Great Expectations (1999 film)
Great Expectations is a 1999 television film adaptation of Charles Dickens’s 1861 novel of the same name. It was aired on BBC Two in the UK,[1] and on Masterpiece Theatre in the US.
| Great Expectations | |
|---|---|
| Based on | Great Expectations 1861 novel by Charles Dickens |
| Written by | Tony Marchant |
| Directed by | Julian Jarrold |
| Starring | Ioan Gruffudd Justine Waddell Charlotte Rampling Bernard Hill Clive Russell Ian McDiarmid Daniel Evans Emma Cunniffe Alex Holbrook James Hillier |
| Theme music composer | Maurice Jarre & Joe Pereira |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original languages | English Greek |
| Production | |
| Producer | David Snodin |
| Cinematography | David Odd |
| Editor | Chris Gill |
| Running time | 168 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Release | 12 April 1999 (UK) 9 May 1999 (U.S.) |
Plot edit
A young boy called Pip stumbles upon a hunted criminal who threatens him and demands food. A few years later, Pip finds that he has a benefactor. Imagining that Miss Havisham, a rich lady whose adopted daughter Estella he loves, is the benefactor, Pip believes in a grand plan at the end of which he will be married to Estella. However, when the criminal from his childhood turns up one stormy night and reveals that he, Magwitch, is his benefactor, Pip finds his dreams crumbling. Although initially repulsed by his benefactor, Pip gradually becomes loyal to him and stays with him until his death.
Cast edit
- Ioan Gruffudd as Pip
- Gabriel Thomson as Young Pip
- Justine Waddell as Estella
- Gemma Gregory as Young Estella
- Emma Cunniffe as Biddy
- Laura Aikman as Young Biddy
- Charlotte Rampling as Miss Havisham
- Bernard Hill as Magwitch
- Clive Russell as Joe
- Ian McDiarmid as Jaggers
- Daniel Evans as Herbert Pocket
- Laurence Dobiesz as Young Herbert
- James Hillier as Bentley Drummle
Filming locations edit
The production filmed at a number of Kent locations including Sheerness Docks, Kingswear Castle Paddlesteamer, Chatham Docks and the River Medway[2] and in Edinburgh.[3]
Awards edit
In 2000, it won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Costume Design, but failed to win Best Design, Best Make Up/Hair, Best Photography and Lighting (Fiction/Entertainment) and Best Sound (Fiction/Entertainment).[4] It had also won the 1999 RTS Craft & Design Award for Best Sound in Drama; Best Production Design in Drama; Best Lighting, and Photography & Camera; and was nominated for Best Tape & Film Editing in Drama.[4] It was nominated for, but did not win, the 1999 Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries.[4]
References edit
- ^ "Great Expectations". The Radio Times. No. 3921. 8 April 1999. p. 74. ISSN 0033-8060. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office Great Expectations Film Focus".
- ^ (2014) "Edinburgh the film set", Film Edinburgh, Page 9
- ^ a b c "Awards for Great Expectations (1999) (TV)". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
External links edit
- Great Expectations at BBC Online
- Great Expectations at IMDb
- Great Expectations at AllMovie
- Great Expectations at the TCM Movie Database