''Great Expectations'' is a British-American television serial based on

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

' 1861 novel of the same title. The serial was first broadcast in the US in three parts on

The Disney Channel Disney Channel, sometimes known as simply Disney, is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Compan ...

in 1989, and in the UK in six parts on the ITV network in 1991. Jean Simmons, who played the role of the young Estella in the 1946 movie, played Miss Havisham in the 1989 version. Other key roles include

John Rhys-Davies John Rhys-Davies (born 5 May 1944) is a Welsh actor best known for portraying Sallah in the ''Indiana Jones'' franchise and Gimli in ''The Lord of the Rings'' trilogy. His other roles include Michael Malone in the 1993 series ''The Untouch ...

as Joe Gargery,

Ray McAnally Ray McAnally (30 March 1926 – 15 June 1989) was an Irish actor. He was the recipient of three BAFTA Awards in the late 1980s: two BAFTA Film Awards for Best Supporting Actor (for ''The Mission'' in 1986 and ''My Left Foot'' in 1989), and ...

as Jaggers, Anthony Calf as the adult Pip,

Kim Thomson Kim Ellen Thomson (born 30 October 1959) is an English actress who has appeared on stage, television and film since the early 1980s in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Early life Thomson was born on 30 October 1959, altho ...

as both young and adult Estella,

Adam Blackwood Adam Blackwood (1539–1613) was a Scottish author and apologist for Mary, Queen of Scots. Early life He was born in 1539 in Dunfermline, Scotland, to William Blackwood and Helen Reid. The great-nephew of Robert Reid, Bishop of Orkney (1541-1 ...

as Herbert Pocket,

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...

as Abel Magwitch, Niven Boyd as Orlick, Susan Franklyn as Biddy and Martin Harvey as young Pip. Having the same actress play Estella as a child and adult provided a smoother transition in following the character than in some adaptations.

Serial format

The drama serial format, running five hours, enabled much more of the original story to be filmed than other versions, allowed the restoration of significant characters omitted in other versions, such as Orlick and Wopsle, and the better examination of the roles of other characters, such as Biddy, Drummle, Miss Havisham and the adult Estella. The result is more understandable plot development, and the revelation of themes of the work that tend to be obscured in shorter versions, such as class striving and the values of character vs. wealth. This version takes relatively few liberties with characters and plot turns, and adheres closely to Dickens' published ending.

Plot summary

Cast

as Magwitch * Jean Simmons as Miss Havisham *

as Joe Gargery *

as Mr Jaggers * Anthony Calf as Pip *

as Estella *

as Herbert * Martin Harvey as Young Pip * Susan Franklyn as Biddy * Rosemary McHale as Mrs Gargery * Niven Boyd as Orlick *

Sean Arnold Sean Arnold (30 January 1941 – 15 April 2020) was an English actor. For his role as Harry Fisher in the BBC soap opera '' Doctors'', he was nominated for Villain of the Year at the 2005 British Soap Awards. Arnold was born in January 1941 ...

as Compeyson *

Frank Middlemass Francis George Middlemass (28 May 1919 – 8 September 2006) was an English actor, who even in his early career played older roles. He is best remembered for his television roles as Rocky Hardcastle in '' As Time Goes By'', Algy Herries in '' To ...

as Uncle Pumplechook * John Quentin as Mr Wopsle *

Preston Lockwood Reginald Herbert Lockwood (30 October 1912 – 24 April 1996), known professionally as Preston Lockwood, was an English radio and television actor. The only son of bus driver Herbert Lewis Lockwood and his wife Ethel May (née Preston), Lockwood ...

as Mr Hubble *

Eve Pearce Eve Pearce (17 April 1929 – 13 January 2023) was a Scottish actress. She performed in many Royal Shakespeare Company productions. Early life Eve Pearce was born in Aberdeen to a very poor family and was brought up in a one-roomed tenement, h ...

as Mrs Hubble * Simon Warwick as Startop

Locations

Harty Church on the

Isle of Sheppey The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England, neighbouring the Thames Estuary, centred from central London. It has an area of . The island forms part of the local government district of Swale. ''Sheppey'' is derive ...

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

was used for the moment when young orphan Pip, whilst visiting his parents' grave, meets the escaped convict, Abel Magwitch. Upnor Village was used as the home of Herbert Pocket's fiancée Clara's house. Upnor Lighthouse is visible as Pip docks in the village.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Great Expectations 1989 Films based on Great Expectations Films shot at Pinewood Studios Television series produced at Pinewood Studios 1991 British television series debuts 1991 British television series endings 1990s British drama television series ITV television dramas 1990s British television miniseries Television shows based on Great Expectations English-language television shows Television series by ITV Studios Television shows produced by Harlech Television (HTV) Television shows set in Kent Films directed by Kevin Connor