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Great Expectations
The first of David Lean’s two Dickens adaptations is one of the finest British literary interpretations and one of the most acclaimed of all British films.
Director: David Lean
Overview
The first of David Lean’s two Dickens adaptations is one of the most acclaimed of all British films. The story of a young man whose moral progress is shaped by two crucial childhood experiences: the traumatic encounter with Magwitch, an escaped convict, and his association with the eccentric Miss Havisham and her protegée Estella.
At 38, John Mills may have been the oldest onscreen Pip but he’s also the most impeccable, capably supported by a fine cast of British acting talent including Martita Hunt (Miss Havisham), Alec Guinness (Herbert Pocket) and Jean Simmons (Estella). David Lean and director of photography Guy Green’s highly cinematic interpretation was awarded the Academy Award for Best Cinematography upon its release, and has since been voted the fifth greatest British film in BFI’s 1999 poll. Restoration supported by The David Lean Foundation.
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