The Aussie Version. This movie tells of Abel Magwitch's exploits in Australia, It is not another tv rendition of Great Expectations or a 'lost chapter' of the book. Tim Burstall the Screenplay Writer had the 'good sense' to capitalise on the 'feel-good-factor' or the entertainment value from 'Great Expectations', and create an extension or a 'spin-off' to the story by writing this 1987 TV Movie about Abel Magwitch - an escaped, recaptured & convicted character in the story Great Expectations.
For those who don't know - history has it that, a long time ago, rather than keep some convicts in gaols/prisons or hang them, 'The Brits' would send some of their long term 'lifers' - I guess the stronger ones - 'lifers' would be sent to Australia to do hard labour, in order to cultivate the land. Keeping It Real, Charles Dickens added this great historical event to his Novel 'Great Expectations'.
However, the rarity of this movie speaks for itself: - (1) As movies go, it's not much good as a 'stand-alone' movie & rather sells itself through the 'Great Expectations' franchise or title; (2) It is only akin to Australian audiences; (3) It's a 'tongue-in-cheek' movie that hasn't been categorised or classified as an 'adaptation' or 'loosely based' on Great Expectations; (4) Snobbery within the industry - ie: the BBC, the BFI & Hollywood of all pulled Rank not to popularise it or its been 'banned' for whatever reason & season. (5) It's just simply 'dated'. You'd be hard pressed to buy a copy of the original 1917 Silent Drama Film of Great Expectations. Likewise, the same can be said here.
Either way, watch it & judge for yourself.
