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 originally in two parts between 12 and 13 April 1999,^[1] and on Masterpiece Theatre in the US.

Great Expectations
Based on	Great Expectations 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
Production companies	BBC Worldwide WGBH
Original release
Network	BBC Two
Release	12 April 1999 (1999-04-12)

Plot

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

• 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
• Laila Morse as Molly
• Daniel Evans as Herbert Pocket
  • Laurence Dobiesz as Young Herbert
• James Hillier as Bentley Drummle

Filming locations

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

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]