Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writers:

James Hilton (novel)
Terence Rattigan (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 December 1969 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

He is a shy schoolmaster. She is a music hall star. They marry and immediately have 283 children...all boys!

Plot:

A shy, withdrawn English schoolteacher falls for a flashy showgirl.

Plot Keywords:

Boys' School | Teaching | Music Hall | Schoolteacher | Love

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Peter O'Toole	...	Arthur Chipping
Petula Clark	...	Katherine Bridges
Michael Redgrave	...	The Headmaster
Alison Leggatt	...	Headmaster's Wife
Siân Phillips	...	Ursula Mossbank
Michael Bryant	...	Max Staefel
George Baker	...	Lord Sutterwick
Jenny Runacre
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Audreson
Leo Britt	...	Elder Master
Barbara Couper	...	Mrs. Paunceforth
Michael Culver	...	Johnny Longbridge
Elspet Gray	...	Lady Sutterwick
Clinton Greyn	...	Bill Calbury
John Gugolka	...	Sutterwick Jr.
Patricia Hayes	...	Miss Honeybun
Jack Hedley	...	William Baxter
Mark Danvers Heron	...	Schoolboy
Barbara Knox
Jeremy Lloyd	...	Johnson
Mario Maranzana	...	Pompeii Guide
Elspeth March	...	Mrs. Summersthwaite
Craig Marriott	...	New Boy
Jack May	...	Price
Clive Morton	...	General Paunceforth
Tom Owen	...	Farley
Michael Ridgeway	...	David
Sheila Steafel	...	Tilly
Ronnie Stevens	...	Algie
Royston Tickner	...	Policeman
Julian Barnes	...	Schoolboy (uncredited)
Gary Graham	...	Schoolboy (uncredited)
James Payne	...	Man at Theatre (uncredited)
Jeremy Ranchev	...	Schoolboy (uncredited)
Stephen Reed	...	Schoolboy (uncredited)

Directed by
Herbert Ross

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
James Hilton		novel
Terence Rattigan		screenplay

Produced by
Mort Abrahams	....	associate producer
Arthur P. Jacobs	....	producer

Original Music by
John Williams		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Oswald Morris

Film Editing by
Ralph Kemplen

Casting by
Irene Howard		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Ken Adam

Art Direction by
Maurice Fowler

Costume Design by
Julie Harris

Makeup Department
George Blackler	....	makeup supervisor
Ivy Emmerton	....	hairdresser
Bill Lodge	....	makeup creator: Mr. O'Toole

Production Management
Dennis Hall	....	production manager
David W. Orton	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dominic Fulford	....	assistant director

Art Department
Reg Bream	....	chief draughtsman (uncredited)
Mickey Lennon	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Charles Torbett	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Bramall	....	sound recordist
John Poyner	....	dubbing editor
J.B. Smith	....	dubbing mixer
A.W. Watkins	....	recording supervisor
Brian Hickin	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Van Allen James	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jimmy Turrell	....	camera operator (as Jim Turrell)
Brian West	....	photographer: second unit
Kenneth Atherfold	....	grip (uncredited)
Dennis Fraser	....	grip (uncredited)
Frank Wardale	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby	....	special still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Michael R. Sloan	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Ian Fraser	....	associate musical supervisor
William Saracino	....	music editor
John Williams	....	conductor
John Williams	....	music supervisor
Jack Clegg	....	music recording engineer (uncredited)
Gordon Langford	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
David Lindup	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Rita Davison	....	continuity
Nora Kaye	....	special assistant: Mr. Ross
Peter Perkins	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• APJAC Productions
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• David Ortan (1969) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (video)

Other Companies

• C.T.S. Studios  music recorded by (as CTS, London)
• Lee Lighting  lighting (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:155 min | 152 min (original version) | 148 min (video version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:G | UK:PG (video rating) | UK:U (original rating) | Australia:PG | Peru:PT

Filming Locations:

59 Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick, London, England, UK

Company:

APJAC Productions

Trivia:

Originally cast in the lead roles were 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:

Chips:We must go in, dear. The headmaster always goes in last, and the boys always receive him standing and in silence.
Katie:Sounds like a dream entrance.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Wow, It's Cindy (1971)

Soundtrack:

London Is London

Vastly underrated treasure

I was led to this film when it first opened by Pauline Kael's review which, although critical of the music and other things, was an unqualified rave for Peter O'Toole's performance, as well as highly complimentary to Petula Clark as well. Seeing this projected in 70MM with 6-track stereo sound was an extraordinary experience, so much so that I went back the following day to see it again, bought the soundtrack, and even returned to see it a third time a week later. It is still one of my favorite films and the letterboxed Laserdisk has kept it looking fresh. Seeing Peter O'Toole in this, just a year after he screamed his way (brilliantly) through "The Lion in Winter" I was convinced he was the greatest actor of the day. The shock was Petula Clark, who gives such a warm and fine performance here that there is no doubt that theirs is one of the most affecting love stories on film. This was Herbert Ross' first directing effort and, like Bob Fosse on "Sweet Charity" the same year, you can just feel their excitement at the possibilities of the medium. I was always sad at the critical slaughter this film received, Ms. Kael stood alone, and am so pleased to see all the positive comments this film now earns. Quickly, I love the cinematography, supporting performances, and production design and finally, the music. This was one of the first examples I can think of the stream-of-consciousness musical score, songs are sung partly as voiceovers and partly on screen, switching back and forth, songs will stop and start again after lines of dialog, and return later in the film with different arrangements and lyrics, etc., etc. And a special note to John Williams' wonderful arrangements. Try to see this in widescreen and stereo, forget your prejudices about it and sit back and let it sweep over you