Goodnight, Mister Tom (1998)
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A young boy evacuated from London during World War II finds a new home and a father figure in a reclusive widower.
The story
In September 1939, as Britain declares war on Nazi Germany, children are evacuated from London to the countryside for safety. One of them, William "Willie" Beech, is sent to the rural village of Little Weirwold in Suffolk. He is placed in the care of Tom Oakley, an elderly widower who has lived in solitude since losing his wife and son to scarlet fever during the First World War. William, a quiet and nervous boy who has suffered cruel treatment at the hands of his mother, is initially apprehensive of Tom. However, after Tom discovers the belt his mother packed for beating William, he begins to provide the boy with care, education, and stability.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In September 1939, William "Willie" Beech is evacuated from London to the village of Little Weirwold in Suffolk, where he is placed with Tom Oakley, a reclusive widower. Initially fearful of Tom due to his mother's abuse, William finds kindness as Tom discards the belt his mother provided for beating the boy. They form a close bond, and William makes friends with another evacuee, Zacharias "Zach" Wrench. After William's 10th birthday, his mother requests his return, claiming illness. William discovers she is unstable and has a new baby girl, Trudy. After being locked in a cupboard by his mother, William is found by Tom and an A.R.P. Warden, Ralph, severely beaten and holding the lifeless body of the baby. Tom kidnaps William from the hospital to return him to Little Weirwold. While William recovers and confronts his trauma, Zach is killed in an air raid. After William's mother commits suicide, a Home Office official allows Tom to adopt William. William eventually addresses Tom as "Dad" for the first time.
- First release year
- 1998
- Runtime (minutes)
- 101
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jack Gold
- Writers
- Brian Finch · writer
- Cast and characters
- John Thaw · Tom Oakley; Nick Robinson · William Beech; Annabelle Apsion · William's mother
- Genres
- drama; television film
- Themes
- healing; trauma; adoption; loss
- Tone and mood
- sentimental; period piece
- Premise and plot tags
- World War II; Evacuation; Drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- novel of the same name by Michelle Magorian
- Reception
- Critical reviews were mixed, with some praising the performances and period recreation while others criticized the plot as predictable and overly sentimental.
- Awards and nominations
- Best Drama · National Television Awards 1999 · 1999 · Win; Lew Grade Award for Most Popular Television Programme of 1998 · BAFTA 1999 · 1999 · Win; Best ITV/Channel 5 Programme of 1998 · Television & Radio Industries Club Award 1999 · 1999 · Win
- Production trivia
- It was Jack Gold's final film as a director.; John Thaw grew a beard for the first time in his career for this role.; The village of Turville was chosen as the filming location for practical and aesthetic reasons.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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