Tom Brown’s School Days
Directed by Robert Stevenson
Written by Walter Ferris et al based on the novel by Thomas Hughes
1940/UK
The Play’s the Thing Productions
First viewing/Amazon Prime Instant Video
[box] Dr. Thomas Arnold: A new boy is always important. He may be an influence for good or for evil.[/box]
This is along the lines of Goodbye Mr. Chips from a schoolboy’s perspective. I liked it.
In the first half of the 19th Century, Dr. Thomas Arnold (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) takes over as Head Master at the prestigious Rugby public school determined to wipe out lying and bullying, apparently age-old traditions at the school. Good-natured but stubborn Tom Brown unknowingly helps him to do it by fighting back against the brute Flashman. With Freddie Bartholomew as Tom’s sometime friend.
It was nice to see Hardwicke play something other than a villain. He really is a talented and subtle actor. All the boys in the cast did themselves proud as well. This is just a very well put together drama that kept my attention all the way through.
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