MovieChat Forums > Goodbye, Mr. Chips (2003) Discussion > I don't care for this version

I don't care for this version

posted 14 years ago by pluto-11
2 replies | jump to latest

I am a big fan of both Martin Clunes and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" by Hinton. The book is rather short and leaves a lot of latitude for screenwriters. So there is no crime in interpreting the original story in original ways. However, I really did not care for this 2002 edition. It seems more intent on shoring up our current interpretations of what is good child rearing by having Chips mouth opinions from the year 2002 rather than something that would have occurred roughly at the time the story is set. I much prefer the 1939 version which was much more interesting and moving than this version. It showed Chips evolving over time into the beloved Master rather than this version which really doesn't have any character arc.

Maybe I should enter the Bad Hemingway Contest

[–] eantara-nibs 14 years ago

Really.
I really did like this version, but I have the 1939 one and will watch it soon.
My favourite is however the Peter O'Toole 1969 version.

I am not I hasten to add a Mr Chipping groupie.

[–] amazon423 13 years ago

I have seen all the versions and the one in 1939 seems the closest to the book by Hilton. All the versions are good in my opinion even though the O'Toole one skips a war and she dies in a bombing raid rather than in childbirth.