Goodbye, Mr Chips - Peter O'Toole [DVD] [1969]

Most enjoyable. Great views of one of Dorset’s loveliest towns, Sherborne: two castles where Raleigh lived and an Abbey with the heaviest peel of bells in Europe and where two Saxon kings are to be found amongst other notables. The film was rather good too.

When I first learnt of public schools at the age of about twelve in the mid 1980s, I just couldn’t believe a small number of boys of my age were going to have such an education. I was shocked and stunned and I hated and resented the whole idea of it. A rigid class system dividing the entire education system which you cannot change as you too enter it. I did not want to believe and I just could not believe such schools were going to continue for my generation too. Just as they had done so for countless generations of boys before us. I simply couldn’t understand why all the parents and all the adults wanted them to continue. It seemed so unfair and unjust. Couldn’t they see how unfair and unjust it was? Couldn’t they see how the schools were going to perpetuate inequality in education and society? Couldn’t they see that the class system was going to continue if you allow some boys to have such an advantage and privilege within education? It is difficult to explain, and as a teenager I never thought I would say this, but as you become older you slowly begin to see for yourself the important role public schools (like Eton, Harrow and Winchester) play within education. You begin to understand and also to acknowledge the invaluable and incalculable role these schools have in educating each generation. Especially during the progressive and troublesome decades like the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Above all else, just like with this film, you begin to see how special it would be if it continued. Not only for the next generation but also for the future generations of boys who will follow after them. Put simply the boys and increasingly the girls who attend our public schools are quite frankly very lucky and also very fortunate to do so. We should be supporting them. Not hating them and saying we despise them. For they are the very best of their generation. The cream. The elite. Future leaders. Excellent film by the way. Stirring strong emotions about the idea of a public school system and, of course, the successful perpetuation of the class system which it ensures. You either vehemently hate and detest these ideas or passionately want to protect and defend them and, as I've become older, I can honestly say it is certainly the latter.

Excellent film, and acting by both Actors. Excellent. Thank you.

I must have watched this version of Goodbye Mr. Chips over 40 years ago whenI was less discerning about musicals, but today it seems like a good story spoiledby the inclusion of poor quality songs.The late Peter O'Toole was a great actor but not known for his singing, so here wehave him speak-singing a few lines in keeping with the needs of the show.Despite my misgivings, the story of a shy stick in the mud schoolmaster whomarries a Soubrette and shines thereafter is a good yarn. Petula Clark is stillgoing strong in her 80's.With Subtitles in English

50 years on, I'm still fond of this under-rated film. I have an interest to declare: I sang on the soundtrack. Even had a solo! In the song "When I am older", I provided the voice for the boy hanging upside down on ropes in the gym, singing "I'll achieve my great ambition". (Blink and you'll miss it.)It's a real weepy, of course, but has lots of nice things, even as you feel you are being manipulated into ... weeping. The music is very attractive and even if Peter O'Toole (as Mr Chips) goes for "sprechstimme" rather than singing, Petula Clark is very tuneful. Leslie Bricusse (sadly recently deceased) wrote some lovely music for this film but I think the orchestrator also deserves considerable credit: the scenes in the Temple of Apollo, for instance, are rich and rather beautiful.

Very disappointed with this dvd,we were really looking forward to it.We had to have the Television on up to 💯 and still could not hear what they were saying.I was thinking of returning it and then ordering another copy but decided we might get another one that would be the same.

This Musical version of the much loved Goodbye Mr Chips story is a wonderful uplifting film. All the performances are brilliant and the beautiful Song Score by the much missed Leslie Bricusse is stunning. Great tunes and lyrics. Plus an underscore by the great John Williams. A must see/own film. If you like Musicals then treat yourself. You won't regret it.

The item arrived on time but the packaging was all written in chinese. I was worried the film would have subtitles but when I played it, it was in english. I dont think there was any mention of this on the description in the listing.