Tom Brown's School Days for the favourite in a horse race, Tom is deliberately burned in front of a fire. Tom and East defeat Flashman with the help of Diggs, a kind, comical, older boy. In their triumph they become unruly. In the second half of the book, Dr Thomas Arnold (1795–1842), the historical headmaster of the school at the time, gives Tom the care of George Arthur, a frail, pious, academically brilliant, gauche, and sensitive new boy. A fight that Tom gets into to protect Arthur, and Arthur's nearly dying of fever, are described in loving detail. Tom and Arthur help each other
Tom Brown's Schooldays (2005 film) Schooldays", and "The Hollywood Reporter" said that "this new Tom Brown turns out to be an outstanding family viewing experience". The film was nominated for "Made for TV Movie" in 2005 by RITV. Tom Brown's Schooldays (2005 film) Tom Brown's Schooldays is a 2005 British television film directed by Dave Moore and starring Alex Pettyfer and Stephen Fry. It is an adaptation of the Thomas Hughes novel of the same name. It aired on ITV on 1 January 2005 and was released on DVD 9 days later. Tom Brown (Alex Pettyfer) is energetic, stubborn, kind-hearted, and athletic more than intellectual.