Charles Dicken's classic tale of a po'boy, who through one act of kindness, ends up a privileged lad has never been done better than David Lean's 1946 version (yes, he of Lawrence of Arabia; A Passage to India; Dr. Zhivago; Oliver Twist and the Bridge on the River Kwai). Pip's story remains at its best when read granted, but Anthony Havelock-Allan's dumbed down (with kindness) version in Lean's capable hands gives us a fair flavour of Dicken's spirit. Yes, that is a very young Alec Guinness as Herbet Pocket and yes, that is an even younger Jean Simmons playing young Estella, the lass Pip's life is forever tied it. Acted superbly with nary a missed beat and shot with aplomb at Denham Studios, it puts all other versions - be they film or television - to shame; including Alfonso Cuaron's embarrassing 1998 effort better titled Middling Expectations. After the book, this is the definitive version of Great Expectations.
My rating 10 out of 10.
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