Robert Donat and Greer Garson star in “Goodbye Mr. Chips”

Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) is an American romantic drama directed by Sam Wood and starring Robert Donat and Greer Garson in her film debut. The supporting cast included John Mills and Paul Henried (billed as Paul Von Hernried). The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Schoolmaster Mr. Chipping, due to a cold, misses a first-day assembly. In his 58 years teaching at the Brookfield public school, he never missed a day. While convalescing, he falls asleep and relives his teaching career. It’s a life filled with many challenges, heartache, and much joy.

Sam Wood (1883 – 1949) was an American film director and producer. He established him self in the silent era, directing several successful films starring Gloria Swanson. Wood made the transition to the sound era with ease. Some of Wood’s most famous sound films include A Night at the Opera (1935), A Day at the Races (1937), Goodbye Mr. Chips (1939), The Pride of the Yankees (1942), and For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943). He also directed several scenes in Gone with the Wind (1939), although uncredited.

Robert Donat (1905 – 1958) was an English stage and film star. During the 1930s, he was one of Britain’s top male stars. He is perhaps best remembered for his roles in The 39 Steps and Goodbye Mr. Chips (1939), winning the Best Actor Academy Award for the latter. Hitchcock wanted Donat for the role of Detective Ted Spencer in Sabotage (1936) and Secret Agent (1936); the latter role would have reunited him with Carroll. Donat suffered from severe and chronic asthma, which affected his film career. He only made a total of 20 films.

Greer Garson (1905 – 1996) was a British-American film actress and singer. Garson was a top box office star from 1942 to 1946. She received seven Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, winning for her performance in Mrs. Miniver (1942). A favorite of M-G-M’s studio head Louis B. Mayer, Garson was cast in some of the most popular pictures the studio produced, including Pride and Prejudice (1940), Blossoms in the Dust (1941), Random Harvest (1942), Madame Curie (1943), Mrs. Parkington (1944), and The Valley of Decision (1945). Later in her career, she was nominated for her seventh Best Actress Award for Sunrise at Campobello (1960), playing Eleanor Roosevelt.

 

Greer Garson and Robert Donat

Goodbye, Mr. Chips trivia

• Greer Garson’s performance is just under 25 minutes, but she was nominated in the Best Actress category.
• In the film, Donat’s character is 25 years older than Garson’s. In reality, Garson was six months older than Donat.
• Garson was signed by M-G-M in 1937, but rejected all the minor roles she was offered until the role of Kathy Ellis in this movie.
• The film was dedicated to Irving Thalberg.
• John Mills was 30 years old, playing a teenage schoolboy.
• This was the English-speaking film debut of Paul Henreid.
• Filmed in the United Kingdom, with exterior shots filmed in the village of Repton in Derbyshire.

 

Click HERE to watch the film on the Internet Archive.

Click HERE to join the online discussion on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation via email with a link to join the discussion on Zoom.

 

Discussion questions

1. Robert Donat was up against Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind for the Best Actor award. Would you have awarded Donat the Oscar over Gable?
2. What did you think of Greer Garson’s film debut? Did she deserve the Best Actress nod?
3. Would you recommend this film to your friends?
4. Did you have a favorite scene or piece of dialogue?
5. Did this remind you of any other films you’ve seen?