Great Expectations- The Portrayals of Miss Havisham

Miss Havisham has been recreated in many ways since the book and Make up artists and designers have adapted the character to how the perceive her. This has been obvious with many of the movie adaptations.

Florence Reed- 1934

Directed by Stuart Walker this novel adaptation mainly featured American actors. Many consider this too far from the original because of how they portray Miss Havisham. While in the book it is obvious Miss Havisham brought up Estella to treat men in such a bad way, where as the movie depiction doesn’t show her to be part of Pip’s misfortune. She also doesn’t constantly wear her veil and rather than dying from a fire she dies naturally off screen.  Margaret Donovan was the hair stylist on set, however I feel Miss Havisham’s hair doesn’t mirror the times, there is no middle parting and nothing was framing the face, it was very plain.  Jack P Pierce was the makeup artist.

Reference:

IMDB. (). Great Expectations (1934). Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025202/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast. Last accessed 2nd Feb 2015.

Wikipedia. (20th january). Great Expectations (1934 film). Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Expectations_(1934_film). Last accessed 2 February 2015.

The Telegraph. (). Gillian Anderson, Helena Bonham Carter and Miss Havisham on film. Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8907506/Gillian-Anderson-Helena-Bonham-Carter-and-Miss-Havisham-on-film.html?image=6. Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Martita Hunt- 1946

Directed by David Lean, this British adaptation has won two Academy Awards. Miss Havisham was one of Hunts most famous and remember roles. Roger Ebert wrote of her performance in 1999 “Dominated the film’s early scenes, playing Miss Havisham as a beak-nosed, shabby figure, bedecked in crumbling lace and linen, not undernourished despite her long exile.” George Blackler and Ernest Gasser were the make up artists on set, I feel they have captured the hollowed cheeks and sunken eyes within this look, and the hair looks like it hasn’t been touched for a long time.

Clark, L. (2 July 2010). Return to real lessons: Dickens and key dates in history to be taught to raise standards. Available: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1291188/Modern-students-poor-grasp-history-depressing-says-Schools-minister.html. Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Reference:

wikipedia. (26th January). Great Expectations (1946 film). Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Expectations_(1946_film). Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Imdb. (). Great Expectations (1946). Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038574/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast. Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Wikipedia. (). Martita Hunt. Available: http://www.mtv.com/artists/martita-hunt/biography/. Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Margaret Leighton- 1974

Directed by Joseph Hardy, this was made for US television but released in the UK. Although there were man criticism, Brian McFarlane gave praise to Leighton’s interpretation of Miss Havisham’s character saying “There is a potent sense of the perverse pleasure she takes in watching Estella humiliate Pip, and during a later visit, of real cruelty in her telling him, ‘You’ve lost her”. Leighton injected ‘a necessary bitterness into these scenes.’ The Makeup was also close to what you would expect of Miss Havisham, her eyes look tired with red and dark blue tones. The lips also look chipped and the wrinkles are starting to show on her pale complexion. I would say the hair looks a bit too big for the times, but does show the stress she suffers.

The Telegraph. (). Gillian Anderson, Helena Bonham Carter and Miss Havisham on film. Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8907506/Gillian-Anderson-Helena-Bonham-Carter-and-Miss-Havisham-on-film.html?image=6. Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Reference:

Wikipedia. (22 October 2014). Great Expectations (1974 film). Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Expectations_(1974_film). Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Joan Hickson- 1981

Directed by Julian Amyes this is a BBC TV miniseries. Hickson was 75 when she played Miss Havisham, and many critics said she gave the role “gravitas and authority.” Gwen Arthy was the make up artist on set, she has emphasized the deep wrinkles within her skin that you would expect to see On Miss Havisham at this age. I think the hair follows what you would expect of an early victorian hairstyle, with tight curls sculpting the face and laid in a middle parting.

The Telegraph. (). Gillian Anderson, Helena Bonham Carter and Miss Havisham on film. Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8907506/Gillian-Anderson-Helena-Bonham-Carter-and-Miss-Havisham-on-film.html?image=15. Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Reference:

Grant, B. (28 October 2012). Bridezillas Greatest Expectations. Available: http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/354946/Bridezilla-s-greatest-expectations. Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Jean Simmons- 1989

Another British miniseries on ITV, which was distributed on video in the United States in 1989 but wasn’t broadcast until 1991. Jean Simmons played Estella in the 1946 adaption and returned to Great Expectations as the role of Miss Havisham in 1989. Eithne Fennel was the chief hair stylist and Eddie Knight the key make up artist on set. Once again the concentration in the make up was on her aging skin and dark eyes. Although the hair looked like it hadn’t been touched for years, which is true to the novel, I don’t think the bases of the hairstyle is very true to the times.

The Telegraph. (). Gillian Anderson, Jelena Bonham Carter and Miss Havisham on Film. Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8907506/Gillian-Anderson-Helena-Bonham-Carter-and-Miss-Havisham-on-film.html?image=16. Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Reference:

Wikipedia. (26th October 2014). Great Expectations (miniseries). Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Expectations_(miniseries). Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Imdb. (). Great Expectations (TV Mini Series 1989). Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096601/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast. Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Charlotte Rampling- 1999

Another BBC adaptation of Great Expectations, this won a BAFTA for Best Costume Design. In this they explored the relationships in more depth, even exploring the chemistry between Miss Havisham and Pip. Makeup designs by Fran Needham and artist Nicola Matthews. I think the makeup is accurate in certain elements, however I feel that the red tinge on her lip is a bit too strong for someone who wouldn’t be redoing their makeup. I also think that she doesn’t look very run down as her eyes still seem bright and her skin still glowing so isn’t very real to the character.

Bradley, J . (December 08, 2012). Havisham back story gives Dickens's twisted jilted spinster a soul. Available: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/havisham-back-story-gives-dickenss-twisted-jilted-spinster-a-soul/story-fn9n8gph-1226531465099?nk=3b5e2db1c064836545f20a97396c3872. Last accessed 10th February 2015.

Reference:

Imdb. (). Great Expectations (TV Movie 1999). Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167187/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast. Last accessed 10th February 2015.

Grant, B. (28 October 2012). Bridezillas Greatest Expectations. Available: http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/354946/Bridezilla-s-greatest-expectations. Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Gillian Anderson- 2011

One of my favorite adaptations is the three part television drama by Sarah Phelps. Anderson was one of the youngest actresses to play the character, at only 43. To create such successful makeup there was a number of artists on set, such as Adele Firth, Kirstin Chalmers and Darlene Forrester on makeup and Chris Lyons, Michael Byrne and Kristyan Mallett on prosthetics. I like how Anderson’s lips are cracked, and her eyes are red and tired and her wrinkles aren’t obvious but are there. Her skin is pale from no sunlight and her hair fits the Victorian era. Out of all the Adaptations this is my favorite and I will be using these ideas in my own designs.

red. (16 september 2012). Great Expectations 2011. Available: https://gillianderson.wordpress.com/2012/09/16/great-expectations-2011/. Last accessed 10th February 2015.

Reference:

Wikipedia. (). Great Expectations (2011 TV Serial). Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Expectations_(2011_TV_serial). Last accessed 10th February 2015.

Grant, B. (28 October 2012). Bridezillas Greatest Expectations. Available: http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/354946/Bridezilla-s-greatest-expectations. Last accessed 8th February 2015.

Helena Bonham Carter- 2012

The final adaptation was directed by Mike Newell and distributed by Lionsgate in 2012. There is also a large amount of makeup artist and hair stylists on the set. These include Zoe Brown, Hannah Edwards, Marc Pilcher and Jenny Shircore. Although I think they have got the make up right in terms of red eyes and pale skin, there is a lack of wrinkles which is depicted in the novel.

Fitzmaurice, S and Gould, L. (15 August 2012). Tortured and haggard: Helena Bonham Carter is a convincing Miss Havisham in first look at the new Great Expectations. Available: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2188544/Helena-Bonham-Carter-appears-convincing-tortured-haggard-Miss-Havisham-new-trailer-Mike-Newells-adaptation-Great-Expectations.html. Last accessed 10th February 2015.

Reference:

Wikipedia. (). Great Expectations (2012 film) . Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Expectations_(2012_film). Last accessed 10th February 2015.

Imdb. (). Great Expectations 2012. Available: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1836808/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast. Last accessed 10th February 2015.