dennisleecleven

I admire Joey Carbstrong for his many short videoes on social media and also on television in the UK. He has a strong grasp on logical discussion which I greatly admire. I like the fact he chose one species for this film instead of all animals used for food. That has been done in "The Animals' Film", "Cowspiracy", "Earthlings" and "Dominion" to name a few. Here, the focus is on the very intelligent pig.

If you are hesitant about seeing this film, you might ask why it would be disturbing since it is not upsetting to buy a pork roast or bacon at the grocery store, so why not see how it got to be in your shapping cart at the store? You'd not have qualms about seeing peas harvested or apples picked from the tree, so why do you squirm to see how pork chops and bacon come to be on your plate? See this film then answer how you feel.

This first sound adaptation of Dickens' 'Great Expectations' is sorely lacking anything connected with Charles Dickens. Phillips Holmes is a fine actor and he puts all that he can into the hackneyed script. Miss Havisham is played in a sentimental manner and she actually shows kindness. Jane Wyatt is also sympathetic! Her coldness, which she talks about with Miss Havisham, is lacking in action. This would all be fine if it were an original story but it is purportedly 'Great Expectations'! Stick with David Lean's far superior film and the BBC mini-series actually made in Britain. It is no wonder that Phillips Holmes left to make most of his final films in the UK after being disgusted with this film.

Helen Twelvetrees is excellent as a poor waif in a dirty tavern. She is really a prostitute forced by Ricardo Cortez to keep the men entertained. Phillips Holmes (an underrated actor) bolts in and rescues her from her despair. This is no creaky early sound film. The camera work is brilliant and the cast (kudos to Marjorie Rambeau) is first rate. In tragedy, there is always comedy, and the two work together very well. I'd love to see a proper DVD release of this wonderful film. The setting is somewhat reminiscent of 'Anna Christie'. Helen Twelvetrees and Phillips Holmes deserve recognition to early sound films. This is truly classic Pre-Code cinema.