Great Expectations *** (1989, Anthony Hopkins, John Rhys-Davies, Ray McAnally, Anthony Calf, Kim Thomson, Jean Simmons) – Classic Movie Review 13,925

Jean Simmons plays Miss Havisham, Anthony Hopkins is Magwich and Ray McAnally is Mr Jaggers in the five-hour 1989 TV miniseries Great Expectations.

Director Kevin Connor’s 1989 British-American TV movie miniseries Great Expectations stars Anthony Hopkins, John Rhys-Davies, Ray McAnally, Anthony Calf, Kim Thomson, and Jean Simmons.

Here’s the sprawling but splendid 1989 mini-series version of the Charles Dickens novel, shown in either three or six episodes, splashing it with a bright new coat of paint that brings it up fresh again.

Jean Simmons (Estella in the classic David Lean 1946 version Great Expectations) now eerily plays Martita Hunt’s Miss Havisham role. In excellent casting, Anthony Calf is Pip, John Rhys-Davies is Joe Gargery, Kim Thomson is Estella, Anthony Hopkins is a barnstorming Magwich and (in his last movie) Ray McAnally is a memorable Mr Jaggers. A handsome production with distinguished acting, plush sets and expert photography, it deserves regular reshowing. The massive running time gives it the room it needs to pay full justice to the Charles Dickens novel, in John Goldsmith’s faithful script.

Kim Thomson plays both young and adult Estella, Adam Blackwood plays Herbert Pocket, Niven Boyd plays Orlick, Susan Franklyn plays Biddy and Martin Harvey plays young Pip.

It was first shown in the US in three parts on The Disney Channel in 1989, and in the UK in six parts on the ITV network in 1991.

Cast: Anthony Hopkins, John Rhys-Davies, Ray McAnally, Anthony Calf, Kim Thomson, Jean Simmons, Sean Arnold, Adam Blackwood, Niven Boyd, Susan Franklyn, Martin Harvey, Frank Middlemass, John Quentin, Hilary Mason, Jonathan Newth.

Great Expectations is directed by Kevin Connor, runs 303 minutes, is made by Harlech Television, Prime Time Television, Tesauro Television, and Walt Disney Television, is released by ITV (UK) and Disney Channel (US), is written by John Goldsmith, is shot by Doug Milsome, is produced by Greg Smith, and is scored by Ken Thorne.

Great Expectations was filmed in the silent era in 1917 and the 1934 American film Great Expectations was the first sound version. It was remade as David Lean’s 1946 British film classic Great Expectations, then for TV as Great Expectations in 1974 with Michael York as Pip, and as the 1989 mini-series Great Expectations with Jean Simmons now eerily playing the Miss Havisham role, and again in Alfonso Cuaron’s 1998 American revised, modernised version Great Expectations with Ethan Hawke, as Great Expectations in 1999 with Ioan Gruffudd as Pip, and as Great Expectations in 2012 with Jeremy Irvine, Helena Bonham Carter, Holliday Grainger, Ralph Fiennes and Robbie Coltrane.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,925

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