This is the fifth on-screen rendition of the timeless Victorian classic Thomas Hughes' novel Tom Brown's Schooldays, set at famous English public school Rugby School (a great British misnomer as so-called public schools are very private elite establishments). It covers the tenure of reforming new Headmaster Dr Thomas Arnold (Steven Fry) and of the progress of new pupil 13 year old Thomas Brown (Alex Pettyfer). The novel covers the full gambit of life at an elite boarding school in the 1830's complete with the stern discipline, corporal punishments, bullying, fagging (exploitive use of young new boys as the virtual slaves of the older established boys) and the intense academic rigor in the classroom and competitiveness on the sports field.
This version is very authentic because of the use of the actual Rugby School and its old traditional buildings and the numerous extras of actual pupils at Rugby in late 2003 when it was filmed. Adding to the authenticity is the playing of an old version of the Rugby game, the school carrying on a tradition of sports unique to the top public schools (eg the Eaton Wall Game) except that rugby became a global sport with its origins at the school from where it began.
Tom soon establishes himself as unafraid to stand his ground against older bullies, standing up to bigger boys on the rugby field, athletic in inclination (running and cricket) and he endures well the cruel initiations aimed at a new boy. This soon brings him into inevitable clashes with the resident bully Flashman (Joseph Beattie) whilst against this is the backdrop of Dr Arnold's desire to reform the worst aspects of bullying and other excesses at Rugby. Tom's growing popularity sees him initially defying attempts of reform at the school culminating in him being sent by Dr Arnold to spend to time away from the school. On his return, Dr Arnold asks Tom to mentor a small, fragile newcomer George Arthur (Harry Lister Smith). Tom's defense of George brings him into conflict with the bully Flashman culminating in an epic fist fight where the smaller 13 year old Tom, almost beats the bigger 16 year old whose cheating by using a knuckle duster (and his other bullying and womanizing exploits) results in his expulsion.
The movie is carried brilliantly by the two leads, Fry as Arnold (who personifies the passionate public school headmaster) and by what was actually the acting debut of 13 year old Alex Pettyfer who, aided by natural blond handsome athletic looks, carries off the lead role of Brown extremely well setting himself up for a series of acting roles through his teens (eg 15 year old Alex Ryder in Stormbreaker) and stardom in adulthood. The most touching part of the movie is when Dr Arnold mentors Tom through the grief he shows when George dies - a great moment of bonding between the two key characters so well portrayed by two great actors. Tom emerges as a strong and popular leader at Rugby.
This version is very authentic because of the use of the actual Rugby School and its old traditional buildings and the numerous extras of actual pupils at Rugby in late 2003 when it was filmed. Adding to the authenticity is the playing of an old version of the Rugby game, the school carrying on a tradition of sports unique to the top public schools (eg the Eaton Wall Game) except that rugby became a global sport with its origins at the school from where it began.
Tom soon establishes himself as unafraid to stand his ground against older bullies, standing up to bigger boys on the rugby field, athletic in inclination (running and cricket) and he endures well the cruel initiations aimed at a new boy. This soon brings him into inevitable clashes with the resident bully Flashman (Joseph Beattie) whilst against this is the backdrop of Dr Arnold's desire to reform the worst aspects of bullying and other excesses at Rugby. Tom's growing popularity sees him initially defying attempts of reform at the school culminating in him being sent by Dr Arnold to spend to time away from the school. On his return, Dr Arnold asks Tom to mentor a small, fragile newcomer George Arthur (Harry Lister Smith). Tom's defense of George brings him into conflict with the bully Flashman culminating in an epic fist fight where the smaller 13 year old Tom, almost beats the bigger 16 year old whose cheating by using a knuckle duster (and his other bullying and womanizing exploits) results in his expulsion.
The movie is carried brilliantly by the two leads, Fry as Arnold (who personifies the passionate public school headmaster) and by what was actually the acting debut of 13 year old Alex Pettyfer who, aided by natural blond handsome athletic looks, carries off the lead role of Brown extremely well setting himself up for a series of acting roles through his teens (eg 15 year old Alex Ryder in Stormbreaker) and stardom in adulthood. The most touching part of the movie is when Dr Arnold mentors Tom through the grief he shows when George dies - a great moment of bonding between the two key characters so well portrayed by two great actors. Tom emerges as a strong and popular leader at Rugby.