Tom Brown's Schooldays (2005 TV Movie) User Reviews

Excellent Drama

[cosmic_quest · 8/10 · 1 January 2005]

Having just watched 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' today, I have to say it's one of the few period dramas that I've enjoyed. It was a great adaptation of the famous book based at Rugby School, a British boarding school for boys, and centred around young Tom Brown, a thirteen-year-old boy attending the school for the first time. There he finds schoolboy life is no picnic as he strives to overcome the systematic bullying that is prevalent in the school.

Stephen Fry was excellent as Dr Arnold, the newly appointed headmaster of the school. He was able to wonderfully portray Arnold's paternal love for the boys in his care as well as the character's condemnation of bullying and thuggish behaviour. It was especially poignant when we saw Fry show Arnold's humble manner when he apologised to a boy he had wrongly punished.

The youngsters in the drama also gave very strong performances even though for many of them this was their acting debut. Alex Pettyfer who played the lead of Tom Brown, and Harry Michell and Dane Carter who depicted Tom's best friends East and Tadpole had a great chemistry together (as good as the another famous boarding school trio of Harry, Hermione and Ron!). And Joe Beattie was perfect as the detestable and cowardly Flashman.

Overall, this adaptation is not only a nostalgic reminder of times long gone but is also a damning insight into bullying and its consequences as well as highlight that childhood is not as rosy as we want to believe. Even though this story was set decades in the past, it's themes are still relevant today. I only hope that after producing this fine drama, ITV will see it doesn't have to rely on the depressing, drudgery of soap operas that it usually churns out.

A Moving and Timeless Story of Bullies and Victims

[noralee · 8/10 · 6 January 2006]

This at least fifth adaptation of Thomas Hughes' 1857 autobiographical novel "Tom Brown's School Days" provides a classic comparison to Harry Potter's Hogwarts, which has probably revived curiosity in portrayals of English boarding school life.

While I presume any 90 minute version (2 hours on BBC America with commercials), has to cut a lot more from the book than the 1971 mini-series that I haven't seen (nor have I read the book), the characters and the situations came through strongly.

Not the Dickensian deprivations of the poor house in "Oliver Twist", Ashley Pharoah's adaptation is much more about typical behavior in an all male environment that is a precursor to "Lord of the Flies," the dark side of "Peter Pan" where boys do adult actions without growing up, or at least various military movies (I only knew the naval song "Heart of Oak," used in a humiliating scene, because of "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World").

Key to enlivening this from just another costume drama with stock characters (the bully, the victim, the ineffectual leader, etc.) is the wonderful titular performance of Alex Pettyfer, billed as "introducing." I can't recall seeing a boy actor transform so much in front of our eyes other than Christian Bale in "Empire of the Sun," as he develops from timid to athlete to swaggerer to mature leader.

Stephen Fry is particularly good at conveying his guilt at the hypocrisy he gets trapped into as a well-meaning new headmaster trying to change a traditional den of testosterone gone wild. Jemma Redgrave doesn't get do very much as his oblivious wife.

Joe Beattie, in the thankless role of the arrogant, wealthy villain a la Malfoy in the Potter oeuvre, plays him foppishly, like Guy Pearce in the most recent version of "The Count of Monte Cristo." I was actually surprised when he cruelly seduced a maid, as I thought the homo-erotic potential in this hot house environment was implied, particularly when it is emphasized how "different" the weakest victim is as he shines at poetry readings.

A story of the perniciousness of bullying left unchecked never goes out of date, and this portrayal is universal and timeless, regardless of its period setting.

Well acted drama by promising young actors

[luxie_the_feeder_drummer · 7/10 · 2 January 2005]

Tom Brown's Schooldays is a well acted drama by a large group of promising young actors. The drama is predominantly male, but I still managed to enjoy it! Stephen Fry played a firm but fair headmaster, and you can see how he really 'feels' for some of the boys, and gives every boy a second chance.

Alex Pettyfer, who plays the young Tom Brown is a very talented young lad, who carried the title character very well, and the audience could see what kind of character Tom Brown is like, and I felt he was really a nice character. His character development in the drama is good, and his acting improves and improved without, particularly when tragic events occur.

Joe Beattie who plays the bully Flashman is very good, and really evoked my feelings to a strong sense of dislike for the character.

Overall, I would say this drama is definitely worth a watch, and the actors cast to the roles fit them perfectly. They all give a really good sense of how cruel school life was for young boys in those times, and you really feel empathy for the young lads.

I also certainly hope to see more of Alex Pettyfer in more things to come, as many other girls I'm sure will agree with me!

Fantastic drama

[charliexx-2 · 10/10 · 2 January 2005]

what a wonderful adaptation of the novel! Beautifully filmed on location in rugby school,David Moore the director has made a really fantastic drama which is modern and exciting....better than any period drama on itv all year!!

the acting was first rate...Steven Fry was Super as Dr Arnold and really nice to see this actor leading a drama rather than playing the comic relief of a piece...maybe an award in the wings for this performance!! young Alex Petyfer was a good Tom Brown..holding his own in some tough scenes with fry.Joe Beattie was a satisfactory Flashman running the school house with his bunch of cronies! Clive Standen playing Brooke was a Magnicent Hero and really electrifyed the screen when he was on!the perfect juxtaposition to Beatties Flashman. And the two young Boys playing East and Tadpole were really quite brilliant...especially Dane carter playing Tadpole in the most memorable scene in the film where he is accused of lieing to Steven fry!! a jolly good film which i would advise all to watch AND HOPE TO SEE SOME OF THE ACTORS TO GO ON TO GREAT THINGS

Well done ITV

Handsome but misguided version of great British classic novel.

[robert-giddings · 3 January 2005]

It's foolish to expect an exact equivalent in film/TV of a classic novel. Translating narrative prose into moving pictures offers opportunities as well as difficulties. But this was a botched job. The story was mangled and spiced up to a damaging extent. The story was seriously mangled. The aims of writer/production were confused. However quaint to us today, the story was real and based on Thomas Hughes' own schooldays. Hughes's sincere attempt to portray the great days at Rugby was thrown out the window. Several of the leading characters were retained but others were cut. Dr. Arnold was appointed to Rugby in 1827. Tom Brown (Hughes) came in the mid 1830's, this is clear from the book. Tom Brown and Scud East were pretty well portrayed. Bullyboy Flashman's wickedness was extended to include raping the matron's daughter. Brooke and Diggs, both important characters,were omitted. Young Arthur dies in this version. He does not die in the book but assists the reformation of the boys' behaviour by the example of his own piety.(He was based on Dean Stanley who actually wrote a celebrated biography of Dr. Arnold). Dr. Arnold's reforming character was fairly well presented. His regular meetings with the teaching staff etc. were pretty authentic, but his amazing reforms were more significant than shown here. His staff were all clerics with local livings but he made them sacrifice these, paid them handsome salaries and devote their professional careers to Rugby. Dr. Arnold's reforming zeal dragged British schools out of Regency degeneracy, brutality and educational sloth, paving the way for the golden age of the Victorian public school. He aimed to produce Christian Gentleman. He had little interest in games and the gift of a school gymnasium by the Flashman family an utter fiction. It was Thring at Uppingham who introduced games (as well as music) into the school curriculum twenty years later. Oddly enough, Stephen Fry was educated at Uppingham. As TV entertainment this was OK but taken as an attempt to bring a great classic to the small screen, well, really....

Quality!!!

[PiNkChErRy4Eva · 10/10 · 2 January 2005]

I've watched a lot of Drama's on ITV in this is by far the best.The acting was very good especially as most of them were 1st timers.Its also extremely different from the original B n W which was a lot more soft hearted than this version.But I think because of the way they showed the cruelty of what was happening made the programme an even more success because it was truer to the book(as I've been told)but It's also a time where you might flinch abit and turn away(I did)but don't let that stop you from watching it just shows the harshness of some of the boys and what Tom went through.I thought the boys in the roles of Brown,East,Tadpole and Aurther gave great performances even if u don't like the story watch it 4 there acting.It's also a real tear jerker so have them tissues next to you while your watching it,trust your going to need them but overall a great story for both male and female,and a fantastic remake of a timeless classic I'd give it 10/10 Proper Quality Watch it if ya get a chance:D:D

Pales by comparison to the 1971 BBC production

[ygb-1 · 6/10 · 7 December 2008]

Although Fry makes a very good Arnold, and the more complex Tom Brown character is intriguing, this "Tom Brown" in no way approaches the 1971 BBC mini-series.

The absence of Brooke and the "good" fifth-formers, the addition of the curious Frobisher, the omission of Tom's being framed and his own wronging at Arnold's hands, and the unsatisfying simple ejection of Flashman - plus the omission of the "hat" scene when Tom first arrives at Rugby...

The BBC's manipulations of the plot (the addition of Flashman's father and his background with Tom pre-Rugby) add to the story, while the manipulations here (Tom's strange partial "sending down," the death of Arthur, etc.) leave one scratching one's head as to what they accomplish.

There is much more "religion" in this version - but it is strangely not very uplifting, leads to nothing in the end but a funeral...

A great new cast of talent

[movies-245 · 10/10 · 1 January 2005]

A great re-enactment with a good new talented cast. Stephen Fry puts on his role of Jeeves as a rule by the thumb school head master, in an almost Harry Potter type boarding school without the Magic, but with lots of tragedy. Think Dead Poets Society and you will be on the right track. Good classical music scores and lovely sets of British Country Sides and life. A classic television adaption of Thomas Hughes Novel. It is an extraordinary account of life at Rugby School in the nineteenth century, and the vision of Dr Arnorld. The characters are more complex than that that initially meets the eye, but its quite a refreshing change to the usual nonsense on ITV.

Fairly weak version

[Atreyu_II · 6/10 · 27 November 2011]

"Tom Brown's Schooldays" is a story that has had a number of versions. This one is the latest and a TV-made. In my opinion, it's a pretty weak take on this classic story. They attempted to make it look "old fashioned" and "classic" but it can't hide the fact that it's a modernized version of a very old story, which doesn't work. It has many flaws typical of these modern-day films.

The story is familiar. A young boy, Tom Brown, is the newest pupil in a Rugby school for boys. Soon he makes a friend, East. Not much later, he wins the hate of Flashman, the big bully.

I see that many reviewers really like Alex Pettyfer and his acting as Tom Brown. I share a different point of view. He is okay but not in the same league as the wonderful John Howard Davies in the much better 1951 version. In some scenes he kinda looks like him. They probably chose him because of that, or maybe they attempted to make him look like him.

I like Stephen Fry's acting as Dr. Thomas Arnold but I rather the great Robert Newton in the 1951 version. Harry Mitchell's acting as East is slightly weak, the actor from the 1951 version is much better. Harry Lister Smith is decent as George Arthur but then again the kid in the 1951 version is superior. Joseph Beattie certainly convinces as Flashman but the actor in the 1951 version is better. Dane Carter is excellent as that poor boy who gets unfairly punished by Dr. Arnold in a very touching scene, shortly followed by another touching scene when Dr. Arnold apologizes for what he did to him.

George Arthur dies in this version and that is touching. Flashman is just as bad in this version as before. Tom Brown isn't as likable as in the 1951 version - here he has some puzzling actions such as in one scene which he steals a chicken and one scene which he shows off his butt in public. The infamous "roasting" scene is present in this version, but somehow it seems more tense and stronger in the 1951 film.

Overall, not a completely bad movie. Has some good moments but also a lot of flaws & inconsistencies. Also appears to be a wee bit less simple to understand than the 1951 version.

the best TV drama , great acting by Alex Pettyfer

[karen-adair · 10/10 · 18 September 2006]

After watching Alex Pettyfer in his new film stormbreaker, which I must say was excellent,having read all the Alex Rider books, had to take my son to see it, I remembered back to the TV drama of Tom Browns school days, a touching and well acted drama, had to order the DVD,so have now watched it several times, Alex Pettyfer was amazing as a new young actor, he made a very convincing Tom Brown, his ability to use his eyes to act was outstanding and acting along side Stephen Fry made the drama so real you believed you were there,a stunning school and location didn't make the drama look dull it was truly magnificent, all the actors did a great job, hope to see some of them in the future, my favourite part was the stealing of the chickens,then sitting in the classroom trying to hide ones self, along with the explanation, great eye contact between Tom and the Doctor. this was a great book to read and then effectively made into this wonderful TV drama,I would recommend this DVD to every one.

The weakest of the four versions, still has many good elements

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 6 July 2016]

'Tom Brown's School Days', one of the best depictions of schoolboy life in literature, was previously adapted in 1940, 1951 and 1971. The best of the four versions is the one from 1971 (the only really great one from personal opinion), though all four are worth watching in their own way.

2005's version does have many things to recommend it but falls short. It does suffer most from feeling too short and too rushed, out of the four adaptations it is the blandest and the meaning of the book is not as well established.

Best asset? Definitely the acting, with the one exception being Harry Mitchell as East (out of the four adaptations, Mitchell's comes off as the least effective), wooden and lifeless. Stephen Fry however is exceptional in a sincere and suitably both strict and sympathetic Dr. Arnold, while Joe Beattie is an intimidating and almost psychopathic Flashman.

In the pivotal role of Tom, an interesting and compelling character due to focusing on him, Alex Pettyfer conveys Tom's courage, fear and loneliness more than adeptly. Clive Standen is a superb Brooke as well, and while he suffers from George Arthur being underwritten and underdeveloped Harry Smith portrays him moving.

Apart from some intrusive, unnecessary and somewhat amateurish "realistic" camera work, 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' is very handsomely mounted and evocative. The music is both searing and understated, and the direction does have more character than that of the 1940 and 1951 versions.

Scripting is inconsistent. Sometimes it's thought-provoking, humorous and affecting, but at other times it's flat and bland as a result of so much of the book being stripped down and with too much changed. The story is involving, and has many charming, moving and lively moments, with Dr Arnold's scene and the depiction of Flashman's bullying being especially well realised.

Not all of it comes off as well as it should, much more could have been done with Flashman's comeuppance, which agree was glossed over and didn't feel punishing enough considering the character's reprehensible actions. Plus because we don't get to know George his death feels meaningless and doesn't leave the viewer as moved as it should have done, actually found the change of ending pointless and cold.

All in all, has many good elements but with some big weaknesses as well. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Great version of English literary classic

[wrxsti54 · 8/10 · 11 December 2021]

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.

Well done, but bland

[Libretio · 4/10 · 2 January 2005]

TOM BROWN'S SCHOOLDAYS

Aspect ratio: 1.78:1

Sound format: Stereo

In late 19th century England, young Tom Brown (Alex Pettyfer) is sent to the public school at Rugby where he experiences the reforms of a radical new headmaster (Stephen Fry) and stands up to the school's resident bully, Flashman (Joseph Beattie).

Already the subject of numerous screen adaptations - most notably Gordon Parry's superior 1951 version - Thomas Hughes' evergreen novel gets the early 21st century treatment, courtesy of screenwriter Ashley Pharoah (TV's "Where the Heart Is") and director David Moore (THE FORSYTE SAGA). It's pleasant enough, and watchable, but it's also rather staid and dull, distinguished only by Fry's sincere performance as the new principal determined to sweep away some of the school's most dubious 'traditions', and by the introduction of a possible new star in 14 year old Pettyfer, a talented kid with the kind of effortless charm and vivid good looks that should take him all the way to Hollywood and beyond. Otherwise, this is typical UK TV fodder, the kind of stuff favored by executives eager to fill the schedules with 'prestige' product, even one as thoroughly unremarkable as this. The UK publication 'Radio Times' described it as "daintily odd" and raised a querulous eyebrow over "all of that fagging and brutality and a handsome, rakish villain torturing the life out of sweet young boys". Quite.

A disappointment.

[Baxter254 · 2 January 2005]

Over the holiday period I enjoyed Martin Clunes' "Mr Chips" and "Pollyanna", both recent ITV adaptations, so was looking forward to this offering. I have never read the book, so cannot judge how close it was to the original story, but did see the 1971 BBC series, which I remember enjoying immensely.

I think the problem may be that it tried to squeeze three hours of story into two hours, (less ad breaks) and there is a sense of non-resolution at the end. Ending on the funeral of the unfortunate Arthur leaves things weirdly up in the air. There is no sense of catharsis that there is with the well received 1971 version. It all seems to be made up of bits and pieces of story stuck together without any real narrative thrust.

I remember the BBC series ending with the sweeping reforms of pay and conditions for masters and boys introduced by Arnold, this being the culmination of his experience and his journey to restore Rugby to its former status as a place fit for "gentlemen and Christians". In this version this is dealt with over a brief conversation while walking with an elderly master, asking him to spend the nights on the premises.

Flashman's comeuppance is disappointingly glossed over, and the consequences of incurring the wrath of one of the school's major benefactors are not addressed.

The film looks good and the acting is competent (although I too, found the "reality" camera work intrusive), but I feel that, as I have already said, the problem may well may on the cutting room floor and the amount of footage that had to be excluded to fit into 1 3/4 hours.

A story of Tom Brown's struggles to find a place in a school over-run by bullies

[jam_sing · 10/10 · 2 January 2005]

This is the story of Tom Brown, a young man struggling to fit in, in a school where it is survival of the fittest. He is not the only newcomer to the school. Dr. Arnold also begins as Rugby School's strict but fair headmaster. In this adaption of Thomas Hughes' Novel, we can clearly see the progression of Tom as he goes from the quiet new boy to a young man who will stand up for the underdog against the formidable enemy and bully, Flashman (played by Joe Beattie, a relatively unknown but very convincing actor). Dr. Arnold is played by Stephen Fry, who portrays the Doctor wonderfully, as a serious and convincing headmaster. Alex Pettyfer, playing the title character, is particularly impressive, despite being new to the acting scene. The whole production shows many beautiful landscapes and shows 19th Century schooling down to the 'T', even including whipping, which was a popular punishment among schools in that era. Overall, I think 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' to be a fantastic and eye-opening program to the hardship of living in a boarding school in the 1800s.

Great movie, great acting!

[Kenneth2005 · 10/10 · 2 January 2005]

I loved the movie! It was great! It made some of my family cry. Fry was excellent, although looked stiff in some scenes! Alex Petypher (tom) played an average performance. Not great at crying. He was more of a boy casted on looks, but he still did the trick. I did like however Harry Michell (east). I felt he had some what of a natural quality to him, and would have like to have seen him in more! Hopefully he'll be in some more films. Arthur (Harry Smith) was also good. Like tom, I felt flashman had an average performance, he could have been a little more charming! I'd give it 8/10. Everybody did their role well, some better than others!

Very Entertaining and Well Acted

[robert23-1 · 9/10 · 27 December 2015]

I just had the immense pleasure of watching this made for TV movie, albeit a remake of other versions. The movie was well written, directed and acted especially the young lead, Alex Pettyfer, his first foray into acting. He was superb as Tom Brown and a credit to the success of the movie. He definitely steals scenes, though unintentional, with his charming, angelic good looks. His performance is not to be missed as is the movie. I must single out, in addition, Joseph Beattie, in the role of Flashman and of course veteran actor, Stephen Fry, as the new Head Master. It is a credit to the casting department and producers for the outstanding performances of all 3, especially Beattie. His portrayal of the sadistic, mean spirited upper classman was an acting " tour de force" which I hope brought him recognition in some form of reward. Bullying today is rampant today as it was during the time the movie was set. The Head Master's determination to stop/decrease such actions appeared to be somewhat successful toward the end of the movie, especially with the untimely death of the newest boy. This period piece was a joy to watch as a result of the wonderful location(Rugby School) and the beautiful costumes!! Corporal punishment(caning) was the norm then but the scenes requiring same, especially with Tom & Tadpole were handled very appropriately without any "graphic" depiction, a credit to the writers and director. The "background" cast members - I assume most were actual Rugby School students - played a vital & important role in the movie. The "supporting cast" especially the actor playing Tadpole and the actor portraying the "partner in crime/culprit" of Flashman was tremendous. All in all, I recommend this movie. The story line/plot moves well and the twists/turns, most evident at the end were well written and expected. We definitely came to hate/despise the character of Flashman, whose treatment of "fags" was despicable. But in the end, retribution befell him which brought happiness/laughter to the youngest boys in the school. Well done!

Harry Potter is Tom Brown

[ahilgart · 10/10 · 26 November 2005]

This is an excellent BBC adaptation of "Tom Brown's School Days" from which Rowling got the Harry Potter setup.

Here Hogwarts is Rugby, so no girls and no Ginny or Hermione, but there are a Ron and a Neville. Dumbledore is (the real) Dr. Arnold. Malfoy is Flashman (although Malfoy hasn't been a rapist or murderer, yet, perhaps). Flashman also has two disagreeable sycophants and is protected by his powerful father, a principal donor to Rugby. And, of course, Quidditch is Rugby football.

There is no magic, of course, and Tom Brown has a conventional father, but the development of Tom's character parallels that of Harry.

Worth Watching

[mcalester66 · 4/10 · 29 April 2013]

This 2005 take on Thomas Hughes' "Tom Brown's Schooldays" leaves much to be desired. I have both read the book and scene all the versions, including the 1942, 1951, and BBC Miniseries, all of which are better.

What's wrong with this take?

1. Flashman is far too modern. While his acting is superb, I felt that his antics were much more overdone than in any of the versions. He is almost always roaring drunk, and his attacks such as the roasting and the tossing are very brutal. The addition of the rape of Sally Hopkin is also very modern and not worth the time.

2. George Arthur DOES NOT DIE in the book. I don't know why they decided to kill him off in the end of the film, as he recovers in the book, not from pneumonia brought on by Flashman's attack, but by a fever which has spread across the school.

3. Tom Brown. I liked Alex Pettyfer at first, but it isn't really how Tom comes across on the novel. Tom is supposed to be the lovable character. In this, I was constantly wondering how I really felt. Did I like him or did I hate him? He goes through a very tough period of hate towards Stephen Fry which did not happen in any of the other versions or in the book.

In short, try the BBC version or the 1942 version.

4/10

The Making of a Man

[johnmbale · 3 April 2005]

This is the story of important 19th Century educationalist and Headmaster Dr.Thomas Arnold's effort to stamp out some of the less desirable traits in the exclusive Rugby School of that era, including bullying, gambling, and drinking. A well intentioned if sanitized version, a small pity the "good" boys all look so angelic and scrubbed up. In Alex Pettyfer we have a John Howard Davies lookalike. Davies played Tom Brown in the 1951 film, and Pip in David Lean's "Great Expectations". Overall its good clean fun and suited to television. Christopher Fry tries hard to bring some credibility to the Headmaster and largely succeeds, while Joe Beattie as the unpleasant bully Flashman is perhaps a little less effective. Not as dark as the novel suggests, often the lyrical settings are at odds the drama, certainly not a Dickensian approach. But full marks for trying to show the making of a man in Victorian England.

Excellent Drama

[arabesuku · 1 January 2005]

I really liked this drama, it just showed on television here and I really liked it.

Stephen Fry's performance was excellent as headmaster Dr Arnold. He plays his role perfectly, being firm but kind in transforming a rowdy school into a good Christian one. I love his performance, as he is a great actor. I have seen him in a few other things (Peter's Friends, Jeeves & Wooster, Wind In The Willows), all great work.

The boy who played Tom Brown was, in my opinion, brilliantly acted and amazingly cute. I loved his character and I hope to see more work from him.

Flashman was a great character also, I particularly liked him. Also greatly acted as the arrogant school bully, his character was powerful yet brutal. I enjoyed his performance very much.

The overall story was amazing. It reminded me of some things about school life as a young child. A great plot indeed. There's humor, a little bit of action, some tearful parts and some brilliant acting. I really do love this.

Please watch, it's brilliant! *10*

A Slightly Above Average Drama

[Drychtnath · 1 January 2005]

This adaptation has been tried and tested on four separate occasions. Right from the outset you could tell this screening of the famous story was sticking to the old traditional set. This was reassuring. Stephen Fry played the Doctor well with the casting of both Flashman and Tom Brown accurate. It was an average performance from Flashman, but a strong performance from the youngster who played Tom. Especially since it was his debut acting role. The story was intended for light entertainment and had no real meaning, therefore I can't scrutinise it for lacking depth. The other roles seemed too minor and the rest of the cast played their part well enough to go unnoticed. The viewers of this will forget it ten minutes after they've seen it but entertaining nonetheless and better than most in this genre.

Review of DVD

[wemm44 · 11 March 2005]

Purchased DVD to have bonus material, which advertise Cast and Thomas Hughes biographies, History of Rugby School, Production Notes and Picture Gallery. What I was expecting was a short history of Rugby School featuring old clips of the School up to the present day, and perhaps what life is like for boys today at Rubgy School. How the production company cast for the roles, how the different parts were filmed in a School in use. Interviews with the Actors about what drew them to the part and what the film meant to them, the picture gallery featuring off screen images of the actors rehearsing/relaxing. What a disappointment. EVERY section is a let down. The cast biographies only feature four actors, two men and two women. Why, with a film using 99% of male actors, do we have a 50/50 split between men and women. Perhaps it's because most of the actors were young boys with little acting history ? This does not hold up to scrutiny, as the film did feature other well known and established male actors, which are not featured. The two male biographies are Steven Fry ( Doctor Arnold ), and Joe Beattie ( Flashman ), the main actor Alex Pettyfer is not featured, which I find unbelievable. A short History of Rugby School, Thomas Hughes Biography and Production Notes are only text, not even any pictures. The picture gallery was poor. I have seen two lovely images publicising the DVD, including one on the DVD cover itself, yet they are not featured. In conclusion, only buy the DVD for the film, which is very good. For the extras, forget it. Although not experienced in this area, even I could have made far superior bonus features. It seems the production company were not bothered with this part, and it probably only took one person a few hours to produce.

a bit too modernised?

[JamesTCT · 1 January 2005]

I saw this version today and although reasonably entertaining, not as great as I was expecting. Stephen Fry was great but I think a lot of liberties have been taken with the story. I have the book, must admit haven't read it all the way through, but from what I understand from the bits I've read and the other film versions I have seen, this has been "modernised" a bit, such as making Flashman more sexually immoral (using prostitutes) and leaving a girl pregnant who later has an abortion. The fight between Brown and Flashman is in the yard and much more violent, and It also hints at one of the boys being homosexual. Were these scenes in the original book? I doubt it. I also didn't like the "reality TV" style camera-work where it tries to make things look as if taken by a camcorder (wobbly camera-work, zooms in and out) and this was most distracting and out of place in a period drama. Apart from that, it was good. The bullying scenes (particularly the roasting) were handled well. 7/10

Just watched with my kids!!

[vhls23922 · 1 January 2005]

Have just watched this movie, with my kids....

"Mum are you sure, they actually hit kids!!" They asked, "Yes" was my reply.. "This was set along time ago" I replied.. The story may be old, But they sat there in silence watching it.. They enjoyed it and when Flashman was finally sent "down" they cheered. Nothing like a good old fashioned story...... Excellent drama, and the boy who played Tom was a gem. Obviously the beatings, and the fireplace scene was not nice, However it was a good understanding of how people used to lived. Stephen Fry was good as head master, I was not at first convinced whether he was strong enough in his character he portrayed, But he was fine...