after his wife dies, mr. chips still goes into the classroom to teach his students. and, at the end of that scene in the classroom, the camera is focused on his face. but, i wasn't sure what the actor was trying to express or convey at that point. anybody have any ideas?
sharejust shock imho
shareI would agree. He's sitting there, a thousand miles away from his students, who now know the tragic truth. He's remembering Cathy. and somehow, the dual tragedy of losing both a lovely and loving young wife and an infant in childbirth is only slowly sinking in; the realization that now, he is truly alone. Donat does this remarkably well with just a minimal change in his expression. He was a very sensitive and gifted actor.
shareI haven't had the pleasure of watching Donat before (maybe not realizing I have) he was wonderful. I can see how O'Toole must have been greatly influenced by him.
shareTry renting "The Citadel", based on the Cronin novel about an idealistic young English doctor. Rosalind Russell does a wonderful job as his supportive wife, and also affects a fairly convincing English accent. I saw this recently on TCM. Donat is both dynamic and natural in the lead. Also, try "The 39 Steps", Hitchcock's classic, where he plays an innocent man who gets caught up in espionage and murder. He was one of those wonderful actors who absolutely inhabited the roles he played without any "star" ego or trickery. I can see why he was one of my father's favorite actors; they don't make them like this anymore.
sharethank you! you know I caught a part of The Citadel, didn't know I was watching him! I will look for both! thanks!
shareYou might also enjoy Mr. Donat's final role, 'The Inn of the Sixth Happiness'.
rdb.
I think some of it is Mr Chips reacting to the emotion in the boys voice and their expressions, they seem to be usually loud, yet the boy sounds like he's going to cry. That, and shock.
share[deleted]
Chips was far away at the time. If his face didn't express it enough, you can hear the Viennese waltz playing as the camera is focused on him as he remembers his wife.
shareI have a couple of questions about this scene too. Why was Chips so determined to go to his class after his wife and newborn had just died? I understand he was dedicated to his work, but come on! It would be one thing if he went back to work the day after the funeral...but a few minutes after he just lost the love of his life, and a precious son or daughter? That goes beyond dedication. That's just masochistic, and not respectful of the departed. Or was he just so much in shock that he wasn't able to think rationally?
My other question: does anyone know what the "First of April" prank the classroom played on him was? Or is it not spelled out because it's irrelevant?
I think that he decided to go on with the class is that besides a sense of loyalty to his job and students, he just had to get away from the terrible reality that had just played out, and was waiting for him at home. From the blank expression, he was trying to distance himself from that, and also, from personal experience, was probably in a degree of disbelief and shock.
The 'First of April' prank was when his young students address envelopes to him filled with blank pieces of paper, and leave them in a pile for him on his desk, not knowing at first about his personal tragedy.
Thanks for that explanation, Elena. That's a lame prank anyway. They must have felt so horrible after they learned the news. You could see it in their faces. It was a very touching scene.
shareIt's my experience (both personally and in observing others) that people just don't know what to do after bereavement, particularly when it's sudden. All points of reference - all constants - are lost. There is an overwhelming desire for some sort of normality in a totally abnormal situation.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
Indeed. After a trauma in my life, I went in to work the next day in a haze, just acting on auto-pilot. At such times, you don't always know what to do. The familiar wins out.
PHEC!
Yes...autopilot. That sums up my reaction to my mum's dying and then having to teach the final two hours of the school day as no fill-in teacher could be obtained for that short time. The kids were just magnificent. They had been told by the school principal before I got back to my classroom. They virtually ran the class themselves for the two hours and fussed over tidying the room and my desk. When the end of day bell rang a few of the kids literally took my hand and collected my bag and walked with me to my car. Nicest kids I'd ever taught.
shareWell put, It hard to understand 'till you've gone thru something like that.
in VA