have?

18. How valuable a picture of 19th century England was this? What values did the film explore? What was its main moral message?