Goodbye, Mr. Chips

In the film, he ventures out on only one other memorable occasion -- a holiday with the school German teacher to the Tyrol where he meets the handsome Greer Garson (in her first movie appearance), who somewhat improbably falls for him. This sets off a chain of sentimental events: marriage, introductions to the common room, tea with the boys, her death through childbirth, and a never-ending cycle of Colleys (played by the same actor, but with a slightly different haircut for each generation). The school hymn is also designed to pluck the heart stings.

The movie was actually filmed at Repton. I went to a similarly confined, all-boys, English public school, set in a country town miles from anywhere else, though somewhat more recently than the Chips era. Many of the masters never married because it was so difficult for them to meet any women. We still had corporal punishment -- which Chips continues to inflict even when brought out of retirement to become head during World War One. This film does not reflect the grubby reality of public school life -- the author must have had his rose-tinted spectacles on when he wrote this -- but it's hard not to be moved by it.

I have special memories of first seeing this at the age of 12 in our headmaster's study, together with all the other senior boys at the prep school. Today, its meaning for me is more about staying in the same place for a long time, while all about you moves on. (I've recently completed 25 years with the same employer!) I also enjoyed trying to work out how many of the Tyrol scenes were shot in the studio. (At one stage, Chips and his friend even walk against a film background.)

The DVD has no special extras, but the picture and sound quality is reasonable. I haven't tried the film on my teenage children, but I think this is one of the few black and white movies that they would be absorbed by. (Don't be misled by the colour photo on the DVD box cover into believing the movie is in colour!)


BEST ACTOR AA FOR 1939.   July 12, 2002
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

The excellent film version of James Hilton's sentimental novellette. The tribute to the English public school system and to one Mr. Chipping is done with immaculate care in every respect; it is a serene, tenderly heart-warming story. Like the story, the film is nostalgic: if we never knew a Mr. Chips, we should have - he belongs in every young man's past. Robert Donat gives an incredibly fine charactisation of the much-loved schoolmaster. Donat's performance is noteworthy not merely for his uncanny ability to make a convincing transition from young schoolmaster to octogenarian, but for his subtle underlining (if underlining can be subtle) of the dramatic moments in an essentially undramatic life. Chips was a shy person; like an iceberg, two-thirds of him was always subsurface. Donat wisely understated him playing him softly which doubled his poignance. It is only when he is seen as a crotchety old man scattering across campus in his tattered robe - that Donat went a TRIFLE overdrawn: a fraction of the cute and overacted side. But that is just and impression and not deep enough to discredit an otherwise flawless performance. Greer Garson's portrait of Katherine, the assertive young woman who changed the dour Mr. Chipping into the loveable Mr. Chips is altogether believable and quite entrancing: here is one of the nicest people we could ever wish to encounter! The boys are completely captivated hy Katherine - and so is the viewer. Paul Henreid is splendid as the German instructor and Terry Kilburn is unforgettable. A beautiful picture in every respect.


When the Movie tops the Book   June 7, 2005
P. M Simon (New Mexico)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

There aren't many cases where the movie is better than the book, but "Goodbye Mr. Chips" is one of them. James Hilton tossed together his barely over 100 pages of big type in about a week. The scriptwriters for the film fleshed out a good story line with much more detail. Well-directed and just superbly acted by Robert Donat in the title role, this film is an endearing classic.

The basic story is that of a traditional English schoolmaster, set in a period from mid-Victorian to pre-WWII. It's a gentle tale of the meaning of a man's life and how we can rise to excellence in our modest professions and touch the lives of many. Mr. Chipping ("Chips" as his students affectionately know him) leads a rich life, although also fraught with sorrows.

There is still much relevance to the film--the tragedy of war, the importance of a balanced education, and the evils of caste.

Yes, the film is sentimental and a little manipulative, but you will probably not mind. In fact, you may cry your eyes out.

Compared to R.F. Delderfield's "To Serve Them All My Days," the book of "Chips" is not nearly as good, but this film tops the BBC mini-series of "Days" in virtually every way--especially in managing to leave out a lot of class warfare!

Order it, go buy a box of Puffs, and plonk yourself down for a delightful classic!


An Overlooked Masterpiece!   February 5, 2002
Robert J. McCallum (Pompton Lakes, NJ)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

The year is 1939, often considered the greatest year for American movies: Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Wuthering Heights, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stagecoach, Young Mr. Lincoln, Dark Victory, Gunga Din, Of Mice and Men, and the best of them all - Goodbye, Mr. Chips. It is unabashedly sentimental, even corny, but it remains after sixty years one of the two best movies about teachers (the other being the Miracle Worker) and has at its center one of the best acting performances of all time - Robert Donat as the title character in his Oscar winning performance (winning against Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Laurence Olivier and Mickey Rooney). His performance is for the ages, particularly in light of the fact that he ages 60 years during the course of the film. It also has a wonderful romance (with a luminous Greer Garson) and a fine supporting cast (including the school children) but it is the understated poignancy of Donat's performance that makes this a true classic.


Teachers Do Make a Difference   April 22, 2001
James L. (Toronto, Canada)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Robert Donat gives an excellent, heartfelt performance as a reserved, unsure school master who makes an impact on the lives of his students in small and big ways throughout a career that spans over sixty years. Mr. Chipping may not be the most exciting or charismatic teacher, but he earns the respect and admiration of those around him. Greer Garson gives a warm, appealing performance as the lady who steals Donat's heart, showing him how to enjoy life and to open up. All of their scenes together are terrific, although my favourite scene is of Donat trying to teach during an air raid. Having read the book as well, I can say this film captures the story well and extends it, and this movie is in a different league then the ill-conceived musical version of the sixties. As a teacher, I find a lot of truth in this story, and it's the kind of film that teachers should watch at those times when they need to feel good about what they are doing and re-discover the important role they play in children's lives.