Goodbye, Mr. Chips

1939

Drama / Romance

6
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 83%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 87%
IMDb Rating 7.9 10 10898

Plot summary



January 23, 2023 at 08:49 PM

Director

Sam Wood

Top cast

Terry Kilburn as John Colley / Peter Colley I / Peter Colley II / Peter Colley III
Greer Garson as Katherine
John Mills as Peter Colley
Martita Hunt as British Tourist on Bicycle
720p.BLU 720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
1.03 GB
1280*934
English 2.0
NR
23.976 fps
1 hr 54 min
P/S ...
1.02 GB
1280*932
English 2.0
NR
23.976 fps
1 hr 54 min
P/S 0 / 2
1.9 GB
1472*1072
English 2.0
NR
23.976 fps
1 hr 54 min
P/S 1 / 6

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by ccthemovieman-1 8 / 10

Just A Super Nice Film....What Else Can You Say?

Here's another one of those old-fashioned movies in which people are all nice: no villains. It's a refreshing change of pace, once in a while, at least for me.

Sometimes it's relaxing just to just kick back with a story that just makes you feel good, doesn't upset you at any time. There are some touching scenes with some sadness in here, too, however, but the sincere story and great acting make you glad you watched it.

Robert Donat, as Mr. Chippings, is a pleasure to watch, particularly when he plays the character in his declining years. Greer Garson gets equal if not top billing, but that's not right. Her role is not that big in this picture.

Another nice feature you don't see much, at least in post-1960 films - all respectful kids in here, with manners. Nice adults, nice kids, nice story - probably too corny for most people of today in our cynical world. Too bad. Their loss.

Reviewed by MartinHafer 10 / 10

wonderful and heart-wrenching

This movie is marvelous and for so many reasons. First, I am a big fan of the novels of James Hilton and this adaptation is more true to his books than most (such as RANDOM HARVEST). Second, the acting and writing is so good it is almost impossible to imagine them being better. Greer Garson and Robert Donat are so perfect together. In fact, Donat's performance was good enough to wrestle away the Oscar from Clark Gable from GONE WITH THE WIND (though I honestly think Gable probably deserved it a little more).

This is a story about a confirmed bachelor who is a teacher at a boys prep school. "Mr. Chips" as they call him is very decent but dull--and he's been a fixture at the school for some time. However, quite unexpectedly he meets a woman who pulls him out of his shell and changes his life (Garson). Unfortunately, lovers of happy endings beware--this romance will rip out your heart. Even the most jaded will find themselves pulled into it emotionally.

This is a great film through and through. All those associated with this film have done themselves proud.

Reviewed by bkoganbing 10 / 10

A Worthy And Purpose Driven Life

I noted that IMDb has told us that James Hilton in writing Goodbye Mr. Chips modeled the character out of a former teacher he had at a British public school who had a similar lengthy term of service. It's nice to know that there are people like Chipping actually teaching our future generations out there.

Chips is the sort of role that fit Robert Donat and only Robert Donat. I cannot imagine any other actor playing the cerebral and shy schoolteacher. The film follows him for about sixty of the 83 years of his life.

He arrives at Brookfield School around 1870, a young idealistic graduate certain of the vocation he has chosen. He doesn't mix well and his pedantic ways don't make him a school favorite. Donat certainly changes when on holiday in Europe with Paul Henreid, the German teacher at Brookfield School, he meets and eventually weds Greer Garson.

Goodbye Mr. Chips was Greer Garson's first introduction to American audiences. When she emerges from that mist on the Alp both Donat and she are climbing, she was a star from then on. Her screen image was set as the wise, tactful, and patient wife who was normally partnered with Walter Pidgeon. But she and Donat have good chemistry also.

Paul Henreid also got his first exposure to American audiences as well. Interesting that in 1939 a German would be played so sympathetically. My feelings are that they wanted to show that the Allies had nothing against the German people only the terrible ideology that at that time held them in sway. Long after Henreid has had his last scene it is reported that he is killed in World War I, fighting for his country and against the country that gave him a living for many years. Good people can fight for the enemy also.

Chips is the kind of character that we admire because he's at a job he loves and does give the world that infinitesimal extra ounce of good in doing that job. He's not acclaimed, certainly his demise wouldn't rate banner headlines, but so few of us are lucky to be in jobs and professions we truly love and not do for just a paycheck.

In that great year of Gone With the Wind sweeping the Oscars that year, Robert Donat managed to beat out Clark Gable for the Best Actor Award. He had some other good competition that year with James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Mickey Rooney in Babes in Arms, and Laurence Olivier in Wuthering Heights. The capstone of a great career.

We should all hold and treasure teachers like Mr. Chipping of Brookfield School and the films made of their lives.

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