Great Expectations

1946 NR 1h 58m 7.8

A humble orphan boy in 1810s Kent is given the opportunity to go to London and become a gentleman, with the help of an unknown benefactor.

Pip, a good-natured, gullible young orphan, lives with kind blacksmith Joe Gargery and his bossy, abusive wife "Mrs. Joe". When the boy finds two hidden escaped galley convicts, he obeys under, probably unnecessary, threat of a horrible death to bring the criminals food. He must steal at peril of more caning from the battle-ax. Just when Pip fears to get it really good while they have guests, a soldier comes for Joe who takes Pip along as assistant to work on the chains of the escaped galley-convicts, who are soon caught. The better-natured one takes the blame for the stolen food. Later Pip is invited to became the playmate of Estella, the equally arrogant adoptive daughter of gloomy, filthy rich Miss Havisham at her estate, who actually has "permission" to break the kind kid's heart. Being the only pretty girl he ever saw, she wins his heart forever, even after a mysterious benefactor pays through a lawyer for his education and a rich allowance, so he can become a snob in London, by now "ashamed" of simple Joe. Only after years in idle wealth, Pip learns Havisham is not his benefactor as he assumed, and both her story and those of his real sponsor and Estella.

Great Expectations background

Watch Now

Streaming in:

United States flag

Info about Great Expectations

Studio(s): Cineguild, J. Arthur Rank Organisation

Originally Released: United States on Dec 26, 1946

Production Country:

Genres: Drama, Romance, Adventure, Mystery

Currently you are able to watch "Great Expectations" streaming on Max, The Criterion Channel, Hoopla or for free with ads on Shout! Factory TV, Tubi TV, Amazon Freevee, Plex, The Roku Channel. It is also possible to rent or buy on Amazon, AppleTV online.