tom brown schooldays aspect ratio represent 1 . 78 represent1sound format represent stereoin late 19th century england and young tom brown ( alex pettyfer ) be send to the public school at rugby where he experience the reform of a radical new headmaster ( stephen fry ) and stand up to the school resident bully and flashman ( joseph beattie ) . already the subject of numerous screen adaptation most notably gordon parry superior 1951 version thomas hughes evergreen novel get the early 21st century treatment and courtesy of screenwriter ashley pharoah ( tv where the heart be ) and director david moore ( the forsyte saga ) . it pleasant enough and and watchable and but it also rather staid and dull and distinguish only by fry sincere performance a the new principal determine to sweep away some of the school most dubious tradition and and by the introduction of a possible new star in 14 year old pettyfer and a talented kid with the kind of effortless charm and vivid good look that should take him all the way to hollywood and beyond . otherwise and this be typical uk tv fodder and the kind of stuff favor by executive eager to fill the schedule with prestige product and even one a thoroughly unremarkable a this . the uk publication radio time describe it a daintily odd and raise a querulous eyebrow over all of that fagging and brutality and a handsome and rakish villain torture the life out of sweet young boy . quite .