Goodbye, Mr. Chips
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Movie Reviews of Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Movie Review: Irwin Corey Lives
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the original 1939 version. Lots of early steroptypes and laughable overacting, but still manages to tug at your heart strings. For some odd reason, the main character looks like Professor Irwin Corey. And all of the freshly scrubbed students look exactly like an early Mickey Rooney. In sum, a feel good movie with humor and a classic storyline.Movie Review: Good Classic Movie
Summary: 4 Stars
I've always been a fan of classic movies and this one is sure to please those seeking a well told story.Movie Review: Had the wrong expectation, but enjoyed it anyway
Summary: 3 Stars
I'd been vaguely aware of this movie and its reputation as a revered classic all my life, but until two nights ago, when I selected it from the "free" movies list on Comcast cable, I'd never seen it. In my naivete I didn't even know that Robert Donat was in the starring role, and, being equally honest, didn't have a very clear idea of exactly who he was anyway.
It's hard to say this, but, very truthfully, I thought that both this story and Robert Donat in particular were a bit out of their depth when compared to the other recognised movie titans of the period. That said, I feel that many similar movies and the actors in them were products of a dominant "zeitgeist" of the 1930's that often included simplistic, stereotypical representations of subject material and formulaeic plot development and acting styles. This moviemaking period was often characterised by sudden introductions, hasty plot developments, and unrealistically quick resolutions. Much relied on the assumption that the audience would be willing to supplant disbelief with a protracted set of assumptions even more readily than willingness to suspend it.
These 1930's-esque "norms" are especially binding on this movie, based as it already is on the strait-laced, ultra-ritualised realm of an English upper-class boys' preparatory school. Because so many of both the setting, and behavioral parameters of the actors are "cast in stone" by the background of the situation in which they occur, there is little ability to develop any interesting spontaneity, and that's most likely what we who are reviewing this movie in the early 21st Century mean when we say that it's quite predictable, and "schmaltsy". It is.
Actually, the only really surprising moments in the movie come when Mr Chipping takes a whirlwind vacation with one of his fellow instructors to the Alps, where he meets his future wife in a series of peculiarly contrived scenes that return quickly to the "settled order" of the movie, and so the spark of the unexpected is quickly extinguished. If this sounds like rubbish, consider the death of the wife in childbirth. If you are in the least perceptive, you know that his wife will die in childbirth within seconds of the appearance of the family doctor. There's less than two minutes of "run-up" to this stunning, heart-breaking event. She's declared in trouble and then dies, all within no more than four minutes. The climax of this tragic turn of events is rushed out so quickly that there isn't even a farewell scene between the man and his beloved wife.
Perhaps you see that my disappointment is not so much with this one movie as it is with an entire method of movie-making. "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" is not, repeat, not a bad movie, but in my opinion it certainly is not a great movie, especially when compared with ground-breaking contemporary films of its era like, "Gone With The Wind", "Wizard of Oz", "Gunga Din", "Grapes of Wrath", "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington", "Citizen Kane", etc.
Now that I've conveyed the impression of being an unsentimental snot, I'll tell you that, in spite of myself, I had tears in my eyes during some of the scenes. I loved the atmosphere of the background setting of the old English boys' school and was reminded of "The Priory School" (one of the superb episodes of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes", starring the late Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke). Quite a number of the scenes showing developments in the boys' lives were quite moving, especially as they were being dragooned off to their deaths in one war after another....
So, by all means, see the movie and I hope you enjoy it. I hope to see it again myself. I also hope I've helped to clarify some things for you so that you won't have disappointment in your expectations.
Movie Review: Tries to do so much, but...
Summary: 3 Stars
`Goodbye, Mr. Chips' is a sweet and heartfelt film. It is designed to make your heart swell and get the tear ducts working, and for the most part it succeeds. It has a slew of delightful performances (the standout being Greer Garson) as well as a familiar yet always engaging plot.
Still, something is missing here.
In telling the story about a teacher at a boarding school, this film falls short in an area I find very important; details. The main focus of the film is of Mr. Chips and his impact on the school where he teaches. The film opens at the end so-to-speak, with Chips tired and reflecting on his life. Told in flashbacks, the film takes us back to his first day at the school and the way the boy's behavior caused him to become slightly rigid and lose their favor. We are then introduced to the beautiful Katherine, who becomes his wife. We then move his later years where he is nearly forced to retire all the way to the point where he deems it necessary to retire, only to be drawn back in again before, well, `the end'.
I know that some are going to have a major issue with what I'm about to say, but it has to be said; this film jumps around by such large margins that it becomes rather hollow. We lose nearly all of the character development. To be honest, I have NO idea why Mr. Chips made such an impact on his students. One minute they hate him, then he has them over for tea and they love him. There are maybe TWO scenes where he even has any real interaction with his students. To tell you the truth, I don't even know who Mr. Chips really was.
The film tries to tell so much that it winds up telling us very little.
I know that this is (obviously) an uncommon opinion, but if you read my reviews then you know that I'm always honest to my own personal viewpoint. This isn't to say that I didn't `like' this film, because I did; to an extent. The performances were delightful (I even found Terry Kilburn's multi-faceted performance to be a great `child' performance considering the time, although I will say that the film didn't flesh out his relationship with Chips nearly enough) and the films overall appeal is that of `charm', but it lacks the depth it was trying to establish.
Greer Garson (who really should have been in the supporting category at that year's Oscars) is a stunning force in this film. She reminded me of Kate Winslet, which is always a good thing. She understood her characters subtle sensuality, and that cheeky independence that is so becoming. Her first scene alone is the films biggest highlight. In fact, her character is probably the most fleshed out of them all, and it's all in the way she handles her character's scenes (for she doesn't have very many).
In the end, I certainly recommend this film. It is delightful and sweet and will probably bring a tear to your eyes. I just expected more (and I don't think what I expected was too much to deliver).
Movie Review: Pacifism, 1939
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm surprised that most of the reviews don't mention the pacifist theme of the film. The film is well done and quite watchable on its own terms. But those terms are so tragically wrong -- pacifism in 1939 -- that it's tough to get past the unintended sadness and irony. For a movie that's aged better, see Mrs. Miniver.