Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969 film)
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Goodbye, Mr. Chips is a 1969 musical film based on the novel of the same name by James Hilton.
The film had its share of pre-production problems, including several changes in the casting of the lead roles. Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews were originally announced in 1964 trade magazine advertisements, with Vincente Minnelli listed as director. The film was heralded as a return to "musical magnificence" for its studio, MGM. After the success of the film version of The Sound of Music, Andrews departed, followed shortly thereafter by Harrison, who left to make another musical, Doctor Dolittle. Several other actors were announced, including Richard Burton, Samantha Eggar and Lee Remick, but by the time principal filming began in June 1968, Peter O'Toole was starring in the title role, with Petula Clark as his wife Katherine. Also featured were Sir Michael Redgrave and Sian Phillips, O'Toole's wife at the time.
Playwright Terrence Rattigan's screenplay was a major departure from the simple plot of Hilton's novella. The time frame of the original novel was moved forward by several decades, placing the film from the 1920s through WWII up until the late 1960s, where the final scenes of Chips took place.
While Chips remained a stodgy teacher of Latin, disliked by his students at Brookfield, Katherine was transformed into a music hall soubrette. Dissatisfied with her career and depressed by her romantic entanglements, Katherine sets sail on a Mediterranean cruise and is reunited with Chips in Pompeii, where he's spending his summer break. Seeing in him a lonely soul similar to herself, she arranges an evening at the theater after they return to England, and the two find themselves drawn to each other. When Chips arrives at Brookfield for the fall term, it is with his new wife on his arm, much to the shock of the faculty and delight of the students, who find Mrs. Chips' charm to be irresistible.
Katherine's past eventually thwarts Chips' hope of being named headmaster, but the couple's devotion to each other overcomes all obstacles threatening their marriage. In the original film, Katherine died in childbirth, but the remake allows the couple to remain together for fifteen years, until she is killed by a German bomb while entertaining the troops at an army base during World War II. Too late for his wife to share in his happiness, Chips finally achieves his dream, and lives out his days at Brookfield, beloved by his students and comforted by his memories.
Both O'Toole and Clark were universally praised for their performances and the obvious chemistry between them, but for the most part the reviews were lukewarm. The film was the first-time directing effort of choreographer Herbert Ross. The score (which replaced one originally composed by Andre Previn) was by Leslie Bricusse, and was critically panned at the time of the film's release. Intervening years have brought a new appreciation for it, as well as John Williams' impressive orchestrations and original underscore. One number, a romantic ballad entitled "You and I," became a staple of Clark's concert repertoire.
O'Toole was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor and won a Golden Globe Award for . The film was also nominated for an Academy Award for Score of a Musical Picture.
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