Customer Reviews

Great Expectations (BBC)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There are so many versions of this beloved story of Dickens. It is hard not to confuse one from another, so let me begin with the facts. This BBC TV series were made in 1981, and run as long as about 300 minutes. It stars Gerry Sandquist as adult Pip, Sarah-Jane Varley as grown-up Estella (now the former is no more, and the latter seems retired).

The original story is a very famous one, which is about a boy Pip whose love for Estella changes his life forever, so I won't repeat it here. The series here actually cover the story very faithfully, and even the minor characters are not neglected. There are slight changes here and there, but they are minor ones compared with previous filmed versions. So, you see not only Herbert Pocket but his poor father and mother (whose only concern is the aristocratic families). This means you spend so many time to reach the conclusion, and you should see it at two sittings. And you will watch Mr. Wopstle's terrible Hamlet.

About many actors that join in the production; some are good, some not, others so-so (like many standard BBC products), but most memorable is Miss Havisham played by Joan Hickson (better known as Miss Marple in the same BBC series), and Jaggers by Derek Francis. In fact, these Jaggers and Wemmick (by Colin Jeavons) are the most convincing in the whole history of the adaptaions of "Great Expectations." And you can see Patsy Kensit as young Estella. She is good, but the best Estella (as a cruel and enticing girl) still remains Jean Simmons in David Lean version.

This is no classic, and sometimes it betrays its TV origin. Sometimes you notice the drastic contrast between the tone of the interior shot and that of exterior shot, (which happens often in BBC outings, as is the case with "Bean" or "Monty Python"). But all in all the result is satisfactory with its good pace. Slightly above average.

I've seen many versions of Great Expectations and I think Director Julian Amyes hit the mark on this one. I wasn't too pleased with his version of 'The Old Curiosity Shop,' so I approached Great Expectations with some hesitancy. Like many of Amyes' productions, the strength of his theatre trained actors carry the show. The cast in "Expectations" was exceptional-especially Gerry Sundquist as Pip and Stratford Johns as Magwitch. Joan Hickson is also incredible as the jilted bride, Miss Havisham. Some of the negative reviews on this page point to the length of this production. I watched this entire series in two nights and didn't find it excessively long. In fact, it was edited quite well and at the end of each episode there was an appropriate amount of suspense. Despite it's length, the story is easy to follow especially if you're not familiar with this tale. In a nutshell, it concerns Pip, a young boy of low birth who suddenly finds his wish to be a gentleman fulfilled with the aid of a secret benefactor. There are many themes but none as important as social division, revenge, and the consequences of subterfuge. Dickens is a master of finding intricate and clever ways to intertwine his characters and make even the most insignificant person become vastly important to his stories. This series has immense value and it's unfortunate it has been reviewed so negatively simply because it was filmed in segments and it was "too bleak." Please. Bleakness was part of Dickens' world, but, as with 'Expectations," his characters experience redemption, transformation, and justice for the oppressed.

It is very faithful to the book. There are so many scenes portayed almost perfectly. The actors are great, especially Pip, ages 8 and adult, the 12 year old isnt so good. Herbert is excellent, and this is around 5 hours long, so you know it isn't just a skim over. It's just wonderful, touching and classic.

I have been teaching Great Expectations for 10 years. I bought this movie version on VHS 10 years ago, but when it died 2 years ago I never replaced it. I tried the Disney version instead and I hated it. I bought the BBC version on DVD this year and the students love it. The characters are believable and they look like how Dickens described them. I highly recommend this movie.

Make yourself a haystack of buttered toast, pour yourself some tea, and try to resist the urge to steal the pork pie and brandy from the pantry. Originally produced by the BBC as a TV mini-series, this is the adaptation to see for those who enjoy Dickens for enjoyment's sake. All the characters are here, and all your favorite scenes from the novel (with the exception of Wemmick's wedding scene, one of the most delightful comic scenes from the book, which is sadly absent).

Okay, so the acting is not superb, the settings often seem stagey, and Julian Amyes is not about to win any awards for originality, but this is a production that is to be enjoyed in spite of its flaws, a movie that is to be treasured for its faithfulness, not for its artistic merit. Its length may seem daunting, but, like Dickens' novel, this was created as a serial and may be enjoyed over the course of a week or more. There are certainly much worse ways to spend 351 minutes of your life. Enjoy the film!

NOTE: For those looking for a more earnest, concise production of 'Great Expectations', the 1999 Julian Jarrold version that ran on Masterpiece Theatre is highly recommended.

I have watched many different versions of this book, and this one is the ONLY one that has been able to recreate the story with the detail you want to get from a good adaptation of a classic into cinema. Great!!! (had the vhs needes de DVD)

I was hesitant to watch this because I feared Dickens would be too dreary. However I put it on and, to my delight I was quickly drawn in to this wonderful tale. It was not all bleakness! The story is so dense and rich, like a good, old-fashioned meat and potatos meal---not the depressing ambiguous things that pass for art films these days. The acting is good, with Gerry Sundquist as the adult Pip, probably the weakest of the cast. Some of the supporting actors were magnificent.

Some reviewers complained about the length. To me, it gave us the chance to really live in the novel. I watched it over two nights and had become so engrossed in the story that I was sorry when it was finished.

All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable film!

Mr. Dickens wrote the strange story "Great Expectations" in 1861, after leaving his wife. Mr. Dickens married his wife Catherine in 1836. They were married 21-years; during which he wrote his great novels: "Oliver Twist"-1839, "A Christmas Carol"-1843, and "David Copperfield"-1850. Mr. Dickens left his wife and mother of ten children, about 1857.

Unlike "Great Expectations", Mr. Dickens's great novels follow a high-minded thought; balance with moments of cheer, triumph for the main character, adventure, and interesting characters. A novel is not a classic just because it is: old, assigned by your English teacher, or written by the writer of other novels indeed brilliant. "Great Expectations" has portions which show Mr. Dickens's ability; however overall it lacks the charm and elements that make his other stories great, true, enjoyable, classics.


This 1981-version has a better first episode than the 1999-version; but then drags painfully; wearing the viewer out. Too much time on the dreary. The 1999-version leaves you empty in the end. The 1947-version of "Great Expectations" is best; with John Mills, father of Haley Mills. The 1947-version pulls out the cheerier portions of the novel and focuses on them, for a story of some interest.

Mr. Dickens's, "Nicholas Nickelby", written in 1839, is better.

What started out to be a suspensful movie dragged in the last several episodes. I found myself begging for it to finish, and even then, the ending was very dull. My daughter and I finished the over 300 minute movie with an "Oh, well." We love period movies, but this one is better borrowed or rented than bought for a library. I will admit the Old Miss Haversham was the most enjoyable character to watch. I would recommend other Dickens Classics such as "Our Mutual Friend."

I agree with the other reviews about too much emphasis on the bleak, and dragging on interminably. No movement. No captivation. Unfortunately filmed in short segments, so you have to deal with opening and closing credits, etc. frequently.

I did find it hard to follow the dialog with the various dialects of the characters, so I wanted to use subtitle. Alas! Subtitles are not enabled on DVDs in this series (BBC white covers). I switched from viewing the DVD via the component connection to viewing via the coax "VCR" connection. That allowed me to take advantage of the television's closed captioning capabilities. However, I had to sacrifice picture quality.