Great Expectations (2011)

Great Expectations (2011) (DVD) (*)

~~$26.99~~ $20.97

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
English ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2&4 )

Running Time:
175 min

Aspect Ratio:
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 2011 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Brian Kirk

Written By:
Brian Kirk

Actors:
Douglas Booth ..... Pip
Jack Roth ..... Dolge Orlick
Ray Winstone ..... Abel Magwitch
David Suchet ..... Jaggers
Paul Rhys ..... Compeyson
Shaun Dooley ..... Joe Gargery
Gillian Anderson ..... Miss Havisham
Vanessa Kirby ..... Estella
Mark Addy ..... Pumblechook
Harry Lloyd ..... Herbert Pocket
Mary Roscoe ..... Hannah (2 episodes, 2011)
Paul Ritter ..... Wemmick
Tom Burke ..... Bentley Drummle
Steve Lately ..... Mike (2 episodes, 2011)
Susan Lynch ..... Molly (2 episodes, 2011)
Claire Rushbrook ..... Mrs. Joe
Perdita Weeks ..... Clara (2 episodes, 2011)
Frances Barber ..... Mrs. Brandley (2 episodes, 2011)

Synopsis:

On a cold winter's day, orphan Pip has a terrifying encounter with an escaped convict. Pip's innocent act of kindness towards this man is to have far reaching consequences for them both. Meanwhile, Miss Havisham, the reclusive owner of the grand and dilapidated Satis House, has requested Pip's presence as a playmate to her beautiful but cold-hearted daughter, Estella.
Then Pip's life is suddenly transformed by the generosity of a secret benefactor. Pip abandons his loving home on the marshes for the life of a London gentleman, hoping to win Estella's hand. But the encounters of his childhood are to haunt him and shape the man he becomes. Sarah Phelps' gripping adaptation brings out the very best of Dickens' masterpiece - part thriller,
part mystery, with a powerful love story at its heart.

Part One
An escaped convict Abel Magwitch (Ray Winstone) hides on the marshes when he happens upon the young Pip (Oscar Kennedy). Learning that he is an orphan in the care of his sister (Claire Rushbrook) and her husband the blacksmith Joe Gargery (Shaun Dooley), he sends Pip to steal a file so he can free himself from his chains. Pip also steals a slice of pie for the convict, who is stunned by the boy's kindness. On the way back Pip comes across Magwitch's fellow escapee (Paul Rhys) only identifiable by having a scar over his eye. Magwitch and the stranger convict fight but are pulled apart by soldiers who take them back to their prison ship bound for Australia. Pip's uncle (Mark Addy) informs the family that the recluse lady Miss Havisham (Gillian Anderson) has a use for a young boy and he has recommended Pip to her. Joe is cautious but, sure of a reward, Pip's sister sends him to her. Meeting Miss Havisham, Pip finds her a strange ghostly lady who walks her house barefoot and in only her petticoats, he is introduced to her adopted daughter Estella (Izzy Meikle-Small) who looks down on him for his common ways and manners. Pip is brought frequently to the house to become a playmate of the young Estella. While there, he briefly sees the Pocket family and their young son Herbert (Eros Vlahos). The lawyer Jaggers (David Suchet) says that Miss Havisham refuses to see the Pockets, claiming that while they are there she cannot visit 'her room' (the dining hall which is filled with the cobwebbed remains of a wedding feast). Miss Havisham signs a contract whereby she pays for Pip's blacksmith apprenticeship to Joe. Pip is evidently disappointed, because having grown fond of his time at Miss Havisham's, he no longer wants to be a mere blacksmith, and he is even sadder when Miss Havisham says he should no longer come to the house. On their return home they discover that Pip's sister has been attacked they assume by robbers even though it is in fact by Joe's other bitter apprentice and Pip's tormenter Orlick (Jack Roth). With Pip's sister now bedridden Pip settles into his seven-year apprenticeship. Seven years later and Pip (now played by Douglas Booth) is called again to Miss Havisham, who presents him with a now adult Estella (now played by Vanessa Kirby). He is obviously taken with her, but Miss Havisham tells him that she is to go away to Paris before going to London to find a husband. Privately however, Estella tells Pip to forget everyone in that house, and never to come again. Pip is visited again by the lawyer Jaggers, who informs him that he has a benefactor who insists on remaining anonymous, and that this benefactor is to pay for him to move to London and to begin life as a gentleman. The benefactor has stipulated that Pip must not speculate or enquire about the identity of the benefactor, that Pip must simply be known as Pip (and not 'Mr Pip' for example) and has said that they will reveal their identity when Pip achieves his majority (reaches age 21). Before Pip leaves, he pays one more visit to Miss Havisham, who he promises he will not let down. As he leaves, he tells Joe that he assumes that the mysterious benefactor is Miss Havisham, who intends him for Estella.

Part Two
Pip becomes house mates and friends with a grown up Herbert Pocket (Harry Lloyd) after agreeing to leave their past behinds them. Pocket has been cut off by his family since falling in love with a girl with no prospects. Together Pip and Herbert rack up debts drinking in private clubs and Pip manages to become in all outward appearances a gentleman. He is embarrassed when Joe turns up at his club asking why he has had no contact, Joe claims to understand Pip's shame at his family and leaves him to his London life. Pip tells Pocket about his love for Estella but Pocket is wary. He warns Pip that no one knows where Estella has come from, after Miss Havisham was jilted at the altar by her husband-to-be who turned out to be a con artist, she adopted Estella from seemingly nowhere and from 'friends' no one had ever heard of. Pip however returns to Miss Havisham and he and Estella come to London together where he chaperones her, accompanies her to a ball and dines with her beside a river, his feelings growing stronger until the two kiss. At Jaggers' offices Pip is berated for his debts, but Pip insists he must impress Miss Havisham to show that he is a gentleman (despite Jaggers' protest that he mustn't speculate on who his benefactor is). Pip overhears an arrogant client Bentley Drummle (Tom Burke) being told off also by Jaggers for his ways. Pip attempts to befriend him but at a dance he shows attention to Estella and Pip tries to warn him off, later speaking with him at Drummle's club. Drummle laughs at his attempts, taunts him and assures Pip that he knows that he is not a true gentleman. Jaggers' clerk Wemmick also shows disdain for Pip's background but he assists Pip in secretly funding Pocket's new business which allows him to marry the girl that he was thrown out of his family for. Pip's sister dies but after the funeral he leaves Joe and the town behind returning to London once more. Alone in his rooms, Pip awakes to find the convict Magwitch standing away from him, but, tipping money out of a sack, he reveals himself to be the mysterious benefactor and Pip his gentleman.

Part Three
Herbert Pocket stumbles in on this revelation and after being threatened with a knife to his throat by Magwitch learns of all. Pip is wary of Magwitch, believing the money must have come from murder and tries to distance himself from his new benefactor. He then visits Miss Havisham, meeting Drummle there who gloats telling him of his engagement to Estella. Estella reveals that Pip was brought to the house to be a boy to practise breaking hearts on. After Estella leaves, Pip demands Miss Havisham to explain why she led him on to believe that she was his benefactor and that he was meant for Estella. Miss Havisham tells him that she is going to break the arrogant Drummle's heart but Pip assures her that Drummle won't care what Estella does; he tells her that she has denied her only chance to be happy with her schemes. Pocket finds a place for Magwitch to hide with the help of Wemmick, as Jaggers demands for Magwitch to be kept away from him. They discover a large sum of money has been offered for whoever turns in Magwitch, the money put up by a gentleman from Pip's club. Pip is confused and describes him to Magwitch as a man with a scar over his eye, Magwitch reveals his real name to be Compeyson, the man he fought with on the marshes years ago. With the revelation of the name, Pocket and Pip realise Compeyson is the same man who jilted Miss Havisham. Magwitch and Pip talk, with Magwitch assuring him that the money came from working with sheep, not murder. Pip tells him that he has turned his back on his family in the hope of being a gentleman. Estella has married Drummle and letters from home are returned unopened to Miss Havisham. Pip in huge debt, and unwilling to accept Magwitch's money, realises that Pocket's new business is in danger so he goes to Miss Havisham for some money. Reluctantly she gives it to him, saving Pocket's business, then asks his forgiveness to which he accepts before leaving. Looking over old love letters from Compeyson she burns them on a candle and allows herself to be caught up in the flames and burns to death, Pip turns back but is too late to save her. Magwitch reveals that he was married to a woman called Molly and they had a daughter together, but when he went away for work their associate Compeyson tried to rape her, and that it was Molly who gave him his scar as she fought him off. Compeyson reported Molly for attempted murder and she ended up in jail, Magwitch returned to find his wife in jail and was told of his daughter's death. Though his wife was spared hanging by Jaggers (their lawyer), Magwitch began drinking and fell into crime. He ended up arrested for a crime both he and Compeyson had committed, Compeyson being a gentleman received two years, but Magwitch life. Pocket and Wemmick find a trustworthy ship to sail Magwitch away from London and Pip decides to go with him intent on starting again, after all his property is seized. Orlick comes to Pip's rooms and discovers his association with Magwitch, he goes to Compeyson and tells him of it before attacking Pip, yet Pip overpowers him and leaves for the ship. As they row towards the ship, however, Compeyson and guards approach on another boat; intent on killing the man who ruined his life Magwitch stabs Compeyson to death, but is severely beaten by the guards before being taken to prison to await hanging. Pip goes to Jaggers and, on seeing his servant girl Molly, realises that she is Magwitch's Molly, and that after freeing her from jail Jaggers took her on as his servant. He also realises that Estella, who was a baby Jaggers found for his wealthy client, Miss Havisham, to adopt was Molly's child and as such Magwitch's daughter. Pip goes to Magwitch on his deathbed and tells him that his daughter is alive and loved, loved by him, before Magwitch dies. Estella marries Drummle who, after repeatedly abusing his horse, is kicked to death by it, freeing Estella, who also show signs of his abuse with bruised shoulders. She becomes the inheriter of both Miss Havisham's estate and Drummle's. Pip, still in one pound's worth of debt to his collectors, intends to leave London but Wemmick informs him that it has been paid by Joe whom he had written to asking for help. Pip returns home and begs Joe's forgiveness which Joe gives before Pip goes up to Miss Havisham's old house where he finds Estella. The pair share a tender scene in the drive.

Great Expectations is a three-part BBC television drama adaptation by Sarah Phelps of the Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations. Starring Ray Winstone as Magwitch, Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham, Douglas Booth as Pip, Vanessa Kirby as Estella and David Suchet as Jaggers. The adaptation was first broadcast on British television over the Christmas period in 2011. Anderson's casting as Miss Havisham drew attention to the production due to her being a mere 43 compared to other actresses who have played her. However, critical reception was generally positive.

This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 22 February, 2012.

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