BRITISH FILMS SCORING IN AMERICA

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 5

BRITISH FILMS SCORING IN AMERICA

‘ Good-bye, Mr Chips,’ the film of Mr James Hilton’s story made at Denham by the British branch of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation, opened at the Astor Theatre on Broadway on May 15. The first performance marked the end of a long run of 23 weeks at that theatre of another film made in Britain ‘ Pygmalion,’ and ‘ Good-bye, Mr Chips ’ will almost certainly further stimulate support for films of British character (says an American writer). Mr Hilton’s book had a wide sale in the United States, and the producers of the film have wisely adhered to the original story. Mr Robert Donat has the chief part, and-though he is effective in the early scenes, he does not in the end fully impart to the beloved schoolmaster grown old in the service of the school the dignity associated with the part. There is a slight grotesqiieness which impairs the appeal to sentiment. The scenes at Brookfield School are all excellent, and Master Terry Kilburn makes his mark as the representative at the school of the Colley family. Katherine, Chipping’s young wife, is charmingly played by Miss Greer Garson.