TheLittleSongbird Considering how brilliant, regardless of how sentimental it is, the 1939 Robert Donat film was, this 2002 TV adaptation had a lot to live up to. What a wonderful surprise! I loved this version from beginning to end, it isn't as good as the Donat version, but as a TV drama it is almost perfect. The production values are excellent, elegant in style and gorgeous to look at. The music had a lovely sense of whimsy about it, and gave a gentle and relaxing feel. There were parts that made me laugh, such as the classroom scenes, but others that were very poignant, the ending especially. The scripting was mature and subtle and also I loved the simplicity of the story. The acting was exceptional from all involved. Martin Clunes is brilliant as Chips, maybe just lacking Donat's superiority, but it was still a performance of subtlety and made me smile and cry. Not to mention that his transition from an idealistic 20-something year old teacher to a wiser and gentler headmaster was very believable. Victoria Hamilton is positively luminous as Kathie, Patrick Malahide is excellent as Ralston and the boy actors also give surprisingly good performances if careful not to overshadow Clunes in what I consider one of his better performances. Of course the drama doesn't quite explore what made Chips such a great and inspirational teacher, yet it has a greater emphasis on the progressive aspects of education, that I found most appreciative. Overall, I loved it, just a joy to watch in general. 9/10 Bethany Cox

orsonwelles-1941 When I saw the ad for this, I naturally assumed this remake of the 1939 classic would be a sentimental period piece with a soundtrack replete with Elgar and choirboys. Instead I experienced one of the harshest exposes of hazing in the British public school system since If. Nothing is left to the imagination, making this movie unsuitable for anyone under 13. However, unlike the exploitative Oliver Twist miniseries that Masterpiece Theater did a few years ago, the writers did not go overboard trying to create a realistic atmosphere. This allowed a fine cast to turn in some superb performances without being overwhelmed by the plot and that's what makes this the BBC's best effort since the 1983 version of "Jane Eyre".

mybah 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.

redcustard This is a modern adaptation of a much-loved and revered story - it will understandably be compared by some to the classic 1939 film and found wanting on the basis of sentimentality and familiarity etc. However time has moved on and when I first saw this new production advertised I looked forward to seeing the story dramatised in a fresh new light, combined with the trepidation that the producers might really stuff up and ruin the whole thing as sometimes happens with classic tales (we all know that feeling, don't we?). Hooray, no disappointment here: Martin Clunes was a wonderful, believable Mr Chips; all other acting was superb; and this film was deeply moving and incredibly uplifting in age-old Mr Chips fashion. My only complaint is that it was all over too quickly but even so the difficulties of portraying an eventful lifetime in under two hours were handled well. If the epic tale of Mr Chipping is one you've revered since childhood, don't be afraid to watch this film: you won't be disappointed.