Analysis of the Opening Scene of the BBC Production of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Analysis of the Opening Scene of the BBC Production of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

This essay will analyse the opening scene of the BBC production of

‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens. It will comment on the

different sounds, lighting, editing, camera movement and mise en scene

I will also observe how these techniques create dramatic tension and

how they can set a mood for the rest of the film.

The novel ‘Great Expectations’ is about a boy named Pip. His parents

die and leave him under his sister and her husband Joe Gargery’s care.

In the opening scene, which is what we will be analysing, Pip meets an

escaped convict called Magwitch. Magwitch chases him through a corn

field and corners him in a graveyard. Pip then helps the convict by

bringing him food and rum. His sister craves money and a high social

status so she sends Pip off to Miss. Havisham at Satis house to play

with her niece, Estella. Miss. Havisham and Estella both humiliate

Pip; he becomes ashamed to come from such a poor background. He then

decides he wants to be more than a blacksmith’s apprentice and he is

given the chance to become a gentleman. He is helped by a secret

benefactor who he assumes to be Miss. Havisham. Once he finds out his

benefactor is actually Magwitch the convict he is embarrassed to know

his fortune is just a sham. The lesson to be learnt is that money and

status isn’t everything.

Lighting is used during film making to create all sorts of moods. A

bright light could mean something loving or happy is happening this is

typical lighting in films such as children’s. Darker lighting is most

commonly used to symbolise something creepy...

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...has it quiet then

he slowly zooms in on Pip and brings him to focus that’s when he

starts running and then starts to follow.

Another aspect is editing. Once all of the scenes have been filmed the

director has gone through and edited it to create an opening scene.

First his has cut down the length he has done this to create the sense

that the chase was quick and frightening. He has also merged the

picture slightly to show speed in Pips running. This is ever so

slightly and can be hardly recognised but many directors use this

method to mess with the viewers mind.

Overall this is a very successful opening scene and engages the

audience to follow on with the rest of the film. It creates suspense

and tensions. It shows the viewers that the following film will be

full of scenes with just as good editing, effects ect.