Goodbye, Mr. Chips (2002)

Robert Donat won an Oscar for best actor in the 1939 film version of this story and set a hard mark to beat in his gentle portrayal of a dedicated English public (meaning private) school teacher. There was an unsuccessful musical version with Peter O'Toole in 1969 and a TV miniseries with Roy Marsden in 1984 which disappeared without trace. But James Hilton's novella (of only 17,000 words) tells a good story and Martin Clunes, a remarkably versatile actor, with the aid of some great make-up rises to the challenge of portraying the same character convincingly over 50 years or so.The early scenes have an idyllic feel to them, reflecting Hilton's nostalgia for the Victorian age. Things become nastier at the onset of the First World War with a new headmaster (played by the excellent Patrick Malahide) who wants to teach "practical" subjects and attract the nouveau riche, while cutting out scholarships for the poor. Chips, the shy but strong-minded Latin master, with the aid of the board of governors (most of whom he has taught), has little trouble in ousting this upstart, and, though in his sixties, he becomes the headmaster. But his triumph is blighted in two respects; his much loved wife (Victoria Hamilton) is not around to share it, having died in childbirth many years previously, and the steadily rising toll from the battlefields of France cuts a swath through the school's younger alumni. In fact it is a pretty sombre story, but Chips consoles himself with the thought that he has been a father to hundreds of boys.All of us have been to school (with the exception of Mrs Chips who was "privately educated") and most of us can remember at least one teacher who had a positive effect, even in a harsh environment. Perhaps we feel if we were taught by someone with Mr Chip's values we might have been better people. His is a story with a powerful resonance not confined to the draughty corridors of English boys' schools Apart from Martin Clunes, there are a number of other good performances including that of Conleth Hill as Max Staefel, the avuncular German master, John Wood as the old headmaster, and from several of the pupils. Victoria Hamilton lights up the screen for the short time she is on it and Patrick Malahide as the new headmaster gets us to dislike him from his opening lines.The bullying and fagging are exposed of course, and the superiority of Chip's more gentle disciplinary methods demonstrated. Hilton, whose own father was a headmaster, was not anti-public school but clearly thought the system could do with some reform. As if to show their support, both Harrow and Winchester College provided shooting locations for the film.

I would love to give this film 10/10, it was so totally amazing! The best version I've ever seen, let down only by the fact that it made me cry! Martin Clunes gives a fabulous performance, one of his best ever. From start to finish I couldn't tear my eyes from the screen. I can't wait to watch it again, can't recommend it highly enough! As I said, the only thing that lets the film down in my opinion is that its a tear-jerker. It's never a bad thing that a film can rise such strong emotions of joy, sadness or relief in you, but I hate it when I cry in films because I just feel so uncontrolled! If you don't love this film, I have to say I am utterly baffled. No scene is not compelling, no plot-line is not fascinating. All in all, if you don't like the film I really have to ask why!

When I first saw the movie, I really didn't had any expectations about it, but i proved terribly wrong. This movie is probably THE best Mr. Chipping movie thats ever been made! (I know some people sticks to the first version, but frankly, it was a bit too sentimental for my taste). The 2002 edition was also made for the sentimental crowd, but it also had some harsh realities, like when the German teacher gets killed in war, and the students didn't care, 'cause he wasn't English. And I couldn't help myself not to shed a tear, when Chips dies in the end of the movie.9 out of 10

Of what I can find, this is the fourth version of "Goodbye, Mr Chips" since the 1939 classic. I've only seen the original 1939 one which I think was one of the greatest films of that era.This was pretty much the same. While I think its quite a nice film, I was left wondering what the point of it was. It was set at the same time in history. The characters were similar. The sentimental movement of the film was the same. Oh, this time it was in colour.I came to these conclusions why the producer might have felt the need to make this up-date.1) It is a current film industry trend to make re-makes of old films. Re-makes can have more special effects and modern, big time celebrities. Old classics can be done in a modern settings. Hmmm... this film has non of these, so I'm still having my doubts.2) The 1939 Mr Chips used THE CANE?!?!... even in his old age. Today, that is considered a CRIMINAL offence. Maybe we can't have a dear old teacher, that generations of boys loves to bit, but who, by modern definition, is a violent criminal who has in reality has emotionally damaged boys for the rest of their lives [sorry for slight sarcasm].This film, on the other hand, has correct this. Mr Chips ABHORS the cane. In fact, the film to a large degree focuses on it. Possibly todays child phychologists and other new-age child rearing thinkers can't handle the 1939 Mr Chips being revered as such a high quality film. For sure, there are many in the last 25 years who believe that the whole 1000s and 1000s of years of human existence have got it wrong in child rearing, and only our little generation have it right. Hmmmm.... I better not go there.OVERALL, this is a nice film. I enjoyed it. Its not overly intelligent with imaginary new dialogue from the old version, but I give it a 6, and might even watch it again sometime.