In July 1968, Hollywood came to Sherborne to film a musical version of Goodbye, Mr Chips, starring Peter O’Toole and Petula Clark. The film featured music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, who had already won an Oscar for the song ‘Talk to the Animals’ in Doctor Dolittle (1967).
Sherborne School’s Headmaster Robert Powell was not impressed by the lyrics Leslie Bricusse had written for the Brookfield School song featured in the film (originally titled ‘To Build a Bright New World’ and later re-titled ‘Fill the World With Love’) and wrote to the film’s director Herbert Ross, saying:
‘if you ask me if an English Public School of the 1920s, or of any period, could have ‘Build a Bright New World’ as its School Song, the answer is quite definitely ‘No’. Though the sentiments expressed, and the thought based on the morning, noon, and evening of life, are suitable, the style and language are worlds away from the authentic thing.’
Mr Powell sent Herbert Ross his own version of the lyrics, adding that ‘the authentic tune would be a cross between a marching song and a hymn’. By way of explanation, Mr Powell sent the director a copy of The Songs of Sherborne School!
Later, Mr Powell was asked to translate into Latin Bricusse’s lyrics for the Brookfield School song. Mr Powell replied, ‘I shall thoroughly enjoy the exercise of writing the Latin. I doubt whether, in the whole history of Public Schools, any headmaster has ever written a Latin lyric for a film. But, about credits – quite seriously and honestly, I would prefer not to be mentioned. I have accepted the responsibility of helping you as much as I can over details of school life, and doing a bit of Latin composition is one of them’. Mr Powell’s translation was given to John Williams, the film’s music director and conductor, to see if it would work musically.
Find out more about the filming of Goodbye, Mr Chips at Sherborne School
Listen to ‘Fill the World With Love’ sung by Petula Clark and the boys’ chorus in Goodbye, Mr Chips (1969).
Posted 20 October 2021 by Sherborne School Archives
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