User reviews

The plot of GOODNIGHT MR TOM on paper makes it seem we are in for a large dose of maudlin,sickly sentiment.But,talented director Jack Gold is an expert on touching the emotions in the right manner,and it emerges instead as a compelling,deeply moving wartime drama with excellent production and lead performances.One of the best,if not the best TV movies of the 1990's which possibly would've had even greater success if it had been released in the cinemas.

The evacuation of children to countryside towns and villages in World War II was of course a common practice,but in the case of the young boy here was doubly important because of a wretched home life in the UK's capital.The horrors of war on the home front are not drifted over though,and the construction of the film until it's throat-lumping,misty-eyed ending leaves us with a sense of optimism despite what has happened before.It is almost(but not quite)worthy of comparison with the finale to IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE(1946).All in all,a modern classic.

A heartwarming film. The usual superb acting by John Thaw, who passed over recently. A man who was always so unassuming. He was one of Englands top 10 actors certainly of my time.

He can be remembered for his famous role of Inspector Morse. As Jack Regan in the 1970's hit TV series 'the Sweeney and as a barrister in Kavanah QC. A must see for all the family and a great DVD for my collection. The filming will bring back a few memories for people who remember wartime Britain and certainly those who were evacuated out of London to escape the German bombings. The interaction between the two main characters.Tom and the boy William was really well acted and true to the book by Michelle Magorian.

I saw the movie before I read the Michelle Magorian book and I enjoyed both. The movie, more than the book, made me come close to tears on several occasions. This film touches the deepest points of the human soul and never lets go. I encourage as many people to watch this masterpiece as much and as soon as possible. I give it ten stars.

This film has been on my wish list for ten years and I only recently found it on DVD when my partner's grandson was given it. He watched it at and was thrilled to learn that it was about my generation - born in 1930 and evacuated in 1939 and he wanted to know more about it - and me. Luckily I borrowed it from him and watched it on my own and I cried all through it. Not only did it capture the emotions, the class distinction, the hardship and the warmth of human relationships of those years (as well as the cruelties (spoken and unspoken); but it was accurate! I am also a bit of an anorak when it comes to ARP uniforms, ambulances (LCC) in the right colour (white) and all the impedimenta of the management of bomb sites and the work of the Heavy Rescue Brigades. I couldn't fault any of this from my memories, and the sandbagged Anderson shelter and the WVS canteens brought it all back. The difference between the relatively unspoiled life in the village and war-torn London was also sharply presented I re-lived 1939/40 and my own evacuation from London with this production! I know Jack Gold's work, of course, and one would expect no more from him than this meticulous detail; but it went far beyond the accurate representation of the facts and touched deep chords about human responses and the only half-uttered value judgements of those years. It was certainly one of the great high spots in John Thaw's acting career and of Gold's direction and deserves to be better known. It is a magnificent film and I have already ordered a couple of copies to send to friends.

This made-for-TV movie (or 'feature-length drama' as we call them in England) has a seemingly special place in the hearts of the nation and I fully appreciate why this might be. As a sweetly sentimental piece of family entertainment starring the undoubtedly popular John Thaw, it could hardly fail. Yet, curiously, fail it does on a number of levels.

Partly there is a problem with the cast, but I really don't think the fault is Thaw's. He was an actor of considerable merit and ability whose death elevated him to unofficial sainthood - making criticism of any work featuring him rather a tricky task as one might appear churlish. However, I rather enjoyed his gentle and satisfyingly nuanced performance in the curmudgeonly-yet-softhearted titular role. He certainly did well with the material to hand, and the story offers some potentially weighty issues which ought to be grist to any competent actor's mill.

Other characters, as has been correctly observed by various reviewers, are less satisfyingly fleshed out. This may be due in large part to their being allocated such little screen time & dialogue as to prevent the actors developing them to any degree. Even then, this might not greatly undermine the drama and it's worth noting that two supporting roles (the village woman who gently ribs Tom and the ARP warden in London) are well matched against Thaw.

The greatest fault lies with the scenes involving young William. There is a total lack of characterisation from the young actor and it's just the death-knell for the whole enterprise. As an example, when Will's best friend Zach has to leave (because his dad's been critically injured), Will just stands still with a blank expression on his face as though he can't remember if he's supposed to feel anything or respond or whatever. Who knows, maybe that was the best shot they could get out of him? Yes, the boy's meant to be emotionally damaged, but he barely displays any hint of genuine fondness for Tom. He smirks when he ought not to, he appears distant when he should be warm and human, and that's just me generalising. The intimate effect is very jarring and takes one out of the drama.

Thaw's acting might still have carried the day, if it weren't for the toe-curling shattering of mood in two scenes. I refer, of course, to the nightmare scene and to the cycling scene at the end. In the former, bad direction and poor acting combine when the boy sits bolt upright and yells wide-eyed to the camera as it zooms in; meant to be shocking but so unintentionally embarrassing that it becomes pure 'narm'. That I no longer believed in William as a character was merely reinforced right at the end in a final moment of narm when his cries of "Yaaay" as he cycles down the hill toward the great emotional climax come spilling out his mouth as though recited in a first year Latin class; it's certainly not from the heart.

In the end, the boy just couldn't act and it torpedoed the whole damn thing for me. It's pity; I might have really enjoyed it too.

This is arguably John Thaw's finest performance where he successfully shakes off any traits of his Inspector Morse character and brings a perfect adaptation of Tom from the pages of the book to the TV screen. This is a well made production which maintains its family viewing vibe despite some very mature themes like the outbreak of the second world war and the physical abuse suffered by the child.

However it is the relationship between Tom and young Willie that is the heart and soul of this story. It is touching and beautiful to see this bond between the young boy evacuated from London and the grumpy old man he is left with develop - a real grandfather/grandson connection.

It is a pity that this story wasn't made with a bigger budget with a more established director as it belongs on the big screen, not shown once or twice every ten years on a Sunday afternoon. Given the right guidance, John Thaw would be celebrated the world over and bestowed with many awards for his brilliant performance in this movie. A great actor and a great role that should have been honored more than it was at the time.

I totally agree. The acting was just repulsive. Will's, to be exact. He was like he was totally reading off a script. No emotion. And I think that was a very important character to have the right actor. And he was hardly even an actor. His nightmares were so fake and poorly-acted that it was even laughable. Will was cheeky and quite unlikable, he made no character progress, stayed the same (which was basically the whole point and storyline of the book and movie-he flourishes with the help of Mister Tom). I'd like to warn anyone- IF YOU READ THE BOOK, DON'T SEE THE MOVIE- SPOILS IT ALL! This movie is, like, seriously underrated. It's slow-moving and boring. I couldn't care less of what happens next. It does, as you said, miss out on a lot of very important parts such as: -The character development. -The love Will shows for Tom. -Will, Tom and Zach's holiday in the sun -Spooky Cott and whatshisname that lives there -His mum was much much nicer, Tom was meaner and Will was bolder -Zach, Ginnie, Carrie, George and Will: all the times they hung out I bet I forgot a lot, but basically the movie is extremely overrated and pure crap.

A truly wonderful film, with superb acting all round. The story was very engrossing and held me spellbound. Just loved everything about it, so much so that I've ordered the video and the book! Couldn't imagine another actor to play Tom Oakley. John Thaw WAS Mister Tom.

This movie resonated with me on two levels. As a kid I was evacuated from London and planted on unwilling hosts in a country village. While I escaped the bombing and had experiences which produced treasured memories (for example hearing a nightingale sing one dark night for the very first time) and enjoying a life I never could have had in London, I missed my family and worried about them. Tom is an old man whose wife and child have both died and who lives alone in a small country village.As an old man who is now without a wife whose kids have gotten married and live far away in another province, I am again sometime lonely. The boy's mother is a religious fanatic with very odd ideas of raising a child. Since a deep affection has grown between old Tom Oakley and this young lad, Tom goes in search of him and finally rescues him from very odd and dangerous circumstances. At the end of the story there is great tension since due to some bureaucratic ruling it seems that the child is going to lose someone who has developed a loving relationship with him.

Goodnight Mister Tom is so beautifully filmed and beautifully realised. It isn't completely faithful to the book, but does it have to be? No, not at all. John Thaw is mesmerising as Tom Oakley. His transformation from gruff to caring was so well realised, making it more believable than Scrooge in Christmas Carol. After Inspector Morse, this is Thaw's finest hour. He was matched earnestly by a young Nick Robinson, who gave a thoroughly convincing portrayal of an evacuee traumatised by the abusive relationship with his mother. The script and music made it worth the buy, and you also see Thaw playing the organ. Amazing! The most moving scene, was Willie finding out about Zak's death, and then Tom telling him about his deceased family who died of scarlatina. Buy this, you'll love it! 10/10 Bethany Cox

If John Thaw had never played "Morse", "Kavanagh", or starred in "The Sweeney" and other productions, he'd be remembered for this wonderfully unforgettable performance in "Goodnight Mr Tom".

Superbly supported by an equally tremendous performance by his co-star (young Nick Robinson in his first role), and an unobtrusive cast, this adaptation of Michelle Magorian's charming novel is a fitting memorial to his art.

When I read this story of an old widowed Norfolk countryman having to accommodate a young boy from London before and during the Blitz, I found a rather obvious time-line error in it, and credit must go to the makers of this film for rectifying this error. They also must be applauded for not over-sentimentalising the tale, and preventing what could have been turned, quite easily, into a mushy mess.

If you keep a CD or video library then this feel-good made for TV movie is an absolute must inclusion.

Sometimes I watch a movie and am really impressed by it – and still it is not easy to explain why I liked it that much. This is mostly true for the uncommon movies – the ones one can hardly compare with the rest out there. Goodnight Mister Tom is one of these special movies. There is a lot of emotion in that movie – and the acting was so good that while watching the movie, I was crying and laughing as the story went on. The young Nick Robinson – is a young boy (William) evacuated from London because of the air strikes there during the Second World War. Mr. Tom played by John Thaw is an old man leaving in the village the evacuated children were send to.

At first Tom refuses to take any responsibilities - such as taking care for a troubled young lad – but accepts since he is left without a choice. During the stay Mr. Tom discovers how horrible the life has been for the William – alongside his luggage his mom sent a belt and written instructions to the host of her son – not to hesitate to use it. This belt is berried in the field – never to be used in such a brutal manner. Mr. Tom provides a real home for William, and the boy is happy with his new life, he goes to school, makes new friends and discovers hidden talents. All of the sudden a letter William is called home in London with a letter mentioning that she is not feeling well…and it starts all over again – only this time it gets much worse… There are many feelings you can sense in this movie – love, fear, sadness, happiness, pain, hope – and much more. Goodnight Mr. Tom is another masterpiece of the British cinema comparable only with others such as Dear Frankie and Billy Elliot – if one is to compare. I have truly enjoyed watching it and highly recommend it. Before finishing this review I would also like to mention the great performance of Thomas Orange in the role of Zac – reminded me of a friend of mine from my own childhood ( :

Absolute masterpiece of a film! Goodnight Mr.Tom has swiftly become one of my favourite films of all time. Nobody should miss out on seeing this film, it's just too good! Mr.Tom is perfectly portrayed by John Thaw as the harsh old man who becomes a soft father-figure when William Beech(Nick Robinson) is sent to him for evacuation, almost like 'The town mouse and the country mouse'. A truly heart wrenching film. The director knew exactly how to turn book into film and he has done so extremely well. The film was so excellently shot that the emotions of the characters and what was happening made the audience feel a range of emotions from love to fear, and these emotions could turn on a six-pence. Set in a time of turmoil during World War Two, this film also shows the difference between the cities and the countryside, they are almost like different countries. An absolute must see, those who don't are missing out on a truly amazing and brilliant film.

This is a very moving story which tugs at the heart strings. The acting is flawless and the story is compelling.

Full of surprises which will keep you glued to the screen until the very last moment.

John Thaw is a an excellent actor. I have to admit that I was impressed by his range in the role of a crusty old curmudgeon who reluctantly agrees to take in an evacuee from the streets of London (WWII time era).

That being said, the film is also excellent. A very moving story with a satisfying ending. Some of the characters are a little underdeveloped (the school teacher in particular), but none of them are essential to the plot. Basically, the story is about the old man and the boy, and the film needs little else.

10 - 10 - 10, ad infinitum. First of all, to the critics who are so hung up on the movie not following the book. So, what else is new? And, who cares. They are two separate entities. Duh!! This Masterpiece was an unknown for me. What a great, great surprise. I was raised during WW2 and drove my family nuts. I was an - er Anglophile - greatly admiring the Brits and their stance during those years. Oh, and I never missed a John Mills movie.

A man that befriended me came from England to get away from the war and opened a record shop a few blocks from my home and it became my second home. Most of his records crossed the Atlantic with him so I had a host of British RCAs and Parlophones.

One more item of a personal nature. There was a mag called Picture Post and I wrote them a letter. The first part - I was just a kid - had to do with what was right about America and wrong about England, the second part was vice-versa. Guess what? They published the good stuff about England, eliminating the rest of my tome. I got a lot of letters from all over Britain and met a merchant seaman who later became a radio operator on the Queen Mary. He stayed with us whenever the ship came to NYC (where I was born and raised).

The setting of the movie automatically appealed to me. The story had my wife and myself shedding a few tears, it was so beautifully told - warm and wonderful. The acting by the main characters was excellent. At times, early on, the lad reminded me of Roddy McDowall at that age.

As far as I'm concerned this is one of the most impressive things ever put on film. I recommend it - highly.

As I said in the beginning ---- 10 - 10 - 10, ad infinitum.

Marvelous film again dealing with the trials and tribulations of World War 11 England. What makes this film so good is the touching of the human element.This film is definitely in the tradition of such British line classics such as "Mrs. Miniver" and "Hope and Glory." As is the case with this film, we see the desperation of people in the time of war.

The performances are outstanding here especially by the embittered John Thaw, who is assigned a child who has been evacuated from the London bombing.

We soon see why this child wets his bed. He comes from a lunatic mother who has abused him terribly.

The old man takes to the child and brings happiness into his sad life. When the child is returned to his mother, the old man goes to London and seeks him out only to find tragedy. He literally kidnaps the boy and is able to convince a higher up that the child is better off with him than being in a boy's home.

The picture is so good because it deals and builds on endearing relationships.