Two episodes stand out among them the day that Chips learns Kathie and their child have both died in childbirth. It happens to fall on April Fool's Day, as such he is put through a prank (which he later appreciated) while lost in a mental fog over the event.
Lastly of course the ending of his life, how surrounded by several friends and former pupils he passes away after once more doing what he had loved. Goodbye Mr. Chips.
1939 Film Examples:
Anvilicious: Peter Colley's wife opines, "Surely we shall never again take our happiness for granted," just before the film reveals that Peter has been killed in World War I. Then again, considering that the film was made in 1939 with a new war threatening, this may well be one of those anvils that need to be dropped, hard.
Adorkable: Chipping is fairly awkward when he first becomes a teacher, and has to grow into the job. Also, his clumsy courtship of Kathie is very endearing.
An uncredited youth is played by Clive Dunn, who would later be best known for playing Lance Corporal Jones in Dad's Army.
Tear Jerker: When Chips's Latin class learns that Mrs. Chipping has died.
"I thought I heard you saying it was a pity...pity I never had any children. But you're wrong. I have. Thousands of them. Thousands of them...and all boys."
They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot: A criticism of this production is that the romance between Chipping and Katherine has been expanded to become the major storyline, supplanting the novella's focus on Chipping improving his relationship with his students and becoming a better teacher. A solid criticism. However, Chipping and Katherine are such engaging characters with good chemistry (and winning performances by Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark), that they manage to avert Romantic Plot Tumor.
