Goodbye, Mr Chips

I started off with the Robert Donat original, and many viewers felt that the first version was the best. It felt a bit twee and at times silly, but it was good. The second version with Peter O’Toole had its merits, but it was partly a musical, and I was not too keen. I have just watched the Martin Clunes version, and this was by far the best. The script was superb, the settings, the scenery, and the way in which Mr Chips aged was brillliant. All credit to the make up department, and his own acting ability when ageing his body language, his voice, and his whole appearance. His wife was also excellent.On a general note this and the two other versions show public school pupils as being bossy, violent and very badly behaved at times. Tradition is not always a good enough excuse to continue with ragging, or bullying by prefects. If only each of the Mrs Chipping’s wives had survived, the welfare of the boys would have been vastly improved.I could watch this again, but not the other two.

When I first learnt of public schools at the age of about twelve in the mid 1980s, I just couldn’t believe a small number of boys of my age were going to have such an education. I was shocked and stunned and I hated and resented the whole idea of it. A rigid class system dividing the entire education system which you cannot change as you too enter it. I did not want to believe and I just could not believe such schools were going to continue for my generation too. Just as they had done so for countless generations of boys before us. I simply couldn’t understand why all the parents and all the adults wanted them to continue. It seemed so unfair and unjust. Couldn’t they see how unfair and unjust it was? Couldn’t they see how the schools were going to perpetuate inequality in education and society? Couldn’t they see that the class system was going to continue if you allow some boys to have such an advantage and privilege within education? It is difficult to explain, and as a teenager I never thought I would say this, but as you become older you slowly begin to see for yourself the important role public schools (like Eton, Harrow and Winchester) play within education. You begin to understand and also to acknowledge the invaluable and incalculable role these schools have in educating each generation. Especially during the progressive and troublesome decades like the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Above all else, just like with this film, you begin to see how special it would be if it continued. Not only for the next generation but also for the future generations of boys who will follow after them. Put simply the boys and increasingly the girls who attend our public schools are quite frankly very lucky and also very fortunate to do so. We should be supporting them. Not hating them and saying we despise them. For they are the very best of their generation. The cream. The elite. Future leaders. Excellent film by the way. Stirring strong emotions about the idea of a public school system and, of course, the successful perpetuation of the class system which it ensures. You either vehemently hate and detest these ideas or passionately want to protect and defend them and, as I've become older, I can honestly say it is certainly the latter.

Lovely film to watch buy again later date

A good film it's not as good as the original but it's still worth watching

It has been many years since I have read the novel `Goodbye Mr Chips' by James Hilton. At the time, I was too immature to fully appreciate the gravity of the events described in it' bogged down by homework assignments. In preferring this film-adaptation of the story, I do not wish to demean the previous versions, but I find myself agreeing with comments offered by other reviewers. Martin Clunes puts in the performance of his life, easily convincing me he is James Hilton's conscientious, benevolent far-sighted teacher. For me, this film has everything from personal tragedy; describes the brutal student pecking order that existed in early nineteenth century public schools; took us on romps through pastoral England, and finally through the war to end all wars. The finale sequence of the film is particularly moving, where the aging Mr Chips reminisces the absence of a past colleague and many pupils lost in, or suffering the ravages of that dreadful war. As a rule I make it a point, when reviewing films of books, not to criticize too harshly how closely they follow or deviate from the novel. Today, we find ourselves immersed in a gaming cult of computerized violence, so it comes as a refreshing change to lose oneself in a touching, human story. I can thoroughly recommend this film, offering only one criticism' it was too short.

This is a lovely film. Played by Martin Clunes. He arrives at the school inexperienced & slowly grows into the role of teacher. Eventually accepted & loved by the pupils, he goes from strength to strength. He meets a woman, who he is plainly smitten by & but is out of his depth initially. But, he perseveres & they marry. This is a role made for Clunes. The ageing Mr Chips make up is convincingly achieved & the last scenes are beautifully done. A film to watch many times.

Heart warming version. I much preferred this to the Donat version. Lovely.

I'm familiar with the 1930s film version of this book, black and whitenwith Robert Donat and Greer Garson in the main roles. I was unaware of this 2002 tv production with Martin Clunes in the title role and was interested to see how it compared.In summary, this is a truly excellent production. It brings a new vitality to the story which should make it more accessible to old and new viewers. It's essentially the story of a schoolteacher at a minor public school and how he adapts to and manages change, in his own life and the world around.This production is fresh, relevant and I really enjoyed it. Clunes is rather under rated as an actor, but this is a role he plays to perfection. Enjoyable story, well produced and a few extras on the DVD.

もとになった小説に比べるとだいぶアレンジされていますが、私が心ひかれたエピソードが共感できる演出で表現されているので不満はありません。Chipsの風貌のイメージを変えてしまったMartin Clunesの演技も素晴らしいのですが、Victoria Hamiltonが演じるKatherineはもうこの人以外のKathieは考えられないほど印象的です。大切なメッセージがいろいろこめられた作品です。とにかく一度見て下さい。　追加この小説の中で、教師が生徒を叱るときにいう言葉は、'Be a gentleman'です。教育の本当の精神はこの辺にあるのではないでしょうか？

Klasse Film, sehr bewegend!

Excellent

The film is nostalgic and sentimental, but absolutely wonderful!

Film fantastico, storia commovente.