There are so many accolades for this version of Charles Dickens’ novel. Leonard Maltin gave it a perfect 4 stars and called it “One of the greatest films ever made”. In 1999, the British Film Institute listed it fifth in the Top 100 British films of the 20th century. It was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and won for Best Cinematography and Art Direction, probably for the signature opening graveyard scene.

David Lean was inspired to direct Great Expectations after watching a stage version in 1939. (Alec Guinness played Herbert Pocket in the play, and Lean cast him in his first speaking role.) This classic story of a poor young orphan who becomes a gentleman thanks to a mysterious benefactor is a fine choice for the top tier of the Internet Archive Top 100.