As the new term is about to begin everybody near St Trinian's School for Young Ladies prepares for the worst; even the local police sergeant locks himself in his own cell! St Trinian's reputation for crime and hooliganism is well deserved; in chemistry they make explosives and gin, in geography they learn where all the best wines are made and when they play hockey a large supply of stretchers are required! This term sees the arrival of a Fatima, an Arab princess, amongst the girls and the return of the headmistress's previously expelled niece who hopes to learn about Fatima's gather's prize racehorse, Arab Boy, which her father has bet against. When Headmistress Millicent Fritton learns that the girls are planning to place a bet on Arab Boy with the local spiv she is horrified... then bets all of the school funds on it! As the day of the race approaches two groups of girls each struggle to make sure a different horse wins the race; and if the wrong one wins the school will have to close. If that wasn't enough trouble an undercover policewoman has come to the school as the new gym teacher and a school inspector is going to pay a visit on parents' day.
This, the first of the St Trinian's film, may be almost sixty years old but it has lost none of its anarchic charm. Alastair Sim does a fine job playing both Miss Fritton and her bookie brother Clarence; sometimes in the same scene, Joyce Grenfell is good as the undercover Sgt, Gates and George Cole is fun as spiv Flash Harry... the real stars though are the numerous girls whose behaviour makes them amongst the most feared people in the country! They are portrayed as genuinely anarchic without being unlikably malicious. The plot is of course fairly silly but it works well enough for a comedy. If you enjoy classic British comedies then this one is a must see.
This, the first of the St Trinian's film, may be almost sixty years old but it has lost none of its anarchic charm. Alastair Sim does a fine job playing both Miss Fritton and her bookie brother Clarence; sometimes in the same scene, Joyce Grenfell is good as the undercover Sgt, Gates and George Cole is fun as spiv Flash Harry... the real stars though are the numerous girls whose behaviour makes them amongst the most feared people in the country! They are portrayed as genuinely anarchic without being unlikably malicious. The plot is of course fairly silly but it works well enough for a comedy. If you enjoy classic British comedies then this one is a must see.