The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's

There is something beautifully reassuring and warm about this film. The story is almost incidental to the characters. It is packed with superb performances and is a feast of character actors. The comedy is often subtle, but beautifully presented. It ranges from slapstick to the pure surrealism. The bizarre military bath unit stationed in the desert, the ballet-dancing civil servants, the desert island cookery - all superb. The civil servant chap handing over his wallet had me in stitches too. Its innocence is wonderful, although if you look a little closer the darker side is visible, along with lots of little touches that give the whole thing surprising depth. It isn't going to suit everybody. I don't expect too many Americans or teenagers to get the point. It is however a superb piece of work.

This is the final of the three original St. Trinian's films. Alastair Sim doesn't appear in this one, which leaves quite a space but is filled well by new characters and extensions of existing ones. The plot is a lot different from the 2 before, in that it's more surreal. In the other 2, the fact that Flash Harry, a police woman and a professor would become stranded on a desert island wouldn't have happened. Neither would the storming of an Arab sheiks palace. The charceters of Sergeant Ruby Gates (Joyce Grenfell) and Flash Harry (George Cole) are explored much more, with us learning things like Harry's middle name and where Ruby's mother lives. Fantastic performances form the whole cast but I think Cole and Grenfell steal the show. Comedy at its best. Watch out for the scene in the strippers club. Watch Harry's face. Probably the best comedy without words ever.

I first saw this at the original Odeon Marble Arch nearly 60 years ago.Whilst likeable this film is not a patch on the original.It starts well with the trial scene.After that it seems to loose inspiration quickly.Maybe the lack of Alistair Son and the fact that hardly any scenes at the school feature in the film.Furthermore Irene Handels role as the headmistress ends far too early.

Third time the charm? Well, not really. This installment in the original and classic St. Trinian's films doesn't actually take place at St. Trinian's at all! The school is a pile of embers at the top of the first reel! Gone, too, is Alistair Sim (everyone's favorite Scrooge) in the drag double role as headmistress and her brother. The up side is this allows more shenanigans from the likes of Joyce Grenfell (a personal favorite) and the supporting cast. But with school girls of St. Trins only set decoration, it's just not the same. There's a remake of the original that's also spawned two sequels (Rupert Everett subs for Sim) but these are inferior goods - stick to the glorious black and white originals!

This film begins with the school burning down and there is a trial for arson against the girls (all of them!). They are found guilty but set free by the judge. The girls are taken on a ship, supposedly going to the Greek Isles. The ever lovelorn Sargeant Gates (the wonderful Joyce Grenfell) goes to meet up with them to see whats going on. She ends up on a desert island with Flash Harry (George Cole) and another man who has designs on her. Will they save the girls? Do they need saving? This film is not as good as the other two, since it deemphasizes the girls. Its a lot more of an adult film, they are much more prominent. Its not bad, just not quite as good. As for whether Sargeant Gates gets married..see the film. Its fine, just not essential unless you want to watch the series (all 4 films are available in a box set but unfortunately with no extras). So, check it out if you want to.