Great Expectations (UK, 1946) January 13, 2009

David Lean set a standard for intelligent adaptation with this classic rendering of Charles Dickens' novel about a penniless boy who is elevated to the rank of gentleman by a mysterious benefactor. Starting with its celebrated graveyard opening, 'Great Expectations' is visually magnificent, but the heart of the film lies in its vivid characters, including John Mills as Pip, Finlay Currie as the terrifying yet touching Magwitch, Alec Guinness as Herbert Pocket, Martita Hunt as the eternally jilted Miss Havisham, and Jean Simmons as the haughty young heartbreaker Estella.