Customer Reviews

Goodnight Mister Tom

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A grumpy old man, who has lost a child of his own and has learned to live by himself, is told he must "do his part" when a village takes in children who have been sent to smaller towns in hopes of being safer from Hitler's bombs.

He slowly becomes a father all over again-- to a boy who has a whacko mother back home. He even becomes a teacher when it is learned that the youngster is sadly behind in his reading skills.

The mother, a religious radical and hardened bigot-- suddenly decides she wants the boy back. Then follows a very disturbing series of scenes-- child abuse pure and simple.

Tragedy also strikes the boy's best friend. The fact that this film actually ends on a hopeful and victorious note-- is to me evidence of great writing and directing!

As a viewer, I felt like I was right there in that little village-- and I was so pleased that the old man could once again allow himself to love a child.

This one should be on DVD in the U.S.

I really enjoyed Masterpiece Theatre's film adaptation of the book GOODNIGHT, MR. TOM because it portrayed the characters just as I had imagined them. For instance, the book described Willie as a small, quiet boy, and in the film, he is portrayed by a boy who speaks little and is much smaller than others his age. In the book, Zach was described as an outgoing, "look before you leap" sort of boy; in the film he is portrayed by a boy who talks a lot, always wears red, and says things like, "You do know all about sex, don't you?" and, "He chews his food--I usually just put it in my mouth and swallow" (these are not exact quotes). Finally, Mr. Tom is described in the book as a gruff old man who is soft inside. Similarly, in the first few scenes of the movie, Mr. Tom responds to the vicar's questions in a series of one word answers, yet has a tender, sad look on his face when he hangs Willie's coat on the hook he'd constructed for his own son, who is now dead. Although the movie necessarily changes some scenes and leaves some out, I recommend it to anyone who has read the book since overall, it remains true to the author's characters and themes. I also recommend this movie to those who have never read the book, since it tells a dark yet heartwarming story about violence, loss, grieving and recovery as they pertain to both children and adults, to both child abuse and the second World War.

- Large Spoilers In This Review. Please Don't Read If You Do Not Want To Know What Happens. Thanks. -



I understand that this wonderful movie is based on a book. I hear that parts of the book were omitted for this movie and things were changed. This is disappointing, however, I am reviewing the movie and not the book.

'Goodnight Mr Tom', in my opinion, is a fantastic movie about a boy, William,who becomes an evacuee in World War II. He is taken in by a kind man, Mr. Oakley, who he refers to as Mr. Tom. Tom is unsure whether he wants to look after a child in the beginning, but eventually accepts.

William experiences happy and sad moments at his temporary home and discovers that he is a talented artist. But William cannot read or write. Tom, being the kind man that he is, tries to teach William - and this helps him with his Schoolwork.

After a while, William's Mother, Mrs. Beech, wants William back home. But sending him home is a mistake - as Mrs. Beech is an abusive Mother, who eventually, after learning that William has become best friends with a Jewish boy (Zacharias), in his evacuee home, locks him up a small room - with her new baby in with him.

Tom returns to London, to look for William - and the movie becomes a REAL tearjerker, with sad moments - poor William trying to recover, Tom wanting William back.

A wonderful movie.

10/10 - Wonderful Movie

Set in a small village during WWII, the story uses the time-tested motifs of life, love, tragedy, and triumph in a manner that will appeal to all ages.

An elderly gentlemen, who has lost his wife, and an unrelated child, who suffers under the thumb of a demented mom, meet to fulfill each other's need for love and wholeness.

The acting is superb, and the British cast all contribute to a rich story that families will enjoy. Also recommended for classrooms, 6th grade through 8th.

The film, produced in England, is not only a great character study from many dimensions, it provides an uncanny look at the burgeoning relations between a boy and an elderly caretaker, both of whom are resistant to the arrangement. You will be enthralled and delighted at the lengths one will go to protect a bond that has finally flourished! Very Highly recommended!

Goodnight Mister Tom is a powerful adaptation of Michelle Magorian's award-winning novel of the same title, developed for Masterpiece Theatre and now available on DVD. Set during World War II, it tells the story of Tom Oakley, an old man curmudgeon who finds his life suddenly and drastically changed when a young boy is evacuated from London and sent to live with him. The boy is quiet, with a tragic past, yet the old man takes it upon himself to teach the boy improved reading and writing skills, and nurture his talent for drawing. A powerful bond develops between the pair; yet when the boy's mother summons him back to Blitz-torn London, Tom must act to save the child from a potential nightmare - and fight to keep him. A poignant and profoundly moving film about the pure essence of human relationships. Approx. 2 hours, color.

This is a great film. I use it in my middle school English classroom after reading the novel. Of course, the novel is better (surprise, surprise) but the acting in this is superb and makes up for the change in storyline. I hightly recommend that you see this--historically accurate!

Few dramas are as wonderful as this one. If you are a fan of gritty life tales of survival in wartime Britain then this is a "must see". "Goodnight Mr. Tom" weaves a superbly touching storyline of a young boy evacuated from London during the scourge of the blitz, and his developing relationships with the folk of the country community into which he is placed. Everything about this movie is 5-star rated, particularly the acting of John Thaw. "Goodnight Mr. Tom" is quite simply BEAUTIFUL!

I've seen two truly outstanding psychologically oriented video's that realistically depict surviving trauma, and the love and healing needed, to repair it.

The first was "Ordinary People" and now this, "Goodnight Mister Tom" - from the book by the same name. I own the video, hard cover and soft cover versions of the book

Every home and public library should have this video on hand.

It is beautiful. It is healing, and it is necessary. Please see this. You'll be changed by it.

John Thaw (BBC's "Inspector Morse") and the boy give outstanding performances.

The DVD version is available in England and I hope the powers that be, have enough sense to make it available here.

I was channel surfing one night and came across this wonderful film on PBS. It immediately caught and held my attention. It really made me cry because I had a rough upbringing and could relate to the horrors of child abuse. I love the way it ended and would encourage anyone with a compassionate heart to buy this movie. I am looking forward to buying and watching it again. It can show you the power of love and acceptance over evil.