Goodbye Mr Chips 1984 Cast
Dhara Lyford
Goodbye, Mr. Chips is a novella about the life of a school teacher, Mr. Chipping, written by English writer James Hilton and first published by Hodder & Stoughton in October 1934. It has been adapted into two feature films and two television presentations.
The story was originally issued in 1933, as a supplement to the British Weekly, an evangelical newspaper. It came to prominence when it was reprinted as the lead piece of the April 1934 issue of The Atlantic Monthly. The success of the Atlantic Monthly publication prompted a book deal between the author and the US publisher Little, Brown and Company, who published the story in book form for the first time in June 1934. Published during the Great Depression, Little, Brown cautiously released a small first print run. Public demand for more was immediate and Little, Brown went into an almost immediate reprinting the same month. Public demand remained strong, and Little, Brown continued to reprint the book in cautious lots for many months, with at least two reprintings per month.
The first British edition went to press in October 1934. The publishers were Hodder & Stoughton, who had observed the success of the book in the United States, and they released a much larger first print run. It sold 15,000 copies on the day of publication,[1] and they quickly found themselves going into reprints as the reading public's demand for the book proved insatiable. With the huge success of this book, James Hilton became a best-selling author.[2] In 1938, he published a sequel, To You, Mr Chips.[3]
The novella tells the story of a beloved school teacher, Mr Chipping, and his long tenure at Brookfield School, a fictional minor British boys' public boarding school located in the fictional village of Brookfield in the Fenlands. Mr Chips, as the boys call him, is conventional in his beliefs and exercises firm discipline in the classroom. His views broaden, and his pedagogical manner loosens after he marries Katherine, a young woman whom he meets on holiday in the Lake District. Katherine charms the Brookfield teachers and headmaster and quickly wins the favour of Brookfield's pupils. Their marriage is brief. She dies in childbirth and he never remarries or has another romantic interest.
Hilton wrote upon Balgarnie's death that "Balgarnie was, I suppose, the chief model for my story. When I read so many other stories about public school life, I am struck by the fact that I suffered no such purgatory as their authors apparently did, and much of this miracle was due to Balgarnie."[5] The mutton chop side whiskers of one of the masters at The Leys earned him the nickname "Chops", a likely inspiration for Mr Chips' name.[5]
A 50-minute adaptation by James Hilton and Barbara Burnham was broadcast on the BBC National Programme at 20:00 on 23 July 1936, with Richard Goolden in the title part and a cast that included Norman Shelley, Ronald Simpson, Lewis Shaw and Hermione Hannen.[6] There was a repeat broadcast the following evening.[7]
A radio adaptation by Hallmark Playhouse starring Ronald Colman was broadcast on 16 September 1948. Jean Holloway wrote the adaptation, Dee Engelbach was the producer and director, and James Hilton was the host. [10] [11] A second version, told from the point of view of Mrs. Chips as portrayed by Deborah Kerr, was broadcast on 1 February 1951. Whitfield Connor was Mr. Chips, Leonard St. Clair wrote the adaptation, Bill Gay was the producer and director, and James Hilton was again the host. [12] [13]
A radio adaptation by the NBC University Theatre was broadcast on 10 July 1949, starring Herbert Marshall and Alma Lawton.[14] Agnes Eckhardt wrote the adaptation, and Andrew C. Love was the director.[15]
Barbara Burnham adapted the book for a stage production in three acts, which was first performed at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 23 September 1938, with Leslie Banks as Mr. Chips and Constance Cummings as his wife Katherine.[16] It ran for over 100 performances[17] until 14 January 1939.[18]
A stage musical based on the original novel, but using most of the Leslie Bricusse vocal score of the 1969 film, was mounted at the Chichester Festival and opened on 11 August 1982. The book was by Roland Starke and the production was directed by Patrick Garland and Christopher Selbie. Among the Chichester Festival cast were John Mills as Mr. Chips, Colette Gleeson as Kathie, Nigel Stock as Max, Michael Sadler, Paul Hardwick, Simon Butteriss and Robert Meadmore in supporting roles, and 20 local school boys, including Kevin Farrar who was selected by Bricusse to sing the final verse of the iconic "School Song". The original cast album was recorded on the That's Entertainment Records label TER 1025 at Abbey Roads Studios in London on 17/18 August 1982. JAY-jay Records also have a release of it.[citation needed]
This version stars Robert Donat, Greer Garson, Terry Kilburn, John Mills, and Paul Henreid. Donat won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the lead role, beating Clark Gable, James Stewart, Laurence Olivier, and Mickey Rooney. While some of the incidents depicted in the various screen adaptations do not appear in the book, this film is generally faithful to the original story. The exteriors of the buildings of the fictional Brookfield School were filmed at Repton School,[19][20] an independent school (at the time of filming, for boys only), located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England, whilst the interiors, school courtyards and annexes, including the supposedly exterior shots of the Austrian Tyrol Mountains, were filmed at Denham Film Studios,[21] near the village of Denham in Buckinghamshire. Around 200 boys from Repton School stayed on during the school holidays so that they could appear in the film.[22]
In 1969 a musical film version appeared, starring Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark, with songs by Leslie Bricusse and an underscore by John Williams. In this version the character of Katherine is greatly expanded, and the time setting of the story is moved forward several decades, with Chips' career beginning in the early 20th century and his later career covering World War II, rather than World War I. O'Toole and Clark's performances were widely praised. At the 42nd Academy Awards, O'Toole was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, and he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy.
In 1984 it was adapted as a television serial by the BBC. It starred Roy Marsden and Jill Meager and ran for six half-hour episodes. Many scenes were filmed at Repton School, Derbyshire, in an effort to remain faithful to the original film.[23]
A television film adaptation was produced by STV Studios (then known as "SMG TV Productions") in 2002. It aired on the ITV Network in Britain and on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre in the United States. It starred Martin Clunes and Victoria Hamilton with Henry Cavill, William Moseley, Oliver Rokison and Harry Lloyd.[24]
In 2009, the short-running ABC sitcom Better Off Ted titles its 6th episode "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" wherein the computer system misidentifies then completely deletes the account of Ted Crisp, the main character.
Drama - 99 minutes A proud but aging WWI war-horse is deeply offended when his offer to lead during WWII is rejected by the government that once lauded his bravery with a series of medals. Embittered and despondent over their callousness, he heads back to his isolated country estate where he plots his permanent escape from the cold cruel world. When the government sends six mischievous cockney youths to stay with him during the bombing of London, the despondent old man must abandon his suicidal musings and attend to the ensuing chaos of the rambunctious rapscallions. This touching British drama follows the tough general's attempts to control and understand the energetic little hellions. As he comes to know them, he reluctantly begins to care and in so doing, finds renewed zest for life.
Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide CAST:
Godfrey Tearle ..............General Victor Church
John Laurie ................ Harry
Rosalyn Boulter .............Billeting Officer
Brian Weske..................Limpy
Petula Clark ................Irma
Mabel Constanduros ..........Mrs. Bates
Patric Curwen ...............Dr. Sargeant
Jeanne De Casalis ...........Lady Frome
Morland Graham ............. Bates
Irene Handl .................Mrs. Famsworth
H.F. Maltby ................ McNab
Gerald Moore ................Mayor
FILM NOTES:
- Directed by Maurice Elvey
- Screenplay by Elizabeth Baron. Based on the novel by James Ronald.
- Filmed: National Studios, Elstree
- British National Film
- It was Petula's first film role and she was cast after having been spotted by director Maurice Elvey who had seen her perform a sketch in concert at the Albert Hall. The sketch, entitled Movie Mad, was written for her by her father and centered around a star-struck Cockney maid named Daisy. Petula, of course, played Daisy.Her role as "Irma Smith," one of the Cockney evacuees, led to a film contract with the J. Arthur Rank Organization.
She says "Film actresses are generally suppposed to arrive at the studios in limousines.
Mummy and I went by bus."
-TV Mirror, 30, October, 1954
REVIEWS:
- Friendly, if slightly naive comedy-drama of England in war time concering a retired General, a much bemedalled hero who goes all gloomy and morose folowing the refusal of the War Office to reinstate him on the outbreak of World War II, but ultimately finds new interest in life in a bunch of mischievous cockney avacuees. The first half is definitely slow and stagey, but the artificial tale livens up considerably when the youngsters appear on the scene, and finally succeeds in making the popular grade. Strangely enough, the practically unknown juvenile players give many points to veterans Godfrey Tearle, Jeanne de Casalis and Morland Graham.
ACTING: Godrey Tearle, as the General, works hard but is inclined to overact the General, a Blimpish fellow who finishes up by adopting the mantle of Beveridge, while Jeanne de Casalis' Lady Alice is merely (her comedy character) Mrs. Feather with an inconsistent French accent. Morland Graham and Mabel Constanduros are easily the best of the adult players but Maureen Glynne, Gerald Moore, Brian Weske, Petula Clarke (sic), David Trickett and Pat Geary are a real delight as the evacuees.
PRODUCTION: The story takes a long time to get into its stride--the initial illustrations of the Blimpish actions and inhibitions of the General are a bit of a bore but once the Cockney evacuees get cracking its complexion takes on a more natural colourful and amusing hue. The capers of the kids, although strictly in accord with time-honoured stage convention, evoke much wholesome laughter and this happily endures to the end.
POINTS OF INTEREST: Artless but amiable story, natural and versatile performances by juvenile players, intriguing title, star values.
KLINE WEEKLY - 29 June, 1944 - . . .Merits of conscientious production, and some sincere acting are largely baulked by a temp which is always deliberate and sometimes painfully slow. Both script and direction seem to lack selectivity and conciseness. Jeanne de Casalis and Morland Graham give strong support to Godfrey Tearle. There are also some bright flashes from the children. . .
Monthly Film Bulletin - 31 July, 1944 - . . .Sincere and well-acted with moving moments; rather slow.
British Sound Films - 1984
Details IMDb January 1945 Drama (UK) - 84 minutes A farmer marries an extravagent showgirl who ruins his farm and nearly his life. Based on the novel by A.G. Street.> c80f0f1006