Goodbye, Mr. Chips
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Movie Reviews of Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Movie Review: A most touching, delightful story--not at all mawkish
Summary: 5 Stars
'Weary? Jaded? Read "Goodbye, Mr. Chips." This short novel (just over 100 pages), written by James Hilton in 1934, is a wonderful work of literature-wonderful because in the hands of a lesser writer it would have been mawkish. But Hilton's portrayal of a beloved English schoolmaster is genuinely touching.
The story begins in 1870, with note taken that it was the year that the Franco-Prussian War began. A young Mr. Chipping (he is never given a first name) applies for a teaching position at Brookfield, an English public school for boys (actually private, as the British have a thing about labeling private schools public ones). He is a young man of 22 with only one year of teaching experience at another school; he is accepted for the position and thereafter is only known as Mr. Chips, or more often just plain Chips by everyone, schoolboys and fellow masters alike.
Chips was a shy type who remained a bachelor for 48 years, but in 1896 on a holiday trip to England's Lake District he met and immediately fell in love with a young woman, Katherine Bridges, age 25. Shortly thereafter they were married and she returned with him to Brookfield.
=He had never met anyone like her. He had always thought that the modern type, this "new woman" business would repel him; and here she was...And she, too, had never met anyone like him. She had always thought that middle-aged men who read the Times and disapproved of modernity were terrible bores; yet here he was, claiming her interest and attention far more than youths of her own age.=
Chips's new wife was an instant hit at Brookfield, she was genuinely admired by everyone. Her entry into his life profoundly affected his whole being.
=She made him, to all appearances, a new man...His eyes gained sparkle...He began to feel a greater sureness...When he had first come to Brookfield he had aimed to be loved, honored, and obeyed-but obeyed, at any rate. Obedience he had secured, and honor had been granted him; but only now came love, the sudden love of boys for a man who was kind without being soft...=
Tragically, only two years after their marriage Katherine died during childbirth, along with their child.
During the following 35 years the story is filled with Chips's good-natured day-to-day life with his boys-he taught the sons of many of his earlier boys. In the style at English public schools of the era, he addressed his boys by their last name. Most of the time he was a mild-mannered man, but on occasion he could get his back up: when a new headmaster by the name of Ralston tried to sack him for being too old-fashioned and out of touch with modern methods of pedagogy, he stood his ground.
"I don't-umph--intend to resign-and you can-umph-do what you like about it."
(The "umph", a sort of throat clearing, was always part of his speech.) When some of his boys got wind of the situation, they wrote about it to their fathers, some of whom had been his earlier boys. These fathers, and some other influential men, saw to it that Chips would not be made to resign. In fact, Ralston himself left because of the incident.
Chips's remembrances of his former boys who died in battle during the Boer War and, later, the first World War are beautiful.
Finally, in 1933, at age 85, his life comes to an end. For twenty years he had been living in quarters very near Brookfield and cared for by his landlady, Mrs. Wickett. In his last moments he reflects on his too brief life with Katherine and on his many experiences at Brookfleld, mostly with the generations of his boys.
=And, for that matter, (he thought of) the things he had not done, and would never do now that he had left them too late-he had never traveled by air, for instance, and he had never been to a talkie-show.=
Then he falls off into an eternal sleep. The previous night a boy named Linford had called on Chips at his rooms (Chips encouraged his boys to drop by to chat).
"Brookfield will never forget his lovableness," said Cartwright (the current headmaster) in a speech to the School. Which was absurd, because all things are forgotten in the end. But Linford, at any rate, will remember and tell the tale: "I said good-bye to Chips the night before he died..."
It is said that Hilton wrote the story in four days, basing it on his father, who had been a headmaster at an English school such as Brookfield. It was made into a movie in 1938 starring Robert Donat as Mr. Chips and again in the 1970's for television by a British producer.
To return to what Chips realized that he had not done, it should be remembered that most people in 1933 hadn't flown in a plane, and probably there were also a fair number who hadn't been to a "talkie."
Thinking of Mr. Chips reminds me of a professor I had in college; just like Mr. Chips, he addressed students by their surname (without Mr. or Ms.). Upon learning of his retirement some years later, I sent him a note for the occasion, to which he replied:
Dear Pinnix:
I want to thank you most deeply for your kind letter in regard to my retirement. It makes me happy to know that you think kindly of me and of our days together...I can sincerely reciprocate and assure you of the memory of your being in my classes. It is the appreciation of boys like you that make a teacher's life seem worthwhile...
Most affectionately yours,
Movie Review: Robert Donat's Memorable Portrait Showcases Teaching as The Noblest Profession
Summary: 5 Stars
Based on James Hilton's 1934 novella, this 1939 MGM chestnut is such a product of its time that it's easy to dismiss for its pre-WWII morale-boosting sentimentality and stiff-upper-lip British protagonist. However, as directed by the prolific veteran Sam Wood, this heartwarming film endures because the time-spanning story - adapted by R.C. Sherriff, Claudine West and Eric Maschwitz - celebrates the power of the dedicated teacher in small-scale, defining episodes over the course of sixty-three years. Known affectionately as "Chips", Charles Edward Chipping is a master in Latin at Brookfield, a prestigious boys' boarding school. He arrives in his early twenties in 1870 and remains there until 1933, all the while maintaining his gentle but firm-handed character and fundamentally shy demeanor. Through his perseverance and genial humor, he earns the respect of generations of students who pass through the hallowed halls.
The story is told in flashback as the aged Chips looks back on his career. His initial days are a trial by fire with the rambunctious boys, but he soon becomes an established member of the faculty. When he moves implacably into middle age, Chips realizes how lonely he is, and his good friend, German master Max Staefel takes him to Austria to hike the Alps. In a most fanciful segment about forty minutes into the movie, he is traipsing through the treacherous terrain much like Robert Conway did in another classic Hilton adaptation, Frank Capra's Lost Horizon. On a misty mountaintop, Chips meets the headstrong Katherine Ellis, a young English suffragette, and love blooms. She injects the necessary joie de vivre into his mundane existence, and they marry most contently. She dies upon childbirth, and Chips returns with renewed spirit to teaching. He goes on despite efforts to put him out to pasture and leads a most fulfilling life.
Given that the film is essentially a character piece that needs to keep us in rapt attention despite its seemingly modest scope, Robert Donat delivers one of cinema's most memorable portrayals. Indeed, his performance managed to take the Oscar away from the likes of Clark Gable (Gone with the Wind), Laurence Oliver (Wuthering Heights) and James Stewart (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) in that magic year when the Hollywood studios peaked. In her American film debut and at the beginning of her reign as MGM's class-conscious leading lady, Greer Garson makes an indelible impression as the spirited Katherine, though her character barely lasts a half-hour and leaves with little trace. A few years before his defining work at Warner Brothers in Now, Voyager and Casablanca, Paul Henreid is a feisty, likeable presence as Staefel. MGM production values are pretty standard here with the Alpine sections a bit too artificial even by studio standards. The 2004 DVD offers a decent print but no extras.
Movie Review: The First and the Best
Summary: 5 Stars
Although some would disagree, Sam Wood's 1939 version of the novella by James Hilton (1934) stands out firm as one of the best adaptations of this sentimental story of a shy but dedicated teacher.
Director Sam Wood was known more for his later films, Our Town, staring a young and handsome, William Holden and a beautiful, Martha Scott. Another sentimental favourite from that prolific period for filmmaking in Hollywood: For Whom the Bell Tolls, staring Gary Cooper and the stunning Ingrid Bergman. Sam Wood's career grew as he became more adept at his trade; however, "Chip" is a wonderful rendition of the popular novella, and in fact, the first film adaptation in a long line of films.
Robert Donat plays the leading role with great skill and charm as we see him recall his sixty-five year career as a teacher at a traditional English school for boys, in a series of flashbacks spanning over an entire lifetime. Donat captured the old teacher's humour and charm, his dedication and ultimately, his sensitive caring attention to all his students. The aging process, which the character must go through, is done with surprising realism, as old Chip actually appeared his 84 years.
Greer Garson is absolutely gorgeous, as she meets Chip on a mountaintop in the Swiss Alps while on holiday, although seeming to old Chip that she is way out of his league, this beautiful woman falls head over heels for the teacher and marries him, joining him at the school. Of course she charms the faculty and the students, showing old Chip a more human side to his students. The famous scene where she dies giving birth to their first child, and old Chip, typically English, that traditional stiff upper lip, decides to take his class despite the fact that his wife and new born child have just died. Not knowing this terrible tragedy, the boy's play an April fools joke on their old teacher, and soon later, the students discover what has actually happened, which would cause tears to fall for even the hardest of hearts. The expressions the boy's have on there faces, reveals a sadness and compassion for their old teacher that is very touching. And despite the obvious sentimentality, for the story, this sadness, to my mind, is entirely appropriate.
This is a wonderful tale, a testimony to the profession of teaching, a sentimental journey of a simple man's life who influenced generation after generation of young men, showing them what it means to be human.
This DVD would be an excellent addition to anyone's library.
Movie Review: Garson's Debut & Donat wins Oscar
Summary: 5 Stars
Goodbye, Mr. Chips made a star of Greer Garson but Robert Donat won an Oscar for this film.
This is a story of the career of Mr. Chipping a teacher at Brookfield School (Founded in 1492). It starts 58 years after his arrival and the current Headmaster was a student of Chipping 37 years ago. It is the first day of school and Chips is determined not to miss assembly.
At afternoon tea (actually 4 pm) he falls asleep and starts to dream of his arrival 58 years ago. Chipping is a mild manner man and the boys takes advantage of that. Chipping's career has been unspectacular. While he is liked, he is not well liked.
Chipping goes on holiday (that's British for vacation) with the German Master to Germany. While hiking, he "rescues" a woman, Katherine Ellis, he thought was in distress. The next day they part. But Chips keeps hoping they will meet again. In Vienna they meet up again. As Kathy's train is leaving, Chips gets the nerve to ask her to marry him.
Back at the school, everyone instantly falls for Kathy. (Well, who wouldn't fall in love with Greer Garson?) Kathy turns her charms to the boys, make her the most popular person at the school.
With Kathy by his side, Chipping's career begins to flourish. Things are going great, a baby Chipping is coming. Unfortunately, both Kathy and the baby die in child birth.
Time passes by and so does the school. The Head demands that Chipping retires and the school rallies round Chipping. Eventually Chipping does retire. But then WWI breaks out and he is pressed into service, as Headmaster. The war ends and he returns to retirement.
Robert Donat won the Oscar beating heavyweight competition that year (Gable, Olivier, Rooney and Stewart). Garson was only on the screen for 30 minutes but she nabbed a Best Actress nomination (losing to Vivien Leigh). Garson would win three years later for Mrs. Miniver.
Technically, this is a great film. The art direction is beautiful, and considering the budget, it was spectacular. The opening sequences of Brookfield, made my think that the art directors for Harry Potter looked at this film.
A great film by a great filmmaker.
DVD EXTRAS: None
Movie Review: Schmaltzy, but who minds?
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderfully sentimental depiction of public school life in the Victorian and Edwardian eras and beyond. Chipping, like so many other schoolmasters of the time, lives a cloistered life on which the outer world only occasionally impinges -- mostly during wartime.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!)