It's not necessarily super dramatic at any one time, or super funny, and it almost never emphatically tugs on the heartstrings. Yet 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' is consistently, gratifyingly engrossing, enjoyable, and warm and charming. This is a title that gets on with scant major impact, mostly declining to strike any major chord, and without any particular note of ingenuity, but which succeeds nevertheless in relating a worthy, compelling story, and doing so with unremitting heart and sincerity. It's ever so keenly made, with smart direction from Sam Wood, equally smart cinematography by Freddie Young, and writing of no less intelligence from R. C. Sherriff, Claudine West, and Eric Maschwitz. If one has the opportunity to watch, there's really no possibility of going wrong with this - and while it is never immediately grabbing, the power of its narrative slowly builds until at length it's just as essential as almost anything.
Greer Garson and especially Robert Donat both give outstanding performances of marvelous nuance and personality, an absolute treat to anchor the picture at all times. In addition, the production design and art direction are truly lovely, alongside excellent filming locations for exterior shots, and even the costume design and hair and makeup work make a strong impression. Really, the film is so splendidly well done from every corner, and I think we quite have author James Hilton to thank for that; I don't think there's any doubt that the unwavering warmhearted wit and earnestness of this 1939 adaptation flows directly from the source material. For whatever alterations the writing team might have made in the details, the core of the tale remains rock-solid, and everyone involved in the production endeavored with great success to carry the same feelings in their contributions.
Thus, while 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' never achieves the roar of a full blaze in its storytelling or film-making, it's all the same littered with countless small flames of unfailing strength. Sometimes wonderfully clever, sometimes heartbreaking - always perfectly steady and satisfying in recounting the life of a beloved school teacher. The movie is even quite sage about discreetly communicating the passage of time, a matter that has tripped up much bigger projects. And it's worth repeating that though there's never a singular moment of vibrancy, the end product is invariably genuine, authentic, and soulful, and increasingly so as the tale progresses. In fact, it's a long, gradual march to reach a point of emotional height that one might expect to have come sooner, more heavily, and more fully in the runtime, yet still the ultimate result is surely just as tremendously fulfilling, such that when all is said and done the last minutes land with all the weight that may have been missing previously.
Given the pacing and the low-key tenor, I can appreciate that this won't appeal to all. Yet so reliable and worthy is the value the movie has to offer that it seems downright foolish not to give 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' a blanket suggestion for one and all. Despite a strong reputation I admit I had mixed expectations going in, and at first the feature doesn't make a huge impression. I cannot overstate, however, how rich and rewarding the title truly is, and I rather think anyone that proclaims themselves a lover of movies owes it to themselves to watch. Do what you must to sit for it; this earnest my heartiest, highest recommendation!
Greer Garson and especially Robert Donat both give outstanding performances of marvelous nuance and personality, an absolute treat to anchor the picture at all times. In addition, the production design and art direction are truly lovely, alongside excellent filming locations for exterior shots, and even the costume design and hair and makeup work make a strong impression. Really, the film is so splendidly well done from every corner, and I think we quite have author James Hilton to thank for that; I don't think there's any doubt that the unwavering warmhearted wit and earnestness of this 1939 adaptation flows directly from the source material. For whatever alterations the writing team might have made in the details, the core of the tale remains rock-solid, and everyone involved in the production endeavored with great success to carry the same feelings in their contributions.
Thus, while 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' never achieves the roar of a full blaze in its storytelling or film-making, it's all the same littered with countless small flames of unfailing strength. Sometimes wonderfully clever, sometimes heartbreaking - always perfectly steady and satisfying in recounting the life of a beloved school teacher. The movie is even quite sage about discreetly communicating the passage of time, a matter that has tripped up much bigger projects. And it's worth repeating that though there's never a singular moment of vibrancy, the end product is invariably genuine, authentic, and soulful, and increasingly so as the tale progresses. In fact, it's a long, gradual march to reach a point of emotional height that one might expect to have come sooner, more heavily, and more fully in the runtime, yet still the ultimate result is surely just as tremendously fulfilling, such that when all is said and done the last minutes land with all the weight that may have been missing previously.
Given the pacing and the low-key tenor, I can appreciate that this won't appeal to all. Yet so reliable and worthy is the value the movie has to offer that it seems downright foolish not to give 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' a blanket suggestion for one and all. Despite a strong reputation I admit I had mixed expectations going in, and at first the feature doesn't make a huge impression. I cannot overstate, however, how rich and rewarding the title truly is, and I rather think anyone that proclaims themselves a lover of movies owes it to themselves to watch. Do what you must to sit for it; this earnest my heartiest, highest recommendation!