GOODBYE, MR CHIPS

UK, 1969, 147 minutes, Colour.
Peter O'Toole, Petula Clark, Michael Redgrave, George Baker, Michael Bryant, Jack Hedley, Sian Phillips.
Directed by Herbert Ross.

Peter O'Toole is one of the more vigorous dramatic actors. His restrained, deliberate portrayal of the dedicated and somewhat humourless Mr. Chips is outstanding. He does not shout, but speaks hesitantly and precisely as he changes from a stiff young man to a kind retired teacher. Petula Clark is good too as his actress wife who mellows him. Indeed the focus of the film is on the couple whereas it might have been more effective had we seen more of Chips in his dealings with the boys. The music and songs are negligible, almost better ignored. Production values are symbolised by Pompeii scenes - pastel haze and vast monuments - too big for this modest story. Michael Redgrave, Michael Bryant and Sian Phillips (Mrs. O'Toole), as the theatrical Ursula, strongly support the stars in a film where the value is in the performances.

1. The reputation of this story, the novel, the film classic of the 30s? Appropriate for a musical version? The successful blending of the original with the music?

2. How satisfying for contemporary audiences, the impact of the cast, the musical direction, the songs, Panavision and colour?

3. How appropriate was the blending of the isolated and lonely Mr. Chips with the world of colour Panavision? Did the blending of the story with music work or not? As a musical, the function of the songs, the function of the music, the relationship with character and situation? The quality of the songs?

4. What is the appeal of the basic story for audience identification and interest? Popularity? The sentiment, the elements of cliche, the freshness? The atmosphere and expectations of school in the early twentieth century, school manners and behaviour, restrictions? The school man and his loneliness, the surprise of his falling in love and the freshness of his wife? The theme of transformation, relationship and lack of relationship with boys and masters? The change, ambition, disappointment? The experience of Socco? The achievement and looking back over many years? Audience identification with persons, themes of human endeavour, experience, optimism?

5. The importance of the atmosphere of the 20s and 30s, how did the film communicate the period, the attention to detail in costume and atmosphere? The transition to the war and the atmosphere of World War II, the school, planes and warfare and bombs? The transition to the modern period? The effect for audience identification with the older generation, younger?

6. Brookfield School as an environment for the characters and the situations? The look of the school, the buildings, English tradition, classrooms and the conduct of classes, the masters and their communication with each other, the various houses, the headmaster and his wife, sports events, concerts etc.? The school days song and the collage of boys returning to school and glimpses of their personalities and different types? The school song as it recurred during the film? Insight into the British public school tradition? The atmosphere of education and growth, development and maturity? The ethos of school? The transition to war? The generations? The appeal to all because of school and experience of school?

7. Peter O'Toole's skill at portraying Mr. Chips at various stages of life and development? Critics were unanimous in praising him? Why? How did he understand and communicate the complex character of Mr. Chips? The strengths and weaknesses of his character? The failure of his initial teaching, his dryness and stuffiness, inability to communicate? His strict administration of justice against the wishes of boys and headmaster and masters? His disregard of sport as important? His integrity and sense of values? The highlighting

of his loneliness and the boys' disliking of him? His lack of communication in the common room? Peter O'Toole's skill at illustrating the shyness, the reserve, the theatre and the encounter with Katherine? How did he show the change and the effect of the change and yet it not being a different person? The importance of the songs in the communication of the character of Mr. Chips? See him at school, at the theatre his awkwardness at the meal? The film's preparation for the encounter with Katherine by presenting her at length on the stage. the contrast of different worlds parties. songs, the meal, her warmth compared with his coldness and aloofness?

8. The importance of Pompeii as a place and a setting for uniting them? The old and the new? Study and holiday? The importance of the song and the visualizing of this. aerial shots and movement? The sun and the brightness and the atmosphere of romance? The communication between the two? Their sharing even sandwiches? The credibility of their marriage? How did each meet the need of the other?

9. The world of the headmaster and his attitude towards Chips? Max Staefel and his continued support of Chips? The world of the staff common-room? Staefel as telling Chips the truth? The contrast of Katherine's world especially with the parties the atmosphere of Ursula and her tizziness and theatre world, scandals, superficial people and Chips not being at home? How was this highlighted when Chips went to the party and was awkward at it and yet Katherine was throwing it for him? The invasion by Ursula and her friends of the schools and the comedy ensuing? The contrast with Chips in the sequences when he went to find Katherine and was united with her, the domestic scenes within Ursula's mad atmosphere? How well did the film show the tension between the two worlds and the possibility of communication?

10. The people's amazement at the school? The school song and Katherine's participation? Her changing the atmosphere of the school, the feminine touch? Chips being content, growing older and more satisfied, with friends? Symbolized with the concert? The background to hopes for headmastership, disappointment, final achievement?

11. Katherine's running away and being hurt by Lord? His hostility? The meetings and the attacks on Chips? The blackmail of the money? Ursula's ploy in getting Lord S? The humour of this?

12. The build-up to Katherine's death? Her place at the school, her love for Chips, the irony of the headmastership her generosity and the concert, subjective identification of the audience with the falling bomb, her song? The pathos of her death? The way in which the news of her death was communicated, the boys with the letters the tension between the atmosphere of jokes, Chips' sadness and yet going about his duties the boys' discovery? How did this play on the audience's emotions?

13. The atmosphere of retirement, Chips and his life being transformed by Katherine and the school? The benefit of marriage, communication breaking out of loneliness?

14. What did the songs achieve: 'Fill the World with Love', 'Where Did My Childhood Go?', 'London is London’s 'And The Sky Smiled', 'Apollo'.. 'When I Am Older'. 'Walk Through the World’s 'what shall I Do With Today?', 'What a Lot Of Flowers', 'School Days'. 'You and I 'When I Was Younger'? The places in which they occurred, the photographic treatment.. choreography, visual symbols especially flowers and scenery?

15. How satisfying an entertainment, human document?