One of the most under - rated of 1950s British film comedies, 'Bottoms up', is a spin - off from the TV series 'Whacko', and an early example of the new fast developing genre, television, spawning a 90 minute offering for the cinema, the latter sadly in decline at the time.
'Bottoms up' must have delighted the beleaguered cinema goers of 1959, and is still a delight to watchers on DVD six decades later. The central characters are perfectly cast. 'Professor' Jimmy Edwards (an Oxbridge MA in real life) reprises his role of the blustering, cane - welding headmaster who only succeeds in whacking his Assistant Headmaster, the latter played to hapless, dithering perfection by Arthur Howard. Martita Hunt is the new Chair of Governors who threatens a 'regime change' unless there is a marked turn around in the school's fortunes, another memorable 'battle axe' performance by the screen's best Miss Havisham.
The plot is the hoary old chestnut of a foreign prince enrolling in the school, an idea lifted from 'The Belles of St Trinians', five years earlier (naturally a princess on that occasion). However, its treatment in this film is hilarious, Melvyn Hayes as a fake prince with a marked cockney accent, caped in oodles of brown face paint. Naturally, the real prince turns up!
In truth, the rather wobbly storyline doesn't really matter: a sparkling script (Muir and Norden much in evidence), extremely effective interactions of the characters, and first rate, highly authentic sets all contribute to an eminently watchable film. It's also a fascinating experience for imdb aficionados. Look out for future comedy great Richard Briers, as the new master, and take a good look at the 'leader' of the boys - yes, it really is Mitch Mitchell, legendary drummer for Jimi Hendrix, aged 12, sporting a short back and sides!
