Tom Brown's Schooldays (2005 film)
Encyclopedia
Tom Brown's Schooldays is a 2005 television film adaptation
of the Thomas Hughes
novel of the same name
. It was released on January 1, 2005 and released on DVD 9 days later.
(Alex Pettyfer
) is energetic, stubborn, kind-hearted, and athletic more than intellectual. He acts according to his feelings and the unwritten rules of the boys around him more than adults' rules.
The film deals with his years at the Rugby School for Boys
. His year starts when he goes to Rugby School, where he becomes acquainted with the adults and boys who live at the school and in its environs.
On his arrival, the 13-year-old Tom Brown is looked after by a more experienced classmate, Harry "Scud" East (Harry Michell). Soon after, Tom and East become the targets of a bully named Flashman
(Joseph Beattie
). The intensity of the bullying increases, and, after refusing to hand over a sweepstake ticket for the favorite in a horse race, Tom is deliberately burned in front of a fire. Tom and Scud stop Flashman's bullying when Flashman is expelled after a fight with Tom in which he used brass knuckles
.
Extensive cosmetic remodelling took place in some parts of the school so as to render the set historically accurate. For example, a convincing artificial well was constructed in the Old Quad where one had previously been but had since been demolished and bricked over. This particular prop remained at the school for nearly a year afterwards, as the film crew did not take it with them when they left.
The Old Gym, one of the longest standing school buildings, was sequestered as a base for costumes for the extras.
Stephen Fry interacted enthusiastically with the school during his time on set. He gave an almost universally attended talk to the entire school one evening, in which he, among other things, told the story of his expulsion from Uppingham School. Approximately ten select extras (pupils) were invited to talk to him at length in the Headmaster's study on another occasion.
Some occasions of tension on set were noted between some of the child stars playing lead roles, and both their director and the students playing as extras. These took the form of conflicts of attitude, as both the pupils and the director found some of the young actors to be aloof and stroppy at times. Although, in one instance the mother of a child actor was cited as more of an impediment to the director than the child himself.
The start of the film includes real historical events which are not in the book: Dr. Arnold closing down the school hunt; Dr. Arnold complaining that before his time, there were no masters in the school overnight to keep the boys in order.
said that "this new Tom Brown turns out to be an outstanding family viewing experience".
Adaptation
An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation....
of the Thomas Hughes
Thomas Hughes
Thomas Hughes was an English lawyer and author. He is most famous for his novel Tom Brown's Schooldays , a semi-autobiographical work set at Rugby School, which Hughes had attended. It had a lesser-known sequel, Tom Brown at Oxford .- Biography :Hughes was the second son of John Hughes, editor of...
novel of the same name
Tom Brown's Schooldays
Tom Brown's Schooldays is a novel by Thomas Hughes. The story is set at Rugby School, a public school for boys, in the 1830s; Hughes attended Rugby School from 1834 to 1842...
. It was released on January 1, 2005 and released on DVD 9 days later.
Plot
Tom BrownTom Brown (character)
Tom Brown is a fictional character created by author Thomas Hughes in his semi-autobiographical work Tom Brown's Schooldays which is set at a real English public school — Rugby School for Boys — in the 1830s when Hughes himself had been a pupil there...
(Alex Pettyfer
Alex Pettyfer
Alexander Richard "Alex" Pettyfer is an English actor and model. He appeared in school plays and on television before being cast as Alex Rider, the main character in the 2006 film version of Stormbreaker. Pettyfer was nominated for a Young Artist Award and an Empire Award for his role. He has been...
) is energetic, stubborn, kind-hearted, and athletic more than intellectual. He acts according to his feelings and the unwritten rules of the boys around him more than adults' rules.
The film deals with his years at the Rugby School for Boys
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
. His year starts when he goes to Rugby School, where he becomes acquainted with the adults and boys who live at the school and in its environs.
On his arrival, the 13-year-old Tom Brown is looked after by a more experienced classmate, Harry "Scud" East (Harry Michell). Soon after, Tom and East become the targets of a bully named Flashman
Harry Paget Flashman
Sir Harry Paget Flashman VC KCB KCIE is a fictional character created by George MacDonald Fraser , but based on the character "Flashman" in Tom Brown's Schooldays , a semi-autobiographical work by Thomas Hughes ....
(Joseph Beattie
Joseph Beattie
Joseph Beattie is an English actor, known for portraying Malachi in the second season of Hex and Henry Crawford in Mansfield Park.-Background:...
). The intensity of the bullying increases, and, after refusing to hand over a sweepstake ticket for the favorite in a horse race, Tom is deliberately burned in front of a fire. Tom and Scud stop Flashman's bullying when Flashman is expelled after a fight with Tom in which he used brass knuckles
Brass knuckles
Brass knuckles, also sometimes called knuckles, knucks, brass knucks, or knuckledusters, are weapons used in hand-to-hand combat. Brass knuckles are pieces of metal, usually steel despite their name, shaped to fit around the knuckles...
.
Cast
- Alex PettyferAlex PettyferAlexander Richard "Alex" Pettyfer is an English actor and model. He appeared in school plays and on television before being cast as Alex Rider, the main character in the 2006 film version of Stormbreaker. Pettyfer was nominated for a Young Artist Award and an Empire Award for his role. He has been...
as Tom BrownTom Brown (character)Tom Brown is a fictional character created by author Thomas Hughes in his semi-autobiographical work Tom Brown's Schooldays which is set at a real English public school — Rugby School for Boys — in the 1830s when Hughes himself had been a pupil there... - Stephen FryStephen FryStephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
as Dr. Thomas ArnoldThomas ArnoldDr Thomas Arnold was a British educator and historian. Arnold was an early supporter of the Broad Church Anglican movement... - Harry Michell as Harry "Scud" East
- Joseph BeattieJoseph BeattieJoseph Beattie is an English actor, known for portraying Malachi in the second season of Hex and Henry Crawford in Mansfield Park.-Background:...
as FlashmanHarry Paget FlashmanSir Harry Paget Flashman VC KCB KCIE is a fictional character created by George MacDonald Fraser , but based on the character "Flashman" in Tom Brown's Schooldays , a semi-autobiographical work by Thomas Hughes .... - Clive StandenClive StandenClive Standen is an English actor best known for playing Sir Gawain in the Starz series Camelot as well as 'Archer', the brother of Robin Hood in the BBC TV series Robin Hood and Private Carl Harris in the British sci-fi show Doctor Who.-Acting:Standen's first experience of stunts, horse...
as Brooke - Jemma RedgraveJemma RedgraveJemma Redgrave is a fourth-generation English actress of the Redgrave family.-Early life/family:Born in London as Jemima Rebecca Redgrave, she is the daughter of the late actor Corin Redgrave and his first wife, the late Deirdre Hamilton-Hill, a former fashion model. They divorced when Jemma was...
as Mary Arnold - Guy Roberts as Shocked Boy in Audience
- John HillJohn Hill-Politics:*John Hill , MP for Dorchester *John Hill , United States Representative from Virginia...
as Eager Onlooker in Fight Scene - Harry Smith as George Arthur
- Georgia MoffettGeorgia MoffettGeorgia Elizabeth Moffett is a British actress. Moffett was born in West London, the daughter of actors Peter Davison and Sandra Dickinson....
as Sally
Production
For scenes shot on location, all pupil roles that were not leads were played by real Rugby School students. The school all but ground to a halt for a fortnight as a large portion of the school grounds were used for shooting and the majority of male pupils were involved in taking part as extras.Extensive cosmetic remodelling took place in some parts of the school so as to render the set historically accurate. For example, a convincing artificial well was constructed in the Old Quad where one had previously been but had since been demolished and bricked over. This particular prop remained at the school for nearly a year afterwards, as the film crew did not take it with them when they left.
The Old Gym, one of the longest standing school buildings, was sequestered as a base for costumes for the extras.
Stephen Fry interacted enthusiastically with the school during his time on set. He gave an almost universally attended talk to the entire school one evening, in which he, among other things, told the story of his expulsion from Uppingham School. Approximately ten select extras (pupils) were invited to talk to him at length in the Headmaster's study on another occasion.
Some occasions of tension on set were noted between some of the child stars playing lead roles, and both their director and the students playing as extras. These took the form of conflicts of attitude, as both the pupils and the director found some of the young actors to be aloof and stroppy at times. Although, in one instance the mother of a child actor was cited as more of an impediment to the director than the child himself.
Differences from the novel
| Event | Book | Film |
|---|---|---|
| How Tom starts | Transferred in mid-term because of the epidemic. | At start of term. |
| Fights | An unorganized fight with Tom and East against Flashman. The "two against one" imbalance is compensated for by Flashman's being two years older and bigger. Later, an organized fight between Tom and "Slogger" Williams. | An organized fight between Tom and Flashman, not Tom and Williams, one against one. Tom almost wins but Flashman cheats by using brass knuckles Brass knuckles Brass knuckles, also sometimes called knuckles, knucks, brass knucks, or knuckledusters, are weapons used in hand-to-hand combat. Brass knuckles are pieces of metal, usually steel despite their name, shaped to fit around the knuckles... . |
| Why Flashman is expelled | He gets very drunk in Brownsover Brownsover Brownsover is a small village about 1½ miles north of Rugby, Warwickshire in England. Since 1960, it has been further absorbed by the suburban expansion of Rugby.-'Old' Brownsover:... and has to be helped back to school. |
He gets the school matron's daughter pregnant, as well as the fight. |
| Result of Arthur's illness | Survived. | Died. |
The start of the film includes real historical events which are not in the book: Dr. Arnold closing down the school hunt; Dr. Arnold complaining that before his time, there were no masters in the school overnight to keep the boys in order.
Reaction
Tom Brown's Schoolday's was met positively by the critics. It was called "a flash of evil genius" by The Daily Express, "one of the best TV adaptations of an English classic I have seen" by The Daily Mail; The Radio Times said that "viewers of every political colour will find much to delight them in Tom Brown's Schooldays" , and The Hollywood ReporterThe Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
said that "this new Tom Brown turns out to be an outstanding family viewing experience".