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Goodbye, Mr. Chips

  • 1969
  • G
  • 2h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
39 Photos
Classic MusicalDramaMusicalRomance

This musical version of James Hilton's novel concerns shy, withdrawn English schoolteacher Arthur Chipping, who falls for flashy showgirl Katherine Bridges while teaching at Brookfield Boys'... Read allThis musical version of James Hilton's novel concerns shy, withdrawn English schoolteacher Arthur Chipping, who falls for flashy showgirl Katherine Bridges while teaching at Brookfield Boys' School outside London in the 1920's.This musical version of James Hilton's novel concerns shy, withdrawn English schoolteacher Arthur Chipping, who falls for flashy showgirl Katherine Bridges while teaching at Brookfield Boys' School outside London in the 1920's.

  • Director
    • Herbert Ross
  • Writers
    • James Hilton
    • Terence Rattigan
  • Stars
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Petula Clark
    • Michael Redgrave
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    4.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Herbert Ross
    • Writers
      • James Hilton
      • Terence Rattigan
    • Stars
      • Peter O'Toole
      • Petula Clark
      • Michael Redgrave
    • 61User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 6 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Goodbye, Mr. Chips
    Trailer 2:06
    Goodbye, Mr. Chips

    Photos39

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    Top cast50

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    Peter O'Toole
    Peter O'Toole
    • Arthur Chipping
    Petula Clark
    Petula Clark
    • Katherine Bridges
    Michael Redgrave
    Michael Redgrave
    • The Headmaster
    George Baker
    George Baker
    • Lord Sutterwick
    Siân Phillips
    Siân Phillips
    • Ursula Mossbank
    Michael Bryant
    Michael Bryant
    • Max Staefel
    Jack Hedley
    Jack Hedley
    • William Baxter
    Alison Leggatt
    Alison Leggatt
    • Headmaster's Wife
    Jenny Runacre
    Jenny Runacre
    Clinton Greyn
    Clinton Greyn
    • Bill Calbury
    Barbara Couper
    • Mrs. Paunceforth
    Michael Culver
    Michael Culver
    • Johnny Longbridge
    Elspeth March
    Elspeth March
    • Mrs. Summersthwaite
    Clive Morton
    Clive Morton
    • General Paunceforth
    Ronnie Stevens
    Ronnie Stevens
    • Algie
    Mario Maranzana
    • Pompeii Guide
    John Gugolka
    • Sutterwick Jr.
    Michael Ridgeway
    • David
    • Director
      • Herbert Ross
    • Writers
      • James Hilton
      • Terence Rattigan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews61

    6.84.1K
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    Featured reviews

    10rube2424

    A Total Delight

    When it opened in London during the Christmas season of 1969 this musical version of James Hilton's famous story was drubbed by the critics. The same reception greeted it when it opened in the US, prompting MGM to withdraw its "Roadshow" status and cut almost all of its songs. What a mistake!!!

    Watched years later, when the trendy world of the 60's and 70's has turned in upon itself, this version of GOODBYE, MR.CHIPS is a total delight. First of all, as "Chipping", Peter O'Toole gives one of his greatest performances. To watch him turn from the hated, cold, emotionless Latin teacher at a boy's boarding school, to a man who finally can see the colors in the world (after falling for and marrying musical star Catherine Briskit) is to see a genius at work. (If you can, watch LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, THE LION IN WINTER, MY FAVORITE YEAR and CHIPS back to back over a number of days or weeks. Then you will see what a truly great actor O'Toole is, and how magnificent he is in CHIPS.)

    Catherine, as played by the glowing Petula Clark, at the height of her popularity, is ever man's dream; beautiful, loving, understanding, with a great voice to boot. Most of the songs are beautiful and fit the story perfectly, while the direction by the late Herbert Ross brings the proceedings wonderfully to life.

    Okay, this film may be a bit too romantic for some people, but for those who are looking for a beautifully acted, sung, and directed love story, look no further. (If you can get your hands of the laser disc wide screen version, better yet. I am anxiously awaiting CHIPS' debut on DVD.)
    8grantss

    Very moving

    Great, very moving story. Not perfect - the musical interludes were unnecessary (then again, I generally dislike musicals). Struggles to get going, but once it does it is fantastic. Final quarter is incredibly emotional.

    Great performances by Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark.
    rothwellstudios

    A memorable piece of movie nostalgia!

    MGM produced this beautiful film at a genuine British Public School and I think anyone who attended one of those institutions during the 1940s or 50s will agree that the mood and authenticity of the film is spot on! Peter O'Toole's performance in the title role is extremely moving and Petula Clark is an unexpected choice for "Mrs Chipping" but she is first rate in the part. I note that some commentators were unimpressed with the Leslie Bricusse score. Well, all I can say is that I wore out my vinyl LP copy within one month of buying it when the film was first released. Incidentally, a short version of the film was released on 16 millimetre film in the UK with virtually EVERY song cut out and it was just awful without the music. But the full musical version is a delight.
    6christophernash290

    Wonderful and unjustly neglected film

    Arthur Chipping is a 40 something Latin master in an English public school circa 1924. He's respected, but not particularly liked. He's seen as dull, hence his nickname: Ditchy, as in ditch water, dull as. The one person who seems to see beyond Chipping's exterior is his friend Max Staefel, the German master. One of his ex pupils takes him to a musical show which features the singer Katherine Bridges, and he meets this young lady again on holiday in Pompeii. Against all odds, they achieve a rapport, and thanks to Max, who memorises the address for him, they meet up in London and fall in love. They marry and the effect on Chipping is remarkable - his buried humanity is unlocked and the boys begin to love as well as respect the man they now affectionately call Chips.

    Chips and Kathy have a blissful 20 years together until tragedy strikes in the form of World War II.

    Often dismissed as inferior to the classic 1939 version with Robert Donat, this musical from 1969 with Peter O'Toole as Chips and Petula Clarke as Kathy, will always be THE version for me. I first saw it at the cinema on original release and although at the age of 8 I was vaguely aware that it was a film for adults, and some of it was above my ability to comprehend, I fell in love with it. I haven't fallen out of love since. As a matter of fact, when I saw the Donat version on TV shortly after seeing this, it struck me as a pale shadow of the O'Toole movie. I've learnt to respect and admire the original film, but it has never been able to engage my emotions as the O'Toole version does.

    Peter O'Toole is brilliant as Chips, his awkwardness, embarrassment and growing self confidence and his all consuming love for Kathy and his care for the boys he teaches is enchantingly portrayed. The scene in which he reacts to the tragedy that World War II brings is incredibly powerful and moving. He really does look like a man whose whole life has crumbled around him.

    True, it does make a number of radical changes to the original novel, but this doesn't matter - it works on it's own merits. Never mind the trendy critics of the day, treat yourself to a wonderful two and a half hours of pure magic.
    8marcslope

    Hail Rattigan

    Terrence Rattigan, who authored this screenplay at a time when he was out of fashion (and he still is), did a wonderful job renovating and updating James Hilton's sentimental novel, and his screenplay, and the playing of Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark, save the movie. Rattigan emphasizes the love story and carefully shows how Chipping, seemingly stiff and unemotional, has great reservoirs of tenderness and gallantry. It's a love story of two very different people who not only complement one another but bring out unforeseen qualities in each other: She teaches him to care, and he teaches her to function outside her shallow theatrical surroundings. O'Toole is as touching as Robert Donat in the original, and Clark, with less to play, is lovely and sympathetic and in superb voice. Of course, most of Leslie Bricusse's songs are dreadful, and O'Toole's no singer, and the internal-dialog nature of most of them (they don't advance plot, they don't define character, they just tell you what the protagonists are thinking) slows the action down. But with Rattigan's excellent touches, a splendidly showy supporting performance by Sian Phillips (then Mrs. O'Toole), and some eye-filling Oswald Morris photography, it's a love story you can weep copiously through--I know I did--and have a wonderful time doing so.

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    Related interests

    Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer in West Side Story (1961)
    Classic Musical
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)
    Musical
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    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally cast in the lead roles were Sir Rex Harrison and Samantha Eggar, who were replaced by Richard Burton and Lee Remick. When MGM opted to replace Remick with Petula Clark, based on her reviews and Golden Globe nomination for Finian's Rainbow (1968), Burton balked at playing opposite a "singer" rather than an "actress", so Peter O'Toole was cast instead.
    • Quotes

      Katie: [looking at a carving] What does that mean?

      Chips: Gnothe seauthon. Know yourself. The watchword of Apollo.

      Katie: The god of prophecy.

      Chips: Amongst other things...

      [Later at the close of the scene]

      Katie: [contemplating the temple she has visited] Know yourself. That's quite a watchword. Gnothe seauthon.

      Chips: You're most retentive.

      Katie: Give me a good line and I can remember it.

    • Alternate versions
      Following the initial roadshow bookings, the film was cut to 133 minutes, with many of its musical numbers deleted. This was possibly a questionable decision considering many of the songs were instrumental in explaining the characters' inner thoughts and emotions. This cut version was originally used for initial television network broadcasts but the full roadshow version (complete with overture and entr'acte music) is now shown on TCM.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Overture
      Music by Leslie Bricusse

      Performed by Orchestra, Conducted by John Williams

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 25, 1969 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Goodbye Mr. Chips
    • Filming locations
      • Paestum, Capaccio, Salerno, Campania, Italy
    • Production companies
      • APJAC Productions
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $9,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 2h 35m(155 min)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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