TOM BROWN'S SCHOOLDAYS

UK, 1951, 93 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Newton, John Howard Davies, Diana Wynyard, Hermione Baddeley, Kathleen Byron, Max Bygraves, James Hayter, Michael Hordern.
Directed by Gordon Parry.

A version of the classic 19th century novel of the same name by Thomas Hughes. This film was made in 1950 - in the wake of such adaptations of 19th century novels as David Lean's versions of Great Expectations and Oliver Twist and Cavalcanti's version of Nicholas Nickleby. This is a competent - if somewhat unexciting version. The screen writer was Noel Langley who was soon to direct an adaptation of Dickens' Pickwick Papers. The film captures the atmosphere of the 19th century public school - its virtues, its need for reform and modernisation, its abuses especially fagging and bullying. An interesting comparison can be made with the presentation of public school life in Lindsay Anderson's fantasy if...

John Howard Davies, who was Lean's Oliver Twist and was in the version of D.H. Lawrence's Rocking Horse Winner, is a lively Tom Brown. The rest of the boys are quite well cast especially the villain Flashman (who was to reappear in George Mac Donald Fraser's excellent series of satires on Flashman - one of which was filmed by Richard Lester with Malcolm Mc Dowell as Royal Flash. Robert Newton in a very subdued performance for him, portrays the education reformer Thomas Arnold, father of poet and writer Matthew Arnold. The film presents a somewhat old-fashioned view of strong education, but is firmly on the side of humanity in strength rather than brutality and privilege.

1. The classic status of the novel? Audience interest in the novel, its issues? A glimpse of British history? the themes of education, status, privilege? Education and its values, abuses? A satisfactory brief adaptation of the novel for the screen?

2. British film-making in the forties and fifties - interest in classic novels, compressing the action into a short screen play? Capturing the flavour of the classic? Black and white photography? musical score? A solid British cast?

3. The use of Rugby School? the sense of tradition, the visual impact of the school? The presentation of the boys' arrival, assemblies, classes, sport (the glimpses of early rugby games), meals, exercise, bullying? The strength and weaknesses of the traditions? The place of Dr Arnold and his aims for reform - and opposition to them? His influence on the development of education theory and practice in the 19th century? Its overflow into the 20th century and continued reforming styles? The emphasis on humanity, equality? British pride and privilege? Status? The validity and value of the public school and the public school system?

4. The moralising tone of the film - echoes of the high-minded 19th century, the elements of a rugged Christianity, the emphases on truth, honour, the virtues? How well do these compare with 20th century values?

5. The audience entering the school with Tom? His farewell from home, the final words of his father? The unwillingness of the boys to initially help one another? The avoidance of mollycoddling? The emphasis on harshness? The influence of groups and peers? The nature of fagging and its use and abuse? The friendliness of the staff as some kind of human counterbalance? Initiating ceremonies and singing in the dining-room? The difficulty of making friends? Classes severe teachers and humane teachers? Ideals, recreation? Sport? The place of the staff and their varying ideas on the boys, on education, on teaching? Support of or antagonism towards Dr Arnold and his ideas? The pervading religious influence and the chapel sequences? The system of punishment and reward, standards? The code of honour especially in not telling on others? How did these traditions continue in 20th century education?

6. The character of Tom, the background of his home, the later visit at the end of the year, his father supporting him, for example, with the boxing training, his mother and her softness? An energetic 19th century lady, Britain's hope of the future based on types like him? his making friends, being sneered at at the beginning, his coping with difficulties, his singing in the dining room, his presence in class? The reaction to Flashman and his having to go down to the shop, being punished by Flashman, his withstanding the burning? His sobs and his prayer in the chapel - seen by Dr Arnold? the non-violent approach? His enjoyment of rugby and growing over the year? The holidays and his boxing? His change on his return Arthur as the small boy, his willingness and unwillingness to help, the group's animosity but later friendship? Scud and his support? The fight with Flashman and the use of boxing? Flashman's hostility? The run and Arthur's joining them? Seeing the fight and Flashman possibly drowning, their saving him? Arthur's illness, their not telling the truth? Tom and Scud and their discussion on prayer, Arthur's recovery? Dr Arnold's discovery of the truth and expelling Flashman? The final optimistic sequence? How well rounded a portrait of Tom Brown?

7. The sketching in of the other boys especially Scud and the different personalities in the group? The changes over the 12 months and their growing up?

8. The presentation of the bullies - their place in the school, the codes system of fagging, punishments, selfishness, false sense of honour, brutality? The clash with the non-violent Senior? Going too far and the reaction against Flashman?

9. Flashman as villain? a 19th century cad, trading on his family and privilege, his bullying, use of the juniors, sending Tom Brown to the shop, getting the money back, beating him, burning him? The fight with the local boy? His spurning of softer types? Scud and Tom Brown boxing him and defeating him? His almost drowning and lying about it? The impact of his expulsion? The antagonism of Dr Arnold, the support of some of the masters?

10. Dr Arnold and his reputation, his attitudes towards education, hopes for change? The chapel sequence? His visiting Tom Brown after the burning? His discussion with the teachers - his appeal for loyalty yet gratitude for support? His wife and her support? His asking Tom to help Arthur, expressing his disappointment? The interrogation of Flashman, of Tom and the expulsion? Dr Arnold's place in English educational history?

11. The portrait of the masters, the staff common room? The harsh teacher and his belittling attitude towards the boys? The others not wanting to change the system? The master in support of Dr Arnold?

Dr. Arnold's interest in him and reliance on him to help Arthur? his growing friendship with his group ? especially Scud East? The plans for confronting Flashman? The friendly senior and his help?

12. The presentation of the domestic staff - James Hayter and his comic scene in the refectory with his singing of the song - the enjoyment of the boys' singing and the human side of boys' school? The shop mistress and her attitudes towards the boys?

13. An enjoyable experience of a novel? A satisfying adaptation? A satisfying, though brief, exploration of educational themes?