From the moment the new adaptation of Great Expectations opened, viewers knew that this was not going to be their grand daddy’s sentimental interpretation of Charles Dickens’ classic. I struggled with how to review this PBS special, which aired last night, and realized that I could only do it through visuals. In the first 15 minutes, with very little dialogue, cinematographer Florian Hoffmeister captures the essence of Pip’s bleak life and visually sets up the rest of the plot. (Problems with the coloration of the screen captures must be blamed on my poor photo editing skills, not the cinematographer’s!) If you missed the first episode, you can watch it online until May 1.
Like some preternatural creature, Magwitch rises from the marsh waters. One of the ships in the background is the prison ship from which he escaped.
It is said that Ray Winstone has always wanted to play Magwitch
These scenes were shot in Tollesbury Wick Marshes in Essex, known for its wildlife. The fog adds to the sense of isolation.
Sketch of the church on the marsh. David Roger, production designer. Image @PBS Masterpiece Great Expectations. How much of these scenes were due to CG design?
Our first view of Pip (Oscar Kennedy) is at his parent's graveside. The smaller stones represent his dead siblings. "There were five of us," he told Miss Havisham sadly. So far, other than the booming of the ship's cannon, not a word has been said.
Pip should have been mortally scared of Magwitch and never come near him again. There is nothing pretty about their first encounter.
Pip's run to the Forge, where he lives with his sister and her husband, Joe Gargery, shows how isolated this section of the country is - flat, with few landmarks on the horizon. It would be nearly impossible for Magwitch to find a hiding place.
Orlick (Jack Roth)is Joe Gargery's assistant and no friend of Pip's. In this scene he almost looked like a zombie appearing through the mists. His encounter with the boy as he runs home to find a file for Magwitch is filled with hate and jealousy on Orlick's side, and dread on Pip's. It sets a malevolent tone to an already edgy opening.
The Forge is little more than a hovel.
This scene is quiet and pivotal. For many precious moments, Magwitch does not speak or move when he understands what Pip is offering him. Knowing how harsh Pip's life is, I too was moved by the boy's generosity.
The marsh lands through Florian Hoffmeister's lens are harsh and unforgiving. Magwitch can only cling under the platforms in the muck, but he will have no place to go when the tide rises.
This fight in the muck was elemental. I flinched as I watched this. At this point we are only 10 or 12 minutes into the film and I could not pull my eyes away.
Magwitch is caught, covered with mud and blood, yet still defiant. It is obvious that he has the grit, determination, and ingenuity to escape again.
In all these early scenes, only Joe Gargery (Shaun Dooley) shows Pip genuine love, concern, and kindness. His steady support of Pip provides the only real stability in the young boy's life.
The travelers journey through what seems to be a flat, bleak land. As observers of wildlife know, marshes teem with life, offering food for scores of creatures, both transient and permanent.
The two travelers are mere specks in this vast landscape. It would seem to be a perfect dystopian setting for The Hunger Games.
My next visual review will take us into Miss Havisham’s house. Great Expectations, 2011 was directed by Brian Kirk and adapted for the screen by writer Sarah Phelps. The cinematographer was Florian Hoffmeister and the production designer was David Roger. I commend them all for setting the stage so well for Pip’s story. Young Oscar Kennedy plays a compelling young Pip who stirred my heart strings.
Read the fabulous interview with production designer David Roger at this link.
The following links describe the Tollesbury Wick Marshes in Essex.
Google map of Tollesbury marshes
Jane Austen's World 
Thank you for posting these pictures. I watched this last evening and was struck by how the landscape was so perfect for Dickens’ story. He frequently uses the weather and the landscape almost as characters in his novels. I was also struck with the almost total absence of color, or at least bright colors, in this film. It wil be interesting to see if Pip’s experiences in London are shown in the same muted and dark colors or if this world will be brighter.
I enjoy reading your blog and all the interesting articles that you post.
We saw this adaption at Christmas here in the UK. I had some reservations, but you are right, the visuals are utterly stunning and capture the message of the book.
I loved Gillian Anderson as Miss Haversham, that idea of the spoilt young woman who has never really grown up and still has a child’s self-absorption an unconscious ability to be cruel absolutely riveting. Satis House was just as I imagined it.
Enjoy the second part – I’m envious!
I watched part 1 last night and loved it. I have not read the book yet, but it’s on my list for this year. I too thought Gillian Anderson was brilliant–and SO creepy. The visuals in this movie are wonderful. Thanks for the review!
Yes, this is a weird approach to Dickens but so are a lot of Masterpiece Dickens. I couldn’t finish watching the Old Curiosity Shop. So far this one isn’t too bizarre. The expression on Magwitch’s face when Pip hands Magwitch a piece of pie is fantastic.
I just recently saw this series and enjoyed it a great deal. I thought it visually beautiful, and the actors did a good job, as far as I can judge. To my shame, though, I have to admit I have not read the book.
I have read the book several times, but have not yet seen the series (I have Part 1 on the DVR). These pictures are just how I imagined Pip’s encounters Magwitch. The cinematographer and/or director is/are brilliant.
I remember reading and watching an adaptation of GE in junior high and really enjoying it. This production is vastly different from what I expected but I love the cinematography. It’s so bleak. I’m madly in love with young Estella’s dresses. My mom and I thought Gillian Anderson looks too young to be Miss Havisham. Her acting is very good though.
I also saw this adaptation at Christmas in the UK and loved it – the visuals, especially the dark and threatening weather, were so appropriate for Dickens and especially for Great Expectations. Gillian Anderson was a brilliant Miss Haversham and I was pleasantly surprised by how touching Ray Winstone was as Magwitch.
Enjoy Part 2!!
I am an English and Drama teacher from Australia. I feel that this version was extremely disappointing. Estella’s character was far to modern. Miss Havisham’s role was played in a wousy Elphin style, and Pip’s character was entirely unconvincing. The disparity between the young boy and the older Pip was unbelievable. Both actors played their role very differently apart from the obvious physical differences between the two.
I have taught Literature for 22 years. In that time I have never seen a screenplay that not only takes liberties with the text, but also twists the themes. Until this version. Some of my students were simply outraged by the shocking portrayal of Joe and Mrs Gargery. We are meant to care about Joe and Pip. In this version we do not.
Mrs Gargery is far too old and too ordinary to be commented on. Havisham emerges as weak and irresponsible instead of bitter and manipulative.
I feel that appropriations can work beautifully, especially when considering changing the cultural context. But this claimed to be naturalist…and failed. When you write a screenplay, you have to remain true to the key ideas and methods of characterisation. Far too much artistic license was taken by the director.
Thanks guys. Love your blog BTW
janet lynne
Your comments remind me very much of my reaction to the lamentable 2007 ITV interpretation of Mansfield Park, which had me gnashing my teeth at every change in the plot for what seemed no good reason.
I read Great Expectations so long ago *ahem* that every film adaptation I have seen since has colored my memory of Charles Dickens’ words. Compared to the contemporary 1998 version of Great Expectations with Gwynneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke, I admit to liking this film more.
Vic,
I saw a small theatre production of Great Expectations with professional actors off off Broadway and it was far superior to this version. The action moved along and there were no long pauses. As mentioned the BBC is mainly concerned with creating weirdness, their favorite motif.
I’ve never enjoyed Gynneth Paltrow except in Emma and that’s because of the fantastic Jeremy Northrup. Shakespeare in Love and her Great Expectations revealed a very flat personality.
I watched both of the series sequences and was extremely disappointed. It was the visuals that you admire that I found so annoying. I kept thinking as I watched it about the change in people’s tastes by which they don’t seem to want dialogue or have the attention span to endure long scenes. I so much loved the last version of a number of years ago which starred Charlotte Rampling and Ioan Gruffud that the new production can’t seem to hold a candle to that.
There is no excuse for changing the plot.