“Goodbye, Mr. Chips” is a drama film about a retired school teacher reminiscing about his decades-long career and the scores of students who remember him fondly. Director Sam Wood (“A Night at the Opera” 1935) put together an excellent film with outstanding performances, wonderful production values, and great writing. The script was penned by R. C. Sheriff, Claudine West, and Eric Maschwitz, adapted from the 1934 novel of the same name by James Hilton.
Robert Donat is at the head of the cast, playing the title role of popular teacher Charles Chipping. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his outstanding effort. (He bested such show biz heavy-weights as Clark Gable, James Stewart, & Laurence Olivier.) Co-stars include Greer Garson, John Mills, Paul Henreid, Terry Kilburn, and Louise Hampton.
The watchable “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” was very popular in theatrical release for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the sixth highest grossing film of 1939. (Metro also had four other pictures in the top ten that year, including “Gone With the Wind,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Babes in Arms,” and “The Women.”)
It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning one for Best Actor for Bobby Donat. The non-winners were Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Garson), Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Sound Recording. Many remakes have been released over the years, most notably the 1969 musical version starring Peter O’Toole and Petula Clark, also from MGM.
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)
cinema
My Review
“Goodbye, Mr. Chips” is a drama film about a retired school teacher reminiscing about his decades-long career and the scores of students who remember him fondly. Director Sam Wood (“A Night at the Opera” 1935) put together an excellent film with outstanding performances, wonderful production values, and great writing. The script was penned by R. C. Sheriff, Claudine West, and Eric Maschwitz, adapted from the 1934 novel of the same name by James Hilton.
Robert Donat is at the head of the cast, playing the title role of popular teacher Charles Chipping. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his outstanding effort. (He bested such show biz heavy-weights as Clark Gable, James Stewart, & Laurence Olivier.) Co-stars include Greer Garson, John Mills, Paul Henreid, Terry Kilburn, and Louise Hampton.
The watchable “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” was very popular in theatrical release for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the sixth highest grossing film of 1939. (Metro also had four other pictures in the top ten that year, including “Gone With the Wind,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Babes in Arms,” and “The Women.”)
It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning one for Best Actor for Bobby Donat. The non-winners were Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Garson), Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Sound Recording. Many remakes have been released over the years, most notably the 1969 musical version starring Peter O’Toole and Petula Clark, also from MGM.