As we continue to approach Father’s Day there is a classic movie today that I wanted to pause and have us remember and (hopefully) make the time to watch soon.   Today we are in England remembering the distinguished career of a school teacher (spanning the decades teaching from 1870-1928) in “Goodbye, Mr. Chips”.  

Photo upper left attribution: by Trailer screenshot (Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939 film) trailer) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Have you seen the original 1939 film starring Robert Donat and Greer Garson ? The movie begins with him recalling from retirement all of the decades he taught and it included him being the former headmaster of a boarding school. The movie has many wonderful scenes and it a treat to sit back and enjoy, even with the poignancy of his short lived marriage, and having his students who have graduated going off to the First World War.

This movie won Robert Donat the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1939 beating out Clark Gable, James Steward, and Laurence Olivier – a huge year in Best Actor nominated performances.

As I recall the students in class would use the old style dip pen ink wells for their cursive writing.   I’m inspired just thinking about it to use my fountain pen (with ink cartridge) later this evening to use for writing to one of my pen pals.

The impact Mr. Chips had on generations of young boys is reinforced throughout the film.      Spoiler alert: What I recall about this movie is his final remarks at the end of the movie, it is 1933 and he is long retired and while on his deathbed his friends are saying how sad that they never had children, and his remarks summed it all up: “I thought you said it was a pity, a pity I never had children. But you’re wrong. I have! Thousands of them, thousands of them – and all boys.” If you haven’t had a chance to watch the original movie I encourage you to make the time!

My Dad’s career included being a teacher. One of the things I like most about this film is the celebration, reverence and elevation of teaching this uplifting movie provides for us.   Class dismissed!

Anchors Aweigh,  

Helen