'Great Expectations' (1946), Part I Quiz

Answer: Charles Dickens

'Great Expectations' was a novel, first serialized in by Charles Dickens in the weekly magazine called 'All the Year Round' from 1860 to 1861. The novel has been put to the big screen (and small screen) over a dozen times.

Answer: David Lean

An Englishman, David Lean is widely considered to be one of the great filmmakers of all time. Aside from 'Great Expecations', Lean deftly handled 'Oliver Twist', another Dickens work, in 1948. He is also well-known to have directed a list of magnificent film epics, including 'The Bridge on the River Kwai', 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Doctor Zhivago'. Is last film was 'A Passage to India', released in 1984.

Answer: 2

Sadly, David Lean did not win for Best Director (he would later win for both 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' and 'Lawrence of Arabia'), though he was certainly deserving. The film was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Writing/Screenplay, but lost.

It won awards for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White (John Bryan and Wilfred Shingleton) and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (Guy Green).

Answer: Money

That night, Pip awakens in a fright, gathers up the items in question and returns with them to the graveyard. Magwitch very thankfully takes the 'wittles' and the drink, and employs the file to release himself from his prison chains. He never forgets the young lad for his thoughtfulness and bravery.

Magwitch is ably played by Finlay Currie, veteran character actor that you might recognize as Balthazar from 'Ben Hur', among other films.

Answer: Joe Gargery

Joe Gargery is a soft-spoken, humble man who happens to be married to Pip's domineering sister. The sister is only ever referred to as Mrs. Joe Gargery in the film, but she appears to wear the pants in the family.

Joe Gargery is played by Bernard Miles, while his wife is portrayed by Freda Jackson.

Answer: Wedding dress

Miss Havisham was once engaged to be married, but her fiancé abandoned her. She is very resentful of men and appears to enjoy encouraging in the love-hate relationship involving Pip and Estella, her adopted daughter. Havisham is portrayed marvelously by actress Martita Hunt in this film.

Answer: Jean Simmons

Jean Simmons is 'introduced' in this film as Estella (though she had several acting roles prior to this one). She is well-known for her roles in many well-loved films, such as 'Black Narcissus', 'Hamlet' (with Olivier) and 'Spartacus'. She only portrays the younger Stella from the first half of the film.

Answer: A fist fight

Anthony Wager portrays the young Pip as a boy, and the other boy (called 'a pale young gentleman') is played by John Forrest. Estella arranges for the fight between the two boys, and Pip easily triumphs during the brief fisticuffs. Later, the boys will become reacquainted as young men, and Pip will discover the young boy's name to be Herbert Pocket.

Answer: Biddy

Biddy is a very kindly woman, played by Eileen Erskine, who eventually comes to fall in love with Joe Gargery. She has a very important discussion with Pip about what it means to become a gentleman. Later in the film, when Pip returns to Joe Gargery's home, the latter has married Biddy.

Answer: France

Estella will leave for France where she will study to become a lady. She allows Pip two kisses, one after his victory over Herbert Pocket in the fistfight and one as he leaves Havisham's home prior to her departure for France.

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