Great Expectations (1946)

In the rustic world of 19th-century England, a young and naive orphan named Pip finds himself entangled in a web of unexpected events and circumstances that dramatically shape his destiny. Raised under the protective wing of the affable blacksmith Joe Gargery and his domineering, hot-tempered wife, Pip's life is anything but ordinary. His path crosses with two pivotal figures: an escaped convict, menacing yet oddly sympathetic, and the haughty Estella, the adopted daughter of the reclusive, well-heeled Miss Havisham, who resides in a decaying mansion shrouded in mystery and melancholy. A chance encounter with the fugitive convicts forces Pip into a precarious position. Under the menacing threat of a dire fate, Pip aids the convicts, an act that triggers a chain of events that will forever alter his life. The convicts are eventually captured, with the more benign of the two shouldering the blame for Pip's transgression. Meanwhile, Pip is drawn into the murky world of Miss Havisham and Estella. He becomes Estella's playmate, experiencing a whirlwind of emotions as he navigates the choppy waters of their complex relationship. Despite Estella's cold demeanor and Miss Havisham's strange fixation on heartbreak, Pip finds himself irreversibly smitten by Estella, the first spark of beauty in his otherwise simple life. Fate then intervenes, spiraling Pip from his humble existence to a life of opulence and sophistication in London, courtesy of an enigmatic benefactor. Thrust into the world of the gentry, Pip is educated and groomed into a gentleman, luxuriating in an abundant allowance and the company of the affable Mr. Pocket. However, as he ascends the social ladder, Pip morphs into a snob, a transformation that leaves him wrestling with guilt and shame. Years of living in affluent idleness pass before the startling truth about his benefactor emerges, shattering Pip's assumptions about Miss Havisham and unveiling hidden layers to Estella's story. As Pip grapples with the reality of his benefactor's identity and the profound lessons it carries, he embarks on a quest to rediscover the genuine essence of joy and life. This journey of self-discovery forms the crux of a tale steeped in mystery, love, and the relentless pursuit of great expectations.

Great Expectations is a drama movie featuring John Mills and directed by David Lean.

Great Expectations is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Freevee, Plex, Plex Player, Popflick, Shout! Factory TV, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV and it's also available on Criterion Channel, FlixFling, Max and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Great Expectations on Amazon Video, Apple TV and FlixFling.