Goodbye, Mr. Chips
(1939)
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Based on the novel by James Hilton, GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS is the story of a shy schoolteacher who dedicates his life to his boys. In an Oscar-winning performance, Robert Donat plays Mr. Chipping, a young classics scholar en route to his first assignment at the reputable Brookfield school. Although his first interactions with the boys go miserably, he remains determined to become headmaster. But Chipping is simply too stuck on propriety to ever become popular with the students. Depressed, Chipping goes hiking in the Tyrols, where he meets Katherine Ellis (Greer Garson, in her first screen role). The two meet again on the Danube in Vienna, where they waltz the night away and kiss for the first time. Katherine becomes Mrs. Chipping, and she renames him Mr. Chips when they return together to Brookfield. Over time, the charming Mrs. Chipping turns Mr. Chips into an amiable gentleman who is adored by his pupils. But just when the world looks its rosiest, the depths of tragedy await Mr. Chips. Directed by Sam Wood, GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS was one of the most critically acclaimed films of 1939. |
Halliwell's Film Guide
Sentimental romance in MGM's best style, a long-standing favourite for its performances and humour; but the production seems slightly unsatisfactory these days.