Released in 1939 the film begins many years earlier in the 1870s with a daunted young teacher arriving at a school, his sensitive and shy manner means you know he'll struggle at times with the unruly boys. The school is a boarding school where the upper-class tend to send their sons for an education. Great importance is attached to the important of excelling in sporting competition against other schools, especially in cricket. There's also lots of choir too. Our character is next given a bit of a romantic adventure while on holiday which leads to a happy marriage and an improvement in his work and life at the school. The film is very sweet and rarely tries to do anything other than convey that tone throughout. The Great War is an important backdrop to later events in the film and it takes it's toll on our now elderly character's state of mind. The cinematography and editing in the film is nicely done but it's the acting which really stands out, you can completely believe Mr Chips as both a young and an old man. Overall a very good and sweet film of a bygone British world.
Review of Goodbye, Mr. Chips
