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Dispirited, he is about to take his annual holidays in Harrogate
(a pedestrian spa town) when a colleague, the German Master
(Paul Henreid) persuades him to go on a walking tour of Austria.
Trapped by lowering clouds and freezing ice on a mountain
in Tyrol he attempts to rescue a woman (Greer Garson) who,
though not in danger, appreciates his efforts. They marry
and her influence releases his hitherto hidden endearing qualities.
He becomes a housemaster and popular with the boys; until
tragedy strikes.
If you watch Goodbye Mr Chips and don't shed a tear… you
have no soul!
James Hilton wrote the novel based on the real life of a
Cambridge schoolmaster.
Robert Donat portrays the life of the dedicated 'Chips' with
a style that earned him an Oscar for best actor in the 1940
Academy Awards.
The film was nominated for several awards, including one
for charming actress Greer Garson in her first starring role.
The supporting cast are all perfectly chosen in their roles
as teachers and pupils, so well that it's impossible to detect
who are actors and who are the men and boys of the location,
Repton School. Although the amateur actors remain unpaid their
efforts enabled the school to fund a scholarship from the
facility fees.
At times a bit stagey, the sheer emotion of the story is
carried along by the best in the business: Director - Sam
Wood, Writers - R.C.Sherrif and Eric Maschwitz, Special music
- Richard Addinsell, Cinematographer - Freddie Young.
But there is nothing stagey about Robert Donat's tour de
force.
At the end Chips overhears the doctor and the headmaster
saying it's a pity he never had any children. "Never had any
children!"
He retorts. "What nonsense! Of course I've had children,
thousands of 'em!" He smiles and whispers, "and…all of them…boys."
Conclusion: Movie 90% Extras - 40%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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