Very disappointed :(

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Alastair Sim is sadly missed from this St. Trinian's episode, and what is even worse, his replacement, Cecil Parker (as a Professor Canford), gives us a performance that is considerably below his best work. His heart was obviously not in it! Fortunately, there are at least three bright scenes, but generally speaking, Frank Launder's direction is as flat-footed as his script (on which he collaborated with Sidney Gilliat and Val Valentine). The movie's credits tell us that this script was "suggested by the cartoons of Ronald Searle." I know for a fact that Mr. Searle was not at all happy with this ascription and seriously considered taking the movie-makers to court, but was dissuaded by the fact that such a measure would give the movie even more publicity. And as we all know, publicity is publicity, and in the movie business it doesn't really matter if it's good or bad!

This, the third 'St. Trinian's' film, opens with the school being burnt to the ground; this leads to all the pupils being put on trial. It looks as though they will be split up and sent to various approved schools until Professor Canford a man with progressive views on education suggests that not only can he keep them together, he can also turn them into civilised girls. Thus St. Trinian's reopens near to its old site. They haven't been back long when Canford suggests taking the Sixth Form girls on a tour of the Greek Islands. The new headmistress isn't so sure but eventually they depart but their ship doesn't head to the Mediterranean; instead it sails round Africa to Arabia where the girls are taken into the harem of a local emir who intends to marry them off to his sons. Luckily Superintendent Samuel Kemp-Bird was suspicious and had Sgt Ruby Gates stowaway aboard the ship to see what was going on. When news gets back to England the nearest regiment are contacted to rescue the girls and two civil servants are sent to assist… of course nothing goes according to plan but never fear the fourth form will save the day!Things got off to a fine start with the girls burning the school down then ending up on trial but once Professor Canford was introduced it became clear that his character, along with Flash Harry and Sgt Gates where going to be the protagonists rather than any of the girls. Indeed none of the girls are proper characters; the fourth form are just there to be wild and the sixth formers, who are thankfully clearly in their twenties, are there to look sexy in skimpy gym kits (or less)! There are some nicely surreal moments such as the civil servants who deal with stress by dancing and the regiment which is a 'mobile bath unit'. The end came as a bit of a disappointment; when the fourth form turned up I was expecting to climactic mayhem but instead they just turn up and we are told that the sixth form has been rescued. Overall I'd say this is worth watching if you enjoyed the earlier two films but it certainly isn't a classic.

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!

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.