Goodbye, Mr. Chips
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Movie Reviews of Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Movie Review: A Disappointing Retelling of the Classic Tale
Summary: 3 Stars
Let's begin by saying that movie musicals are a breed apart. The very artifice of musicals removes them from the mainstream realism of other film genres. That's why we love musicals: they are romanticised interpretations of a story that is conceptually and inherently sentimental.
The late 60's and early 70's saw the musical interpretation of classic novels such as "A Christmas Carol", "Oliver Twist", "Don Quixote", "Lost Horizon" and this re-make of "Goodbye Mr. Chips." Historically, film musicals had seen better days by the late 60's and Hollywood attempted to revitalize the medium by creating less romanticized versions of these highly romanticized tales. In other words, make the stories relevant to the times (the 1960's).
"Goodbye, Mr. Chips", while well-produced, fails on all levels to meet the romanticised sentimentality inherent in musicals. It also misinterpreted the simplicity of James Hilton's original novella, so beautifully (and non-musically) created by MGM in 1939 with Robert Donat and Greer Garson.
The device of Chipping's wife having a lurid past that leads to political on-campus blackmail is so far off the mark from Hilton's original to be laughable at best. And most remarkably, Peter O'Toole's interpetation of the title character shows no emotional growth out of his crusty persona. He is just as cranky after his marriage as he was before. The most poignant aspect of the story is the softening of his heart through marriage. O'Toole's performance just doesn't seem to show the audience any such growth. And thereby hangs the problem. The film erases all sentimentality from the story in order to make it more palatable to then-modern tastes. As for his singing? Rex Harrison may have gotten away with "speak-singing" in "My Fair Lady", but Peter O'Toole has neither the charm nor the charisma to pull it off.
Then there is Petula Clark's character: a successful musical comedy star with very sophisticated London friends would much prefer to live in the country as a schoolmaster's wife? Highly unlikely. It seems obvious that MGM wanted to cash in on Petula Clark's success as a pop singer and reinterpreted this role to suit that need. That being said, her portrayal is quite good.
Then, there is the problem of Leslie Bricusse's horrendous score. No song is memorable, let alone singable, and the use of sung-over soliloquies is annoying. Outside of "London is London", the film should have been left non-musical. And shortened by 45 minutes. Actually, if it had never been made at all, we wouldn't have missed much.
I give it 3 stars exclusively for its production values. Beautiful cinematography, excellent costuming and passable acting. If you want to enjoy the beauty of Hilton's original, watch Robert Donat's masterful 1939 performance instead.
Movie Review: Worthwhile For The Book Scenes
Summary: 3 Stars
This DVD looks great and like many film's from the era benefits from the roadshow presentation with overture, entr'acte and exit music. Unfortunately, those may be the only moments when the music is at all effective as each number in the film itself is more cringe-inducing than the last. There simply isn't one memorable song in this score. And the lyrics are astonishingly weak. It seems hard to believe this material is from the pen of one of the writers of Stop the World..., and The Roar of Greasepaint... (Indeed, this makes the score of Dr. Doolittle seem like a masterwork by comparison.) Too bad, as Petula Clark is in fine voice throughout. Her acting is also very good and she has terrific chemistry with O'Toole whose Mr Chips is wilfully disagreeable yet lovable. As usual, he's superb. His big scene when he breaks down in front of his students still packs a wallop. The whole production, though overlong is very well directed by Ross. It's an irresistble warhorse, rendered a guily pleasure by the dreadful music.Movie Review: Goodbye Mr Cow Chips - Goodbye Movie Musicals-
Summary: 1 Stars
This is the sort of abysmal material that killed movie musicals. The music and lyrics are abominable and unsingable except the passable "You and I." Lyrics like 'London is London again' are at best redudantly repetive repetive and without meaning. The film plods along and Peter O' Toole can't sing. Didn't they learn anything from the equally abysmal Man of La Mancha because O'Toole couldn't sing in that one either?
Petula Clark has some good moments but her falling in love with this dullard makes no sense. There is no chemistry between O'Toole and her.
The length of the this movie is also long.
The only saving grace are the great helicopter shots of Pompei and Italians Ruins. Cinematography is wonderful. The film, the plot, the music, the verasimilitude is nothing but Cow Chips. Goodbye Mr. Cow Chips.
Movie Review: Sadly disappointing
Summary: 1 Stars
Peter O'Toole is an excellent actor - but, amongst other things, he can't sing!
This movie was a succession of sad, horrible and disappointing incidents.
It is amazing that anyone could make such a complete 'hash' of such a wonderful classic story. The original story is superb; a point both Martin Clunes and Robert Donat have proved, beyond any doubt, with their magnificent versions.
Michael Redgrave struggled to be adequate, while Petula Clark was so far out of her depth that she could be said to have drowned - horribly!
No! Someone made a huge mistake, when they thought this version would succeed. It FAILED MISERABLY! I have given it ONE STAR, for O'Toole's 'guts' in attempting to sing! As a movie, I fear it deserves no stars whatsoever!