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Masterpiece Theatre: Goodbye, Mr. Chips [2002] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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James Hilton's beloved novel Goodbye Mr Chips is tenderly remade here in this 2002 TV production. Martin Clunes plays the schoolteacher over a 50-year period, from his first day as a novice Latin instructor until his death at 83 as retired headmaster. The world and Mr Chipping change dramatically over the decades. He marries a proto-feminist (Victoria Hamilton) who nicknames him "Chips" and gives him courage to test his humanitarian impulses. World War I hits home in many ways--a long list of the school's graduates die or are maimed and Chips struggles with the discriminatory exile of his best friend, the German teacher. Despite obvious breaks for commercials, this film has a graceful honesty that transcends the sometimes sentimental storyline. The casual cruelty at the all-boys' school may make parents flinch more than their children, rendering this a safe choice for family viewing. --Kimberly Heinrichs
Our Price: £8.24 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Best Version Yet Made
Review date: 2008-10-08 Rating: 10 out of 10
This version of Goodbye Mr Chips is in my opinion a superb production and by far the best version yet made. The story is familiar, a strict disciplinarian schoolmaster who mellows with age and wins the love and respect of everyone around him.
Martin Clunes was an inspired choice for the part of Mr Chipping, and his powerful performance was the most touching thing I have ever seen.... ever! I defy anyone with half a heart to watch this film and remain unmoved by it.
Martin Clunes played Chips from a young twenty-something, through to a caring and much beloved headmaster in his late eighties, and not only is his performance thoroughly believable, the make-up department also did a bang-up job in making him look totally genuine as an old man.
Also starring Victoria Hamilton as Chips' young wife Kathie, this is a beautiful film, and not to be missed...but keep your hankies handy!
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Reviews
Martin Clunes Excells.
Review date: 2008-02-21 Rating: 10 out of 10
This touching story is excellent family viewing and whilst I agree with another reviewer that it IS all too short,do not let this distract you from watching.
Martin Clunes is superb as the master who devotes his life to the education and pastoral concern of his charges.I had not realised quite what a versatile actor he was before viewing this but his performance in this touching drama deserved to be recognised.
It is a beautiful story, retold in a sensitive way and as we move through the decades Chips and his boys become involved in the Great War~it is brought home to us exactly what this war cost us in terms of life and sacrifice.
There are a couple of corporal punishment scenes that may make you wince a little but it is a fact of life that this was how school functioned then.
Please buy and watch this story~you will not regret it.Highly recommended.
One of the most touching stories over told
Review date: 2003-11-17 Rating: 10 out of 10
If you've seen the 1939 original, you might hesitate on seeing the men behaving badly actor in the lead role. This role merely highlights Clunes' ability as a truly stunning and versatile actor, he gives an inspired performance in this remake and plays "Chips" beautifully. The story is of a man who joins an all boys school and watches them grow generation by generation, he falls in love, suffers personal tragedy and learns a great deal from the boys and the other masters. It's told differently from the original, this version highlighting more of the bullying mentality of these institutions. This story has one of best endings I have ever seen, of course I can't say what it is but if you're not in tears by then, you need to see a doctor!
Goodbye Mr. Chips
Review date: 2003-09-27 Rating: 4 out of 10
Excellently filmed but sadly lacking in content. I was greatly disappointed that the production did not run true to the earlier
production and there appeared to me to be many gaps. Enjoyable but too short and shallow
Goodbye, Mr Chips
Review date: 2003-09-03 Rating: 10 out of 10
I think this is an excellent film of an excellent story. It is well casted, and the actors and scenery are both very good. It is very realistic, one of my friends from school played Alderdyce, and he was almost unrecognisable! I would recommend it to anyone.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Patrick Malahide
Conleth Hill
Victoria Hamilton
John Wood
Martin Clunes
Creators:
Martin Clunes (Primary Contributor)
Victoria Hamilton (Primary Contributor)
Judy Counihan (Producer)
Kumari Salgado (Producer)
Leila Kirkpatrick (Producer)
Margaret Mitchell (Producer)
Brian Finch (Writer)
Frank Delaney (Writer)
James Hilton (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: WGBH Boston
Manufacturer: WGBH Boston
EAN: 9781593750237
Binding: DVD
ISBN: 1593750234
Number of items: 1
Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2004-01-06
Universal product code (UPC): 783421369696
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 99 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2003-10-19
Language: English (Original Language)