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Summary: RETROSPECTIVE ON THE LIFE OF AN ENGLISH HEADMASTER
Review: "Good Bye, Mr. Chips" is an excellent movie. It tells the story of an English headmaster who devoted his life to education. The movie also recalls the halcyon days before the First World War and the 19th century European way of life.
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Summary: A sweet film
Review: I had never seen this classic and now wonder why it took so long. Great acting by Donat, good story - they don't make them like this anymore and should!
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Summary: THAT GENIUS ROBERT DONAT
Review: I have seldom witnessed brilliance in acting... But when I saw Robert Donat`s portrayel of Mr Chips, tears run down my cheeks... It IS soggy and corny at times; but overall - an old-fashioned - WONDERFUL picture - the way uncle Mr Louis B Mayer loved`em hehehe...
It really is a miracle film sent from heaven.
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Summary: Pacifism, 1939
Review: 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.
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Summary: Pacifism, 1939
Review: 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.
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Summary: Robert Donat Was Truly One of the Great Actors
Review: One viewing of "Goodbye Mr. Chips" should convince anyone that Robert Donat was a supremely talented thespian. In his day (late 1920s-mid 1930s) Donat was hailed as marvelous stage actor. If not for chronic asthma and emphyzema which plagued him throughout his life, Donat might have surpassed the likes of Laughton and Olivier. He is equally as wonderful in "The Citadel," "The Magic Box," "The Thirty-Nine Steps," and "The Count of Monte Christo." He had style, charm and presence. Watch how Mr. Chips ages over a sixty year span in "Goodbye Mr. Chips"---incredible. It is a great, heartwarming film and a showcase of acting acumen. I highly recommend it to classic film fans of all ages.
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Summary: Teachers Do Make a Difference
Review: Robert Donat gives an excellent, heartfelt performance as a reserved, unsure school master who makes an impact on the lives of his students in small and big ways throughout a career that spans over sixty years. Mr. Chipping may not be the most exciting or charismatic teacher, but he earns the respect and admiration of those around him. Greer Garson gives a warm, appealing performance as the lady who steals Donat's heart, showing him how to enjoy life and to open up. All of their scenes together are terrific, although my favourite scene is of Donat trying to teach during an air raid. Having read the book as well, I can say this film captures the story well and extends it, and this movie is in a different league then the ill-conceived musical version of the sixties. As a teacher, I find a lot of truth in this story, and it's the kind of film that teachers should watch at those times when they need to feel good about what they are doing and re-discover the important role they play in children's lives.
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Summary: See the man who "beat" Clark Gable to his "GWTW Oscar"!
Review: Robert Donat is brilliant as the English boarding school master whose "boring" life is briefly interrupted by meeting the love of his life. In this 1939 original, Mr. Chips loses his young wife and their child when she gives birth. Inwardly devestated, the man goes on, for decades, seemingly "immortal", teaching generations of fine young men, who all adore "Mr. Chips". The final scene, when Mr. Chips does die is simply beautiful. -- This film will make you feel good inside. It shows that even in the face of great tragedy and pain, there is meaning in one's life, a reason to go on. Mr. Chips may never have seen his own child grow up, but in reality he has seen hundreds, even thousands of them...all boys! -- This film is a gem!
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Summary: See the man who "beat" Clark Gable to his "GWTW Oscar"!
Review: Robert Donat is brilliant as the English boarding school master whose "boring" life is briefly interrupted by meeting the love of his life. In this 1939 original, Mr. Chips loses his young wife and their child when she gives birth. Inwardly devestated, the man goes on, for decades, seemingly "immortal", teaching generations of fine young men, who all adore "Mr. Chips". The final scene, when Mr. Chips does die is simply beautiful. -- This film will make you feel good inside. It shows that even in the face of great tragedy and pain, there is meaning in one's life, a reason to go on. Mr. Chips may never have seen his own child grow up, but in reality he has seen hundreds, even thousands of them...all boys! -- This film is a gem!
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Summary: Things go from bad to worse for poor Mr Chips
Review: Robert Donat turns in a masterly performance as a nineteenth century English schoolmaster. Murphy's law rules the day - anything that can go wrong for Mr Chipping does go wrong. He begins his teaching career as an incredibly shy and nervous young man, and threatens to wind up a lonely bachelor until the beautiful Greer Garson bumps into him atop a Swiss mountain and it is love at first sight for the unlikely pairing. Things turn sour, however, as they seem to at almost every turn in poor Chips' life. However, when all else is said and done, Chips can look with a sense of pride and achievement upon his teaching career, spanning over sixty something years, during which time he has touched myriads of young boy's lives with his cheery character and wisdom.So, Chip's deathbed speech really puts everything into perspective - this is a somewhat melancholy film with only short-lived moments of 'feel-good' until the very end when the value and purpose of Chip's life all makes sense and we see that, despite all his misfortune, he had accomplished much in a pre-George Bailey sort of way. This is Capra without the corn.
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