At last - it's coming in fully restored DVD. The release date is Jan 27th 2009, available to pre-order, search it out at Amazon.com (US). Until it's regionally released for Europe and other zones get a multi-zone player if you haven't already - 'cos we've all waited long enough for this one!!!!
Despite some rather lukewarm reviews of this film, don't be put off. It's release must just have been the wrong time for a musical of this nature, but with the world in a financial mess again I bet we see a resurgence of the genre, and this one is up there with the best of them. Frankly in comparison to the Donat/Garson version I found this one much easier to believe.
O'Toole IS Chipping and if the handling of Katherine's death (a delightful Pet Clark) doesn't tug at you heartstrings you simply don't have any. The music is appropriate, maybe it's not shot through with hits, but I bet at least a couple of the numbers besides the school anthem "Fill the World With Love" will echo in your mind. O'Toole's song voice too has been questioned, but he's a schoolmaster for heaven's sake, not an opera divo. As he did in Man of La Mancha, (and as Rex Harrison did in anything he spoke to music) he lends a sincerity to the words that's hard to fault. Petula is at her best, captivating and endearing. Look out too for an eccentric supporting role from Sian Phillips (O'Toole's wife at the time).
So go ahead and pre-order - what are you waiting for?