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Great Expectations

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One of the great translations of literature into film, David Lean’s Great Expectations brings Charles Dickens’s masterpiece to robust on-screen life. Pip, Magwitch, Miss Havisham, and Estella populate Lean’s magnificent miniature, beautifully photographed by Guy Green and designed by John Bryan.

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Oliver Twist

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Expressionistic noir photography suffuses David Lean's Oliver Twist with a nightmarish quality, fitting its bleak, industrial setting. In Dickens' classic tale, an orphan wends his way from cruel apprenticeship to den of thieves in search of a true home. Here Alec Guinness is the quintessential Fagin, his controversial performance fully restored in Criterion's new digital transfer.

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Disc Features

- The original theatrical trailer
- Subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired

Last week I watched Oliver Twist on TCM for the first time in a long time and was completely blown away by Lean's handling of it. I think many Americans like myself tend to associate Lean so completely with his later epics that we forget just how efficient and entertaining a storyteller he was. (Based solely on this and Great Expectations, I'd rank him alongside John Huston as one of the best adapters of literary works for film.) What I particularly appreciated was that Lean takes his time and pays equal attention to all of the characters, rather than rushing through the early bits as many filmmakers do just to get to the Fagin-Artful Dodger parts. I mean, the long opening with Oliver's mother walking up to the workhouse and the silent scene with Bill Sikes (Robert Newton) and his dog sitting in the room with the body of Nancy are wonderfully atmospheric, and Lean allows them to build slowly. I also liked some of the cross-cutting techniques that Lean employs early on.

I can't remember the last I simply enjoyed a movie so much. It's a real shame that Criterion didn't include any significant extras on their release, though. The film certainly deserves it.

Are these likely to be upgraded by Criterion? I'm assuming these are interlaced, but the transfers (from DVD Beaver caps) look good. The prices are high, but as part of the Great Adaptations box (and with DVDPlanet's upcoming 20% off), they come at a good price and I'm tempted by them. Where's the love for these releases?

MGM was to rerelease these a few years ago, but was cancelled. DVDBeaver claims that they are coming soon though.

Nothing new, but mildly amusing. I just happened to pick up my Great Adaptations box and look at the back, and under the description of Great Expectations, the word "adaptation" is misspelled as "adaptaion". Odd error out of Criterion.

Actually, that's the right spelling. It's just that the text on the older covers are interlaced.

*rimshot*

I received the Great Adaptations set as a gift last year, and I have to say I've rarely enjoyed two films as much as I did these...Criterion did a wonderful job with both of them, they're much sharper and clearer than I'd remembered them being. David Lean's direction (and adaptation, too) is pitch perfect; I especially liked how he streamlined Great Expectations enough to make it viable as a film, yet it doesn't really feel as though anything of importance has been left out.

I haven't watched the other two films in the box yet, but if they were given the same treatment by Criterion, I have a lot to look forward to.

Those who bloop over these titles are missing out on some of the finest cinematography ever committed to film, in Oliver Twist. Pure gorgeous tour de force from a to z.

HerrSchreck wrote:Those who bloop over these titles are missing out on some of the finest cinematography ever committed to film, in Oliver Twist. Pure gorgeous tour de force from a to z.

Yeah, I guess some people just avoid them because they're "old" films, or they're in black-and-white. Too bad...I re-watched Oliver Twist last night and was thoroughly engrossed...the cinematography is incredible, and most of the performances are perfect, especially Alec Guinness as Fagin. Even the child actors were credible, and much less annoying than child actors usually are. For once I watched a film in which children figure prominently without hating children by the end of the film.

That's how good Oliver Twist is.

Just a heads-up to confirm that the new ITV Region 2 DVDs of GREAT EXPECTATIONS and OLIVER TWIST are barebones (save for OT's theatrical trailer) but they are worthwhile nonetheless for the new restorations: contrast and detail are excellent. With those new editions and Optimum's recent resto of HOBSON'S CHOICE, it's a good time to be a fan of early Lean. Even at the current RRP of £7.99 at play and amazon, these are bound to be cheaper than any CC reissue (if they plan to revisit Lean at all).

Mr Finch wrote:Just a heads-up to confirm that the new ITV Region 2 DVDs of GREAT EXPECTATIONS and OLIVER TWIST are barebones (save for OT's theatrical trailer) but they are worthwhile nonetheless for the new restorations: contrast and detail are excellent. With those new editions and Optimum's recent resto of HOBSON'S CHOICE, it's a good time to be a fan of early Lean. Even at the current RRP of £7.99 at play and amazon, these are bound to be cheaper than any CC reissue (if they plan to revisit Lean at all).

Mr. Finch, did you pick up the entire Centenary set? I'm very interested to hear as much as possible about all of these transfers. I've put the bug in The Beaver's ear, but Gary is pretty backlogged as it is without another 10 film set to deal with.

I only bought those three films, starman, sorry. But a friend of mine saw THE PASSIONATE FRIENDS in the restored print at our local arthouse this summer and said it looked very impressive.

denti alligator wrote: Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:12 am Are these likely to be upgraded by Criterion?

It’s quite unbelievable that we’re still waiting on upgrades for these, as well as Summertime and Hobson’s Choice. I realize they’re not the most fashionable films these days, but if there is a market for 4K restorations of Benny Hill films in 2021, surely some pocket change could be spared for David Lean. What could possibly be holding these up?

Matt wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:15 am

denti alligator wrote: Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:12 am Are these likely to be upgraded by Criterion?

It’s quite unbelievable that we’re still waiting on upgrades for these, as well as Summertime and Hobson’s Choice. I realize they’re not the most fashionable films these days, but if there is a market for 4K restorations of Benny Hill films in 2021, surely some pocket change could be spared for David Lean. What could possibly be holding these up?

To be quoted (and get a notification) on a post from 13 years ago is weird, especially when the question posed then seems still to be relevant. And then the person quoting me is the OG Criterionforum.org administrator...

Criterion could do a companion box to the Lean/Coward set with upgrades of Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, Hobson’s Choice, and Sunmertime plus new-to-disc The Passionate Friends and Madeline.

Perhaps “Adapted by David Lean” since they’re all based on existing literary works and Lean also wrote or co-wrote the screenplays in addition to directing.