Rent Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)

Beautiful Whimsy - Goodbye, Mr. Chips review by CP Customer

This is nothing more or less than the BBC2 Sunday matinee movie that all BBC2 Sunday matinee movies aspire to be - shamelessly warm hearted, wearing its sentimentality with pride, nostalgic (albeit for a time that never existed for 99.5% of us), it's an absolute delight and highly recommended. Robert Donat absolutely deserved his Academy Award, ageing visibly and not just thanks to make-up but also his nuanced performance. Donat suffered from acute asthma and sadly limited his screen appearances, but those we have are always wholehearted and this is his best one, possibly only matched by his Hannay in THE 39 STEPS. Watch with hankies.

Lovely Nostalgic Drama - Goodbye, Mr. Chips review by GI

The original 1934 novel by James Hilton has been adapted for film and TV on several occasions and this version is probably the best. It is certainly the best at creating the sense of nostalgia for a past age of England, a time of class perpetuated by the unique public boarding school traditions. Basically this is a period drama as an elderly schoolteacher at a prestigious English public school remembers his sixty three years as a Latin master. Beginning in 1870 this is the story of Chipping, a painful shy and socially inept young man who arrives at Brookfield School as a new teacher and struggles with the traditions which he soon embraces. Public School stories are found throughout British cinema from Tom Brown's Schooldays (1940, 1951 & others) to The Happiest Days Of Your Life (1950) as examples. Chipping's life involves his meeting his beautiful wife, Katherine (Greer Garson - in her first role and academy award nominated) whilst on holiday in Austria with his German friend and colleague. The latter friendship being particularly relevant later when the First World War begins. 'Chips' as he becomes affectionately known suffers disappointment, love and tragedy before he becomes the Headmaster at the school when the war has killed teachers and pupils alike. It's a story that revels in the class traditions that were an intricate part of society at the turn of the twentieth century but it's old in a warm and affectionate way for those times even though they are mired by heartbreak and huge loss. Robert Donat carries off the central role aging the 63 years as it progresses from a young, handsome to a frail but sharp witted old statesman like seer of the school. It's a quite lovely film and worth seeking out for it's very effective and balanced look at those times.

Guaranteed to bring a tear to just about anyone's eye. Highly recommended - Goodbye, Mr. Chips review by RP

The film tells the story of a teacher at a boys' private boarding school (curiously, the British call them 'public' schools...) from his first day as an insecure young teacher, through a mediocre middle age where he is passed over for promotion, his whirlwind love affair and marriage to a young woman who inspires him to greater things, his days as headmaster during the Great War, through to his death bed memories of the boys he has taught over the years.

This is a sentimental and yet uplifting film, guaranteed to bring a tear to just about anyone's eye. If you're wondering if it's worth watching, then remember that it won Robert Donat an Oscar for Best Actor – when the competition in the same year was Clark Gable in 'Gone With The Wind'. Yes, it really is that good. 5/5 stars. Highly recommended.