Great Expectations: The Untold Story

Great Expectations: The Untold Story is a 1987 Australian period drama miniseries, which was later re-edited as a feature film.
It is based on an account of what happened to Magwitch from Charles Dickens' 1861 novel Great Expectations when he was in Australia.

Plot

Magwitch is sentenced to life in New South Wales. He is put on a chain gang run by Solomon Tooth and eventually amasses a fortune.

Cast

John Stanton as Magwitch
Sigrid Thornton as Bridget
Robert Coleby as Compeyson
Anne Louise Lambert as Estella
Noel Ferrier as Jaggers
Ron Haddrick as Lankerton
Danny Simmons as Young Pip
Todd Boyce as Older Pip
Serge Lazareff as Courtney
Annie Byron as Mrs. Joe Gargery
Bruce Spence as Joe Gargery
Brian Moll as Uncle Pumblechook
Les Foxcroft as Gaoler
Richard Morgan as Pryce

Production

The project was the idea of Tom Burstall, who made it with his director father Tim. Tim Burstall says in the writing of it he was influenced by a book by Price Waring, Tales of the Old Convict System. It was filmed in Sydney from 9 March to 11 July 1986.