Great Expectations (1946) (NR)
Dickens' suspenseful tale a great classic for 10+.
(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Seen the movie?
Movie details
- Studio: Criterion Collection
- Directed By: David Lean
- Cast: Alec Guinness, John Mills, Valerie Hobson
- Running Time: 118 minutes
- Release Date: 12/26/1946
- Video/DVD Release Date: 01/12/1999
- Genre: Classic
- MPAA Rating: NR
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that Pip faces a lot of abuse, threats, and difficult situations, complete with foreboding music and characters who are scary to look at. Two main characters die (one engulfed in flames) and Pip nearly dies once. Pip sees criminals hanged. Estella and Miss Havisham are also models of man-hating women, which may offend both sexes and be worth discussing.
Families can talk about how Pip keeps his optimism throughout his life. How important is class standing to him? Why? Does he give up anything about himself to be the kind of gentleman he always wanted to be? Do you ever try to give up or ignore parts of yourself because you want others to like you? It's also a good opportunity to introduce children to the book Great Expectations.
Families can talk about how Pip keeps his optimism throughout his life. How important is class standing to him? Why? Does he give up anything about himself to be the kind of gentleman he always wanted to be? Do you ever try to give up or ignore parts of yourself because you want others to like you? It's also a good opportunity to introduce children to the book Great Expectations.
Message
Social Behavior:
Pip steals from his house for a criminal. Pip's sister is abusive, saying she wishes she never had to care for him. Miss Havisham conspires to have Estella break Pip's heart. The overall message, however, is to be true to yourself, regardless of monetary wealth, and to show your true love no matter what.
Consumerism:
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
The convict chugs brandy and later, Pip and Magwitch share a drink.
Violence
Lots of foreboding and threats of violence, first by Magwitch, then by Pip's sister. Magwitch threatens to "have your heart and liver out" and to eat it. Pip's sister beats him with a switch. Estella slaps Pip on the face. Herbert and Pip box and Pip knocks Herbert down twice, causing him to bleed. Pip sees criminals get hanged. Miss Havisham's dress catches fire and she dies violently. Several men are nearly killed by a ship's engine.
Sex
Pip kisses Estella on several occasions, but only on the cheek.
Language
Lots of abusive language towards Pip, but no swearing.
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Heather Boerner
John Mills stars in GREAT EXPECTATIONS as the adult Pip, the orphan raised by his abusive sister (Freda Jackson) and kindly blacksmith brother-in-law (Bernard Miles). When as a child he's accosted by a fugitive (Findlay Currie) and brings him food and alcohol, Pip begins a journey he never would have expected. He meets the creepy Miss Havisham (Martita Hunt) at her cobwebbed wedding banquet, and the beautiful but cruel Estella. When he inherits a fortune, Pip tries to become the gentleman he's always wanted to be and to win Estella's cold heart. But will he be able to? And who is his mysterious benefactor?
Is it any good?
It's a classic, yes, and it's in black and white, but it's Dickens, so you can still keep your expectations great that kids will find something to capture their attention and imaginations here. Especially when they meet Pip, the incurably optimistic and big-hearted main character, and following him through all the crazy plot twists and turns.
Charles Dickens wrote Great Expectations like many of his other works, as serials for magazines. That means they're set up with plenty of twists and cliffhangers to string readers along. This makes for an even more exciting story, full of mistaken identities, secrets, manhunts, and double-crosses -- all the things many young viewers love. And the characters are fascinating, right down to their names: Uncle Pumblychook, Magwitch, Havisham, Mr. Jaggers. Pip's family may be one J.K. Rowling's inspirations for the Dursleys, the mean guardians in Harry Potter.
Other choices
|
Parents and kids say
Be the first to post a review.
or 
to post a review
Who's your favorite TV holiday special character?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
26%
The Grinch
35%
Frosty the Snowman
11%
Charlie Brown
18%
Shrek
10%
211 votes