After gathering quotes from Charles Dickens' book, Great Expectations, describing what Miss Havisham looked like or her characteristics, I decided to select some interpretations of Miss Havisham's character from different films, TV and theatre productions and analyse what I thought of them. I decided to put them in the order of how well I thought the character was portrayed in relation to what was said in the original book.
1. 2012 Film Version
This film version of Great Expectations was directed by Mike Newell and produced by Cliff Curtis, Jana Edelbaum, Peter Hampden and many more. The make-up department for this film included hair/make-up artists Zoe Brown, Hannah Edwards and Marc Pilcher and hair/make-up designer Jenny Shircore. The costume designers were Beatrix Aruna and Pasztor. Miss Havisham was played by actress, Helena Bonham Carter.
This is my favourite portrayal of Miss Havisham because I think it is very true to the original book. She is one of the only versions of Miss Havisham that wears a veil and has decorations in her hair, which is accurate to the book as it says, 'she had a long white veil dependent from her hair, and she had bridal flowers in her hair, but her hair was white'. I also like that her hair looks naturally fray, instead of some of the other portrayals, where the hair looks artificially white. I think that her dress fits the description in the book perfectly as it says she wears 'satins, lace, and silks' that 'has lost its lustre, and was faded and yellow'. The dress looks very Victorian, with the corset and cinched in waist, which is accurate to the time. It says in the book that 'the dress had been put upon the rounded figure of a young women, and that the figure upon which it now ing loose, had shrunk to skin and bone' and I think the actress, Helena Bonham Carter, looks skinny enough and ill enough for this to look true, however I think that the dress should have been bigger so it didn't fit her properly. The book also says that 'the drillings and trimmings on her bridal dress' looked 'like earthy paper' and that her clothes looked 'grave-like' which I think was portrayed very accurate in this film as the dress looks like it has been worn away, ripped in places and very old and dirty. Pip describes Miss Havisham as looking 'ghostly' and she says to Pip that she has 'never seen the sun since you were born'. This gave me the impression that her skin would be very pale, almost white, and because she had never seen the sun for that long, she would have weak bones and a weak immune system because of the lack of vitamin D, and I think that the film portrayed this very accurately.
I really like the makeup in this film because it looks very natural and not obvious. The darkness around her eyes and grey shadows on her face makes her look very ill and like her features are sunken in. I think that in some portrayals Miss Havisham looks too over done and her makeup looks too precise, whereas I like that in this film it looks like her makeup is wearing off and smudging. Her skin all over her body looks dirty and grazed which I really like as she says about her house, 'It and I have worn away together. The mice have gnawed at it, and sharper teeth than teeth of mice have gnawed at me' which gives me the impression that she has been eaten away by time and isn't looking after herself. I found many quotations in the book that show she is getting old and weak and that she is not as healthy and head strong as she once was, for example she is described to have 'withered arms', 'old restless fingers', 'thin arms', a 'ghostly reflection', 'wasting hands' and a 'haggard face'. When Pip first sees Miss Havisham, he describes her as 'the strangest lady I have even seen, or shall ever see'
and I think Helena Bonham Carter fits this roll perfectly, with her big piercing eyes and 'witch-like' and 'old ghastly bridal appearance'.
If I had to add anything to this portrayal of Miss Havisham to improve it, I would have added some jewels around her neck as in the book it says she has some 'bright jewels sparkled on her neck and on her hands', however I can see why they didn't add these as it might have made her look too made up and glamorous and she 'had not quite finished dressing'. Another thing that I think would improve this portrayal would be that the actress looked slightly older, because people aged more quickly in the Victorian times, because of lack of knowledge, so I think she would have looked older and more frail. I would also have made her dress too big for her so that, for example, her bust didn't quite fill the top of the dress, because it says in the book that 'the dress had been put upon the rounded figure of a young women, and that the figure upon which it now ing loose, had shrunk to skin and bone'
which gives the impression that she was once fatter than she is now, which would mean that the dress would be too big for her.
I am really excited at the idea of being able to create my own portrayal of Miss Havisham as I think she is such an intriguing and complex character and I think her appearance could be interpreted in many different ways.
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| Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham. http://i.huffpost.com/gen/395274/HAVISHAM.jpg |
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| http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/11/04/article-20 57429-0EA7A88D00000578-764_634x892.jpg |
This TV series of Great Expectations was directed by Kevin Conner and written by John Goldsmith. The executive producer was Carol Rubin. The key hair stylist was Eithne Fennel and the key makeup artist was Eddie Knight. Miss Havisham was played by Jean Simmons.
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| Jeans Simmons as Miss Havisham. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-65Q6LnjwsMQ/TV7f0ocx0-I/AAAAAAAAA 3I/hZT_N3-u6hI/s1600/great-expectations-jean-simmons.jpg |
3. Theatre Production, 2012
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| Paula Wilcox as Miss Havisham. http://onestoparts.com/files/1097-4380-paula_wilcox__miss_ havisham__in_great_expectations_credit_alastair_muir.jpg |
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| http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Paula+Wilcox+ Great+Expectations+Photocall+esATUpbW6mWl.jpg |
4. 1974 TV Movie
This TV version of the classic Great Expectations novel was directed by Joseph Hardy and written by Sherman Yellen. The executive producer was Norman Rosemont. The costume designers were Joan Bridge and Elizabeth Haffenden. Miss Havisham was played by Margaret Leighton.
5. BBC One mini-series (2011)
The BBC One mini-series was directed by Brian Kirk and the executive producers were Rebecca Eaton and Anne Pivcevic. The make-up artist was Adele Firth and the make-up designer was Kirstin Chalmers. The hair stylist was Luca Saccuman and the prosthetic technician was Michael Byrne. The series costume designer was Annie Symons. Miss Havisham was played by actress, Gillian Anderson. Gillian Anderson is the youngest screen star to play Miss Havisham, at just 43.
6. 1981 TV Mini-Series
This TV series was directed by Julian Amyes and written by James Andrew Hall. The series producer was Barry Letts. The costume designer was Ann Arnold and the makeup artist was Gwen Arthy. Miss Havisham was played by Joan Hickson.
7. 1946 Film Version
This Great Expectations 1946 film was directed by David Lean and produced by Anthony Havelock-Allan and Ronald Neame. The make-up artists for the film were George Blackler and Ernest Gasser. The costume designer was Sophie Devine, assisted by Margaret Furse. Miss Havisham was played by Martita Hunt.
8. 1999 Film Version
This film version was directed by Julian Jarrold and the executive producers were Rebecca Eaton and Micheal Wearing. The make-up designer was Fran Needham and the make-up artists were Nicola Matthews and Eve Wignall. The costume designer was Odile Dicks-Mireaux. Miss Havisham was played by Charlotte Rampling.
This is my least favourite portrayal of Miss Havisham, as I think it sways the further away from her description in the book. I think the actresses age could have worked with the character, but I think they have made her look way too healthy and young. I think it would have been better if they'd aged her more and made her look more ill and tired. I think her makeup and hair is too neatly done, as in the book it states that she doesn't change anything, so I would have thought her hair would have been very messy and falling out and her makeup would have worn off and smudged. The book also states that her hair is white/gray and her hair in this film is brunette. I don't think that her outfit looks withered and yellow and old enough, considering she won't have taken it off in so many years. The combination of her neat makeup and hair and her new looking outfit, gives the impression that she looks after herself and is fully in control of her life, which is not the case at all. I think that the actress is skinny enough, considering Miss Havisham doesn't seem to eat very much, but I think that the dress looks like it fits her well, when in the book it says that she has lost weight since first wearing the dress, meaning the dress would look to big for her. I think that she could have looked more pale, as she doesn't go in the sunlight, but here she looks a healthy colour, which would not have been the case. From reading the book, I got the impression she didn't wash very often, or even at all, so I think she should have looked more dirty, especially on her hands. The book says that her eyes were 'dark' and 'sunken', whereas in this film, her eye bags aren't very visible and her eyes don't look dark or sunken in. It says in the book that she has a 'long white veil dependent from her hair', but in these photos she does not have one. In this two photos her posture looks very good, and even though she was brought up to be a lady, I think that Miss Havisham's posture would be more hunched and slouched looking as it says she had 'withered' arms, which gives the impression she is weak.
1999 TV Show
http://www.imdb.com
http://www.thepublicreviews.com/great-expectations-richmond-theatre-london/
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0012114/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2120719/Staying-sun-wreck-health.html
This TV version of the classic Great Expectations novel was directed by Joseph Hardy and written by Sherman Yellen. The executive producer was Norman Rosemont. The costume designers were Joan Bridge and Elizabeth Haffenden. Miss Havisham was played by Margaret Leighton.
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| Margaret Leighton as Miss Havisham. http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02062/Margaret-Leighton_2062993i.jpg |
5. BBC One mini-series (2011)
The BBC One mini-series was directed by Brian Kirk and the executive producers were Rebecca Eaton and Anne Pivcevic. The make-up artist was Adele Firth and the make-up designer was Kirstin Chalmers. The hair stylist was Luca Saccuman and the prosthetic technician was Michael Byrne. The series costume designer was Annie Symons. Miss Havisham was played by actress, Gillian Anderson. Gillian Anderson is the youngest screen star to play Miss Havisham, at just 43.
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| Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham. http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02063/Gilian-Anderson5_2063010i.jpg |
6. 1981 TV Mini-Series
This TV series was directed by Julian Amyes and written by James Andrew Hall. The series producer was Barry Letts. The costume designer was Ann Arnold and the makeup artist was Gwen Arthy. Miss Havisham was played by Joan Hickson.
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| Joan Hickson as Miss Havisham. http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02062/Joan-Hickson_2062998i.jpg |
7. 1946 Film Version
This Great Expectations 1946 film was directed by David Lean and produced by Anthony Havelock-Allan and Ronald Neame. The make-up artists for the film were George Blackler and Ernest Gasser. The costume designer was Sophie Devine, assisted by Margaret Furse. Miss Havisham was played by Martita Hunt.
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| Martita Hunt as Miss Havisham. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2080115/BBC-critics-say-Douglas-Booth-good-looking.html |
8. 1999 Film Version
This film version was directed by Julian Jarrold and the executive producers were Rebecca Eaton and Micheal Wearing. The make-up designer was Fran Needham and the make-up artists were Nicola Matthews and Eve Wignall. The costume designer was Odile Dicks-Mireaux. Miss Havisham was played by Charlotte Rampling.
This is my least favourite portrayal of Miss Havisham, as I think it sways the further away from her description in the book. I think the actresses age could have worked with the character, but I think they have made her look way too healthy and young. I think it would have been better if they'd aged her more and made her look more ill and tired. I think her makeup and hair is too neatly done, as in the book it states that she doesn't change anything, so I would have thought her hair would have been very messy and falling out and her makeup would have worn off and smudged. The book also states that her hair is white/gray and her hair in this film is brunette. I don't think that her outfit looks withered and yellow and old enough, considering she won't have taken it off in so many years. The combination of her neat makeup and hair and her new looking outfit, gives the impression that she looks after herself and is fully in control of her life, which is not the case at all. I think that the actress is skinny enough, considering Miss Havisham doesn't seem to eat very much, but I think that the dress looks like it fits her well, when in the book it says that she has lost weight since first wearing the dress, meaning the dress would look to big for her. I think that she could have looked more pale, as she doesn't go in the sunlight, but here she looks a healthy colour, which would not have been the case. From reading the book, I got the impression she didn't wash very often, or even at all, so I think she should have looked more dirty, especially on her hands. The book says that her eyes were 'dark' and 'sunken', whereas in this film, her eye bags aren't very visible and her eyes don't look dark or sunken in. It says in the book that she has a 'long white veil dependent from her hair', but in these photos she does not have one. In this two photos her posture looks very good, and even though she was brought up to be a lady, I think that Miss Havisham's posture would be more hunched and slouched looking as it says she had 'withered' arms, which gives the impression she is weak.
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| Charlotte Rampling as Miss Havisham. http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2012/12/06/1226530/563728-121208-rev-rampling.jpg |
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| http://junkee.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/greatexpectations.jpg |
1999 TV Show
This is a modernised version of Charles Dickens' classic novel of Great Expectations. It was directed by Alfonso Cauron, the screenplay was written by Mitch Glazer and the show's executive producer is Deborah Lee. The costume designer was Judianna Makovsky. The key makeup artist was Cecilia Verardi and the key hair stylist was Angel De Angelis. Anne Bancroft played Ms Dinsmoor, who is a modernised version of the character Miss Havisham.
I didn't include this interpretation in my ranking because this character is just loosely based on Miss Havisham. However I still wanted to include it in my post because it was so different and unique from the others.
Resources:I didn't include this interpretation in my ranking because this character is just loosely based on Miss Havisham. However I still wanted to include it in my post because it was so different and unique from the others.
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| Anne Bancroft as Ms Dinsmoor. http://refash.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/annelast.jpg |
http://www.imdb.com
http://www.thepublicreviews.com/great-expectations-richmond-theatre-london/
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0012114/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2120719/Staying-sun-wreck-health.html
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