Les marrants terribles

If memory serves me correctly this is a remake of the 1937 Will Hay comedy "Good Morning Boys", to which it compares quite favourably. Coming a year before the cycle of St Trinians films began, it, and by default the Will Hay schoolmaster comedies of the thirties from which it derives, can be viewed as serving as a kind of prototype for that series. In any event it seems to me that the St Trinians films have far more in common with this little picture than they do with the far more sophisticated humour of "The Happiest Days of Your Life"(1950) with which they are usually linked.

Although for the most part he is generally forgotten today, I always found Ronald Shiner quite a likable comedy actor, and to be frank, I probably prefer him in this role to Will Hay, who in his guise as schoolmaster could become a little irritating at times. Interestingly I also find him a little reminiscent of Shemp Howard in places. I find it frustrating that I have been able to view so few of the films listed in his filmography.

Other familiar faces notable in the cast are a young Anthony Newley and a young Ronnie Corbett, Mary Jerrold as Mrs Bagshot brings Katie Johnson to mind......and there's also Richard Wattis as ...you guessed it.. a Ministry of Education official.

This extremely noisy and thoroughly predictable farce's limited quota of genuine humor is further undermined by director Paddy Carstairs. Not only does Carstairs handle the action in his usual ill-timed, ham-fisted manner, but he has seen fit to indulge his egotistical star with numerous close-ups. The film often resembles a television "comedy", an impression re-enforced by the script's seemingly endless parade of tediously-paced, elemental slapstick.

Fortunately, the obvious enthusiasm of the players (including Mr Shiner) does manage to overcome some of the inertia produced by both script and direction, although disappointingly, the lovely French star, Jacqueline Pierreux, has only a very small part.

Production values rate as modest and behind-the-camera credits rise no higher than steadfastly routine.

I watched the movie late the other night and it tugged the nostalgia strings. Yes Anthony Newley was a joy to watch as was a very very young Ronnie Corbett. Harry Fowler (later in the Army Game on TV) had a big part. Cant help but think he looks a lot like Robbie Fowler the footballer. Is that just a coincidence? Can anyone help? And what about sad old Alfie Bass also to star in the Army Game in 1960/61. What a face. I think they did a spin off later called Bootsie and Snudge (with Ronnie Fraser also from the Army Game.) Sadly it is all going to be forgotten. Its a fine example of English comedy before the influence of Monty Python when life was still so innocent and the Goons and Around The Horne were still on the Radio and Tony Hancock was making everyone laugh. Regards, Frank.

Quite a funny film at times, though maybe it's just so silly that it becomes funny. The first bit that will have you laughing is when Fortescue, who has a nose like Arthur Treacher, but isn't *actually* Arthur Treacher, escapes from the men chasing him by climbing over a wall, and landing in a Professor's garden party type of thing. The bonus? He's dressed like a professor himself, so the other men have an interesting time trying to find him. Fortescue manages to bluff that he's a Professor from an Australian university, and what do you know - ends up with a job as a teacher. The boys run him through the mill as good as they would any new teacher, until finally the board of education cottons on that none of them seem to be learning anything, and tells them they have to sit for some exams and pass with flying colours, or the school may be closed down. Some quick thinking - and cheating - ends up winning the young scholars a trip to France, and this is where the fun really begins, as one of the boy's brother has recently escaped from jail and wants to steal a necklace which just happens to be in the Paris museum...

It may sound stupid, but trust me, it's funny. And young Anthony Newley is a treat to watch as a cheeky school boy!

Midway swindler Ronald Shiner has to go on the run and lands at a public school which is going under. Being rather free with his methodology, his boys cheat their way into a trip to France, which sets up the finale

The reliable John Paddy Carstairs does what he can with this Will Hay formula, with Shiner at his loudest and most obnoxious in the lead. It winds up, as you might expect, in a series of mini-skits that are put together adequately and shot and edited frenetically. I'm not a fan of Shiner but his old-fashioned elbow-to-the-rib fast talker has its fans. With Anthony Newley, Alfie Bass, Mary Jerrold, and Ronnie Corbett.