Great Expectations

[Stargazer]

This evening on tv have they muddled up Miss Havisham with Dorian Gray?

[jno]

she's not given an age in the book, but there's probably no point in assuming she was 80; people seldom lived that long. Helena Bonham Carter is only a couple of years older. Martita Hunt in the 1948 film was in her 40s.

[HowardKennitby]

Didn't see that as I couldn't commit to the whole thing. From the trailers it looks as if G. Anderson is doing another Lady Dedlock as Miss H.

[Prudie]

It's a bloody horrible book but i agree stargazer my preconceptions found Miss Havisham too young and attractive and Estella not striking enough. I'm not sure if I'll watch any more (not because of that).

[Stargazer]

Prudie and jno, I was particularly interested as my grandson is doing this book for A level English literature and we have been watching the old John Mills, Alec Guinness black and white film with this in mind, as that film is a classic and more closely resembles the characters as portrayed in the book.
Miss Havisham was certainly an embittered and warped older woman as I perceived her to be and Estella much more haughty. I remember that Miss H didn't seem to move from her chair and did not go up and downstairs as she did in this tv version. She did not look at all as old and sour as I had her in my mental image, I also did this book for O level English lit back in 1959 and practically know the dialogue by heart,

[boxtops]

Don't forget she was seen as old to Pip, who was young. When I was his age, everyone over 40 seemed ancient.

[jno]

and now it's only everyone over 140, boxtops.

[jno]

Stargazer, I should have added that the reason I mentioned HBC is that she is also playing Miss Havisham in a forthcoming film.

[missprim]

I fell fast asleep watching this tonight so I can only add it wasn't as good as I thought it would be.

[jno]

and here she is

http://cdn.buzznet.co...t-expectations-01.jpg

[Sir Alec]

I read this book for English O Level and I found a lot of the stories' facts missing.

[paddywak]

I too did Great Expectations for my "A" level English Lit, I wont tell you how long ago and I got the impression from the book that Miss H was considerably older then Pip. I didn't bother watching this version as I was never keen on the book, A Tale of Two Cities though, that's a different matter.

[yogasun]

I love the book but Dickens' description of Miss H implies someone much older as her 'flesh had shrunk' so dress no longer fitted, etc.. Lots changed and omitted unnecessarily. Did anyone hear Joe say 'Wot larks, Pip ole chap, wot larks!' Thought that was quite an important sentence. Maybe I missed it.

[Eve]

I wasn't too fussed early one though I did get more into it and will be watching tonight. I'm the same about thinking Miss Havisham should have been far older and Estella far more stunning and a lot more precious.

[carolegif]

According to Dickens, Miss Haversham is supposed to be in her mid 50's, which was probably older in his day if you see what I mean? I had aunties in their 50's who looked 70, now, they would look much younger!

[boxtops]

That's what I thought, carole.

[Prudie]

At the end of the day one can't deny that Gillian Anderson looked under 30 in this version!

[Eve]

Gillian Anderson is 43, looks way too young. They could have easily aged her.

[Mosaic]

She certainly did a good old crone as Mrs Castaway in 'The Crimson petal'

[pastafreak]

Maybe Miss Havisham is 'frozen in time'- a bit like the house she lives in....
She did appear to be disintegrating, and looking more fragile in tonight's episode.

[cazzz1975]

I watched the 1946 film a week or so ago and prefer that version to this new series :/