Great Expectations
“From the Vivid Pages of Charles Dickens' Masterpiece!”
Synopsis
In this Dickens adaptation, orphan Pip discovers through lawyer Mr. Jaggers that a mysterious benefactor wishes to ensure that he becomes a gentleman. Reunited with his childhood patron, Miss Havisham, and his first love, the beautiful but emotionally cold Estella, he discovers that the elderly spinster has gone mad from having been left at the altar as a young woman, and has made her charge into a warped, unfeeling heartbreaker.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Great Expectations ≣ 1946 ≣ Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2020-10-15
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
John Mills
Pip
Valerie Hobson
Estella
Tony Wager
Young Pip
Jean Simmons
Young Estella
Bernard Miles
Joe Gargery
Francis L. Sullivan
Mr. Jaggers
Finlay Currie
Abel Magwitch
Martita Hunt
Miss Havisham
Alec Guinness
Herbert Pocket
Ivor Barnard
Mr. Wemmick
Freda Jackson
Mrs. Joe
Eileen Erskine
Biddy
George Hayes
Convict
Hay Petrie
Uncle Pumblechook
John Forrest
The Pale Young Gentleman
Torin Thatcher
Bentley Drummle
O.B. Clarence
The Aged Parent
John Burch
Mr. Wopsle
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 26, 1946
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 1, 2000
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$400K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$420K
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.05x
+$20K net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- David Lean
- Screenplay & Story
- David Lean, Ronald Neame, Anthony Havelock-Allan, Kay Walsh, Cecil McGivern
- Original Score
- Walter Goehr
- Original Title
- Great Expectations
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 58m
- Production Budget
- $400K
- Worldwide Gross
- $420K
- Production Studios
- Cineguild, J. Arthur Rank Organisation
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
David Lean
David Lean, Ronald Neame, Anthony Havelock-Allan, Kay Walsh, Cecil McGivern, Charles Dickens
Walter Goehr
Guy Green
Jack Harris
Anthony Havelock-Allan, Ronald Neame
Department Leadership Roster
David Lean
Director
David Lean
Screenplay
Ronald Neame
Screenplay
Anthony Havelock-Allan
Screenplay
Kay Walsh
Screenplay
Cecil McGivern
Screenplay
Ronald Neame
Producer
Walter Goehr
Original Music Composer
Guy Green
Director of Photography
Jack Harris
Editor
Sophie Devine
Costume Design
John Bryan
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Great Expectations.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Great Expectations.
Movie Collection
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Frequently Asked Questions About Great Expectations
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Great Expectations about?
In this Dickens adaptation, orphan Pip discovers through lawyer Mr. Jaggers that a mysterious benefactor wishes to ensure that he becomes a gentleman. Reunited with his childhood patron, Miss Havisham, and his first love, the beautiful but emotionally cold Estella, he discovers that the elderly spinster has gone mad from having been left at the altar as a young woman, and has made her charge into a warped, unfeeling heartbreaker.
Who directed Great Expectations?
Great Expectations was directed by David Lean.
Who stars in Great Expectations?
The principal cast of Great Expectations includes John Mills, Valerie Hobson, Tony Wager, Jean Simmons, Bernard Miles.
When was Great Expectations released and how long is it?
Great Expectations was released in 1946 with a total runtime of 1h 58m.
What was the box office and production budget of Great Expectations?
Great Expectations had a reported production budget of $400K and grossed $420K at the worldwide box office (1.05 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Great Expectations?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Great Expectations was composed by Walter Goehr.
Is Great Expectations based on a book or true story?
Great Expectations is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Charles Dickens".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Great Expectations?
Great Expectations holds official age classifications: CA: 14A; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).