MovieChat Forums > Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969) Discussion > Maybe I'm a classicist.......

Maybe I'm a classicist.......

posted 10 years ago by stanleybix-1
5 replies | jump to latest

But this musical movie version just didn't do it for me. Peter O'Toole was a fine, fine actor (one of the greatest) and Petula Clark has a fine singing voice and gives it her all. I just have to prefer the Robert Donat-Greer Garson 1939 version much more. This story, even with the asides, is to me, a serious study of the life work of a dedicated educator and molder of young minds. The original version is so much more touching with Robert Donat at his peak of performance. Sorry to the lovers of this remake, its just my opinion.

[–] War_raW 9 years ago

If you were an unrelenting classicist, you wouldn't settle for anything less than the original play by Nero - in Latin dammit and without subtitles!

[–] mvksmall 9 years ago

I love the Robert Donat version best, even with liking Peter O'Toole better as an actor. Greer Garson's character was so much more appealing and believeable than Petula Clarke's forced showgirl brat.

[–] ms-zanadu 9 years ago

I agree mvksmall I'm watching this musical version for the very first time on TCM .
I was so looking forward to this one thinking it was going to be as wonderful as the 1939 version but to my surprise I'm disappointed by it so far ( and classic musicals are usually my first faves for entertaining & fun films too )  .
IMPO The development of the characters in this version were sadly rude and unlikable definitely not like the 1939 version at all  .

Although Peter O'Toole was a good actor I preferred him in " Lawrence of Arabia " from 1962 over this 1969 character role as Mr. Chips  .

All this just my personal opinion of course and not to offend anyone who liked this film .
If you did glad you enjoyed it  .

[–] ms-zanadu 9 years ago

Thanks stanleybix-1 for your subject post   .

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5958) 3 years ago

Agree.