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Learn more about one of British TV's most loved actors as we put Martin Clunes In the Spotlight...
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Amazon.co.uk Review
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
Synopsis
Martin Clunes stars in the famous role of Mr. Chips in Goodbye Mr Chips--a television adaptation of the classic novel by James Hilton. Over a 50-year period, the story follows Mr. Chips as he takes a nostalgic look back on his lengthy teaching career, the pupils he taught, and the woman who changed his life (played by Victoria Hamilton).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
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.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As a lifelong fan of the excellent original Donat/Garson version, I groaned when hearing that Clunes was to play the eponymous Latin master. Who could picture that oaf playing such a subtle role, I bellowed. Reluctantly, I gave him a chance, and he totally caught me broadside by excelling in this utterly charming and subtle production. In fact - and it tortures me to even whisper it - it is a superior version in many ways. Gone are the artificial studio-hosted environs to be replaced by authentic location shots (admittedly, these were part of the original's appeal, but the fresher realism is a very welcome thing), gone are some of the stereotypical and stagey characters, enter some highly moving though brief scenes pertaining to the darker side of the human psyche (bullying, war etc). It is excellently directed with a very unaffected air and in addition to Clunes, Victoria Hamilton steps superbly into the "Duchess's" shoes as Kathy, John Wood gives an (as ever) effortless performance as the gruff Headmaster. I am almost surprised that this is not a BBC production, such is its quality and subtlety. However, I would agree with others that its brevity is its only weak point, with the relationship between Staefel and Chips being slightly underdone (although I guess Paul Henreid's appearance was brief in the original too). All in all a very credible and touching drama that could have been horribly saccharin in the hands of others but which is regally portrayed in this. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
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!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Goodbye Mr. Chips
Or is it au revoir Mr.Chips? Good evocative story (saw the old monochrome some years after it was released in 1939 and liked that) and as everyone has mentioned the acting and the... Read more
Published 23 days ago by K. C.
Very enjoyable
Martin Clunes was much better than expected and I liked the DVD. It did not have the punch or pathos of the two earlier versions (Peter O'Toole, Robert Donat).
Published 3 months ago by Terence Bird
An engaging film
I enjoyed this film, however it did not quite measure up to the original with Robert Donat. Martin Clunes did quite a good job in capturing the lonely master, however the film was... Read more
Published 4 months ago by musiclover
One of my favourite films
As the title says this is one of my all time favourite films. For those who don't know what it is about, Martin Clunes plays a Latin Teacher. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Miss RJ Alderman
A soul-moving film.
It has been many years since I have read the novel `Goodbye Mr Chips' by James Hilton. At the time, I was too immature to fully appreciate the gravity of the events described in... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. C. J. Berry
Goodbye Mr Chips.
An extremely poor example of this simple play. The casting is quite unsuitable expecially when one compares it with the original with Chips being played by Donat.
Published 7 months ago by P. R. Millson
Clunes at his best!
A brilliant remake of a classic film. Martin Clunes' portrayal of "Mr Chips" is both believable and compelling. This story has it all; romance, humour, pathos, tragedy and more. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mart
A classic story
It's good to cry once in a while and with Goodbye Mr Chips you will most certainly do so. The Brittish are experts on these kind of stories.
Published 7 months ago by Kristina Suder
Rainy Sunday Viewing
Who would have thought Matin Clunnes would do such justice to a roll as famous and old as 'Mr Chips'
This is just an old school,(pardon the punn) pure entertainment film for... Read more
This is just an old school,(pardon the punn) pure entertainment film for... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mrs Alex
Goodby Mr. Chips with Martin Clunes
A beautifully written story well adapted to film.
Martin Clunes plays the very sensitive and moral character Mr. Chips extremely well. Read more
Martin Clunes plays the very sensitive and moral character Mr. Chips extremely well. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Cassie
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