Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Starring: Robert Donat, Greer Garson, Terry Kilburn, John Mills, Paul Henreid, Judith Furse
Directed by: Sam Wood
Rating: Unrated
Genre: Drama, Romance
1939

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: An elderly teacher (Robert Donat) recalls his life over the decades spent at a prestigious boarding school for boys.

Review:

Tim: Goodbye, Mr. Chips is a very good movie that is made great by a stunning performance from Robert Donat. I enjoyed the entire film, but I simply cannot get Donat's performance out of my head. It doesn't surprise me that he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Mr. Chipping- it's by far the best part of the movie and one of the most quietly incredible performances I've seen.

By any measure, 1939 was a watershed year for film. You had landmark movies like Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Those are three titans of cinema, so it's easy to overlook a film like Goodbye, Mr. Chips. While this movie might not reach that legendary status, it's still a great film and one of the best movies of 1939.

The story is a sweet one- about a beloved school teacher, affectionately known as Mr. Chips. When we first meet him, he's an elderly man. I immediately loved Donat in this role- he just perfectly embodied this wise man, exuding kindness out of every pore. As he retires for the night, we're taken on a journey through the man's life. I was surprised to find that he wasn't always the kind man we were first introduced to. When he first joined the Academy, he was inexperienced and stern. He was a quiet, reserved man without many friends and disliked by the student body. Knowing where he would eventually end up, I was stunned to see his earlier demeanor. It was wonderfully emotional, though, to reflect on how great a man (or woman) can change throughout the course of one's life. We often label people this or that. This movie was a gentle reminder that people can change, under the right circumstances and with the right people in their lives.

The journey Mr. Chipping takes is a fascinating one, marked most deeply by the cute story of how he meets his wife. From the meeting on the mountain to the reconnecting on the ferry, it was an incredibly romantic story. So often, Hollywood depicts romance as taking place between the most suave, charismatic man and the most beautiful, vulnerable woman. It was wonderful to see a different kind of love story- the man was the reserved, timid one, and the woman he meets breathed new life into him. Greer Garson was wonderfully cast as Katherine, and even though she doesn't have a huge role, she makes the most of every single scene. Her presence is felt deeply, mostly on the character of Mr. Chipping, but also on us as the audience. We soon understand that it was her presence, her character that altered the course of Chipping's life for the better. It was a powerful reminder of how others can help us change who we are.

The rest of Chipping's life unfolds, the ups and downs, the triumphs and the losses. It was fascinating to see how one man's life can impact thousands of others if used wisely. I really liked how the film connected to the essential historical events of the day. At the end, it feels like we've been on Chipping's journey with him, and he feels less like a character in a movie and more like a friend we've known our whole lives. Now, a great deal of this is due to Donat. It's so hard for me to describe why I loved his performance so much. No matter what age he played Chipping, he just reached through the screen and established an emotional connection with the audience. In his younger days, you just felt bad for him and wished he would find his way (and some friends). When he goes on vacation, you're pleased he has finally broken out of his shell, but the setbacks are sad. You hope desperately that he seizes the moment with Katherine, instead of letting it slip through his fingers. His scenes as an older man are the best, though, because he just seems so warm and caring. He's the kind of person you would love to sit down with and have a cup of tea. The kind of person who never makes the conversation about himself- he's always acutely interested in you. I truly loved Donat's performance and am glad he won the Academy Award.

If Donat have given a slightly less effective performance, I'd probably consider Goodbye, Mr. Chips an exceptionally strong movie that just missed out on greatness. However, delivering the performance he does and how connected I felt to Mr. Chipping, I have no doubts that this is a great movie. I would highly, highly recommend checking it out.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8


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