Great Expectations is a 1934 adaptation of the 1861 Charles Dickens novel of the same name. Filmed with mostly American actors, it was the first sound version of the novel and was produced in Hollywood by Universal Studios and directed by Stuart Walker. It stars Phillips Holmes as Pip, Jane Wyatt as Estella and Florence Reed as Miss Havisham.
Critics consider this 1934 version far inferior to the classic 1946 version, made in England and directed by David Lean. A notable link between the two movies is that Francis L. Sullivan played the role of Jaggers in both.
This film differs somewhat from the novel in making Miss Havisham more eccentric than insane. Unlike the novel, she does not wear her bridal veil constantly, does not seem to have really engineered all of Pip's misfortunes with Estella, and dies offscreen of natural causes rather than in a fire.
Plot summary
Cast
Henry Hull as Abel Magwitch
Phillips Holmes as Pip
Jane Wyatt as Estella
Florence Reed as Miss Havisham
Alan Hale as Joe Gargery
Rafaela Ottiano as Mrs. Joe Gargery
George Barraud as Compeyson
Francis L. Sullivan as Mr. Jaggers
Douglas Wood as Wopsle
Forrester Harvey as Uncle Pumblechook
George P. Breakston as Pip, as a Child
Harry Cording as Orlick
Eily Malyon as Sarah Pocket (billed as Eily Malyan) Anne Howard as Estella, as a Child Walter Armitage as Herbert Pocket Walter Brennan as Prisoner on Ship (uncredited)
References
External links
American historical films
American black-and-white films
Films based on Great Expectations
Films directed by Stuart Walker
1930s historical films
Films set in London
Films set in England
Films set in the 19th century
Films scored by Edward Ward (composer) 1930s English-language films 1930s American films Films produced by Carl Laemmle Jr.