Goodbye, Mr. Chips Release Date: Recap, Cast, Review, Spoilers, Streaming, Schedule & Where To Watch?
Goodbye, Mr. Chips: Goodbye, Mr. Chips is a musical film that reimagines the classic novel by James Hilton, which tells the story of a dedicated teacher who devotes his life to his students at an English boarding school.
The movie, which was released on October 19, 2003, in the United States, features the music of composer Gordon Getty and stars Nathan Granner as Mr. Chips, Marnie Breckenridge as Kathie, and Lester Lynch as Merrivale. In this article, we will recap the plot, review the cast, share some spoilers, and tell you where to watch this heartwarming film.
Plot Recap of Goodbye Mr. Chips
The film follows the life of Charles Edward Chipping, or Mr. Chips, as he narrates his memories of teaching at Brookfield, an all-boys school, from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. Mr. Chips starts as a shy and strict teacher who struggles to connect with his students and colleagues. However, his life changes when he meets Kathie, a spirited and beautiful suffragette, during a holiday in Austria.
They fall in love and get married, and Kathie encourages Mr. Chips to become more friendly and relaxed with his students. She also introduces him to opera, which becomes his passion and inspiration.
Mr. Chips and Kathie enjoy a happy marriage, but tragedy strikes when Kathie dies during childbirth, along with their son. Mr. Chips is devastated, but he finds solace in his work and his students, who become like his family.
He also continues to cherish Kathie’s memory and her love for opera. He witnesses the changes in the world and the school, such as the two world wars, the rise of fascism, the social reforms, and the modernization of education.
He also faces some challenges, such as the arrival of a new headmaster, Ralston, who tries to impose his rigid and authoritarian methods on the school. However, Mr. Chips stands up for his values and his students and earns the respect and admiration of everyone.
He retires after 63 years of service, but he remains a beloved figure at Brookfield, where he is visited by his former students and colleagues. He dies peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his friends and his opera records.
Cast Review
The film boasts a talented and diverse cast of actors and singers, who bring the characters to life with their performances. Here is the table of the cast and description of the film Goodbye, Mr. Chips:
| Actor | Character | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nathan Granner | Mr. Chips | A dedicated teacher who devotes his life to his students at Brookfield School. He marries Kathie, a suffragette, who introduces him to opera. He faces many changes and challenges in his long career, but he remains a beloved and respected figure. |
| Marnie Breckenridge | Kathie | A spirited and beautiful woman who falls in love with Mr. Chips during a holiday in Austria. She encourages him to become more friendly and relaxed with his students. She also loves opera and sings with Mr. Chips. She dies in childbirth, along with their son. |
| Lester Lynch | Merrivale | A friendly and loyal colleague of Mr. Chips, who helps him cope with his loss. He also becomes a father figure to Peter Colley, a student who loses his father in the war. He sings “Ol’ Man River” in the film. |
| Kevin Short | Ralston | The antagonistic headmaster who tries to impose his rigid and authoritarian methods on the school. He clashes with Mr. Chips, who stands up for his values and his students. He sings with power and conviction in the film. |
| Gordon Getty | Dignitary 1 | A wealthy and influential patron of the school, who supports Mr. Chips against Ralston. He also invites Mr. Chips to his mansion, where he hosts a private opera performance, featuring Granner and Breckenridge as the singers. He is also the composer of the film’s music. |
Spoilers
The film follows the original novel closely, but it also adds some changes and twists to the story. Here are some spoilers that you might want to know before watching the film:
- The film expands the role of Merrivale, who becomes a close friend of Mr. Chips and Kathie, and who helps Mr. Chips cope with his loss. He also becomes a father figure to Peter Colley, a student who loses his father in the war, and who is played by four different actors (Terry Kilburn, Tristan Carless, Ilan Casian-Issenberg, and Samuel Faustine) as he grows up.
- The film introduces a new character, Dignitary 1, played by Gordon Getty himself, who is a wealthy and influential patron of the school, and who supports Mr. Chips against Ralston. He also invites Mr. Chips to his mansion, where he hosts a private opera performance, featuring Granner and Breckenridge as the singers.
- The film adds some historical and cultural references to the story, such as the suffragette movement, the rise of Hitler, the invention of the radio, and the popularity of jazz. The film also incorporates some opera songs and scenes, such as “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot, “La Donna e Mobile” from Rigoletto, and “The Queen of the Night” from The Magic Flute, which reflects the emotions and the themes of the story.
- The film changes the ending of the story, where Mr. Chips dies in his sleep, instead of in the hospital. He also has a vision of Kathie, who appears to him as an angel, and who sings “Ave Maria” to him. The film ends with a montage of Mr. Chips’ life, accompanied by the song “Goodbye, Mr. Chips”, sung by the students and the staff of Brookfield.
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Streaming, Schedule, and Where to Watch
Goodbye, Mr. Chips is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu. It is also available on DVD and Blu-ray. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes, and it is rated PG for some mild thematic elements and brief violence. The film has received positive reviews from critics and audiences, who praised the music, the performances, and the story.
The film has a score of 8.0 out of 10 on IMDb and a rating of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film has also won some awards, such as the Best Musical Film at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, and the Best Opera Recording at the Grammy Awards.
Ratings
Goodbye, Mr. Chips is a film that appeals to a wide range of viewers, who enjoy musicals, dramas, and stories about teachers and students. The film has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon and a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on iTunes. Here are some of the comments from the viewers who rated the film:
“A beautiful and touching film that celebrates the power of education and the bond between a teacher and his students. The music is wonderful, and the actors are amazing. Nathan Granner and Marnie Breckenridge are perfect as Mr. Chips and Kathie, and they have great chemistry. Lester Lynch is also very funny and charming as Merrivale. I loved this film, and I recommend it to anyone who loves musicals and stories about teachers and students.”
“A musical masterpiece that reimagines the classic novel by James Hilton. The film is a tribute to a legendary teacher who devoted his life to his students at an English boarding school. The film features the music of composer Gordon Getty and stars Nathan Granner as Mr. Chips, Marnie Breckenridge as Kathie, and Lester Lynch as Merrivale. The film is a heartwarming and inspiring story that shows the impact of a teacher on his students and the world. The film is also a feast for the eyes and the ears, with stunning cinematography and beautiful opera songs. The film is a must-see for fans of musicals and dramas.”
“A musical film that reimagines the classic novel by James Hilton, which tells the story of a dedicated teacher who devotes his life to his students at an English boarding school. The film features the music of composer Gordon Getty and stars Nathan Granner as Mr. Chips, Marnie Breckenridge as Kathie, and Lester Lynch as Merrivale. The film is a moving and uplifting story that shows the love and the legacy of a teacher who touched the lives of many generations of students. The film is also a delight for opera lovers, with some of the most famous and beautiful opera songs and scenes. The film is a gem that deserves to be watched and enjoyed by everyone.”
