Goodbye Mr Chips (1969)

A musical version of James Hilton’s classic novel, starring Peter O’Toole and Petula Clark.

Arthur “Chips” Chipping (Peter O’Toole) is a shy and dedicated teacher who struggles to develop a rapport with his pupils. But one day, he meets beautiful singer and actress Katherine Bridges (Petula Clark). She renounces the artificial world of the theatre to become his wife, happily transforming not only her life but his as well.

Director Herbert Ross became one of Hollywood’s most assured directors of light entertainment, but he was very lucky indeed to get another chance after this nightmare of a debut. Rex Harrison and Richard Burton both had the sense to send Terence Rattigan’s script back from whence it came, and not even an Oscar nomination can hide the fact that this is one of Peter O’Toole’s least distinguished performances.

The fact that John Williams and Leslie Bricusse were also nominated for best score is even more preposterous as the songs in this musical adaptation are simply shocking.

The school scenes were shot in the beautiful Dorset countryside and several picturesque London and Italian locations are well filmed. Particularly effective is the sequence shot among the ruins at Pompeii, where the holidaying Chips and Katherine bump into each other unexpectedly.

Arthur “Chips” Chipping
Peter O’Toole
Katherine Bridges
Petula Clark
Headmaster
Michael Redgrave
Lord Sutterwick
George Baker
Ursula Mossbank
Sian Phillips
Max Staefel
Michael Bryant
William Baxter
Jack Hedley
Headmaster’s wife
Alison Leggatt
Bill Calbury
Clinton Greyn
Mrs Paunceforth
Barbara Couper
Johnny Longbridge
Michael Culver
Miss Honeybun
Patricia Hayes

Director
Herbert Ross

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