‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ is a movie directed by John Gold at 1998. Starring John Thaw, Nick Robinson. The story took place at a small village in Britain far away from London during World War 2. Tom Oakley, a lonely, grumpy, embittered old man was forced to take in an 11 year-old, dependent, young evacuee. He refused to do this, but the local billeting officer told him that it was mandatory. The two adapted to the new environment, and they had better relationship with each other as well. But her insane mother called William back, so he had to leave Mr. Tom and his only friend, Zack. His mother locked him in a small room with a newborn baby and ended her life out of unknown reason. Mr. Tom found out in time and rescued William. Since William had became an orphan, someone wanted him to be sent to the children’s home. But Mr. Tom used love and changed their minds. But unfortunately, his best and only friend Zack died during the visit he paid to East End for his father earlier the month. William became low-spirited, as if anything can strike him down. Mr. Tom again told him a lesson. God can take away lives, but memory never fades. They will always live deep inside your heart, and all those memories will always be precious.

       The costume designs can be graded as satisfactory. Some of the costumes well suited the atmosphere and environment, and some didn’t. For example, the guards wearing uniforms, people wearing church clothes, Mrs. Hartridges’ stunning dresses. Theses are all well organized, but there’re still many problems in the film that could have been changed. Notice that William always wears the same shorts no matter it’s summer or winter. I understand the director’s wishes, but it’s a bit over done. Zack always wears the same sweater and never changed. Maybe he can’t afford to buy new clothes, but he has a bicycle and bikes were very expensive at that time.  So these are some suggestions that the director should have considered.

       The movie’s set designs were the highlight in the film in my eyes. The hustle and bustle in London’s train station, the quietness at the village’s train station. Also the two-decker bus in London and horse carriages in the small village showed a clear comparison between a small town and big city. Which is very well done.

       The director showed great talents in the background music arrangement. The creepy and deep low music played when William first entered Mr. Tom’s house, and let William’s scariness and curiosity, also a yearn for his future as a evacuee showed out. The slurping sound of William drinking from a cup was well thought. The music played while William first said ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ to Mr. Tom was like a cool breeze in summer, warm sunshine in winter, it’s generous, calm and comfortable. But the most interesting thing is the two ‘ A long way to Tipperary’ being played by Mr. Tom. The first time was on William’s birthday party, with children and people singing happily together and the second time is when the war really started, William went back to his mother, and the empty room reflected the hollowness of the organ and also Mr. Tom’s heart.

       This is a pretty successful film, well planed and well organized. A really engaging movie and taught us what is life.