Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)
Bottomline: Classic film that is not as good as a lot of people think.
Better Films Released in 1939: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Ninotchka, Of Mice and Men, Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz (yes, seriously, all of these films were released in 1939).
One of the best times to watch TCM is during Academy Award month because the channel shows 30 days of Oscar. It's a great time to catch up on movies, actors, directors, screenwriters, and others that you have always wanted to see but couldn't find on DVD. I've heard about Robert Donat and this movie for ever and a day. Here's the thing. . .Robert Donat, who plays Mr. Chips, won the Academy Award for Best Actor for this performance. Who did he beat? Clark Gable. Jimmy Stewart. Laurence Olivier. Mickey Rooney. Before the movie started, Robert Osburne, resident TCM expert, comes on tells me that it was a surprise when Donat won the award that year but that after seeing his performance, we would all understand why he won. I've got news for all ofyou -- no you won't. The movie is sentimental at best. Donat is wooden at best. And the best part of the film, Greer Garson (in her debut movie performance), is kicked the curb way too early. Clark Gable should have won Best Actor for his performance in Gone with Wind.
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