- Actors: Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley, Betty Ann Davies
- Directors: Frank Launder
- Writers: Frank Launder, Sidney Gilliat, Ronald Searle, Val Valentine
- Producers: Frank Launder, Sidney Gilliat
- Format: Black & White, Full Screen, Mono, PAL
- Language English
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Classification: U
- Studio: Warner
- VHS Release Date: 3 July 2000
- Run Time: 91 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CI8D
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,364 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The first and best of a series of films based on the cartoons of Ronald Searle depicting a demonic girl's school, 1954's The Belles Of St Trinians is a pleasantly anarchic romp. However, it's indebted to film makers Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat's own, wittier 1950 movie The Happiest Days Of Our Lives, which also featured Alastair Sim and Joyce Grenfell in starring roles. Here, Grenfell again sparkles as a clumsy young bluestocking. She's a police sergeant gone undercover to investigate the dubious goings on at Millicent Fritton's establishment for young ladies, which turn out to include the use of a chemistry lab as a liquor distillery and low tactics on the hockey field which are rather less than jolly. The plot involving the nobbling of an Arab Sheikh's racehorse is negligible, while the schoolgirls shine en masse rather than as individuals. George Cole is a decent spiv but it's Sim who carries the day in a dual role as dodgy bookie and his sister, headmistress Ms Fritton. Sim's performance is a wonderfully plausible tour de force of female impersonation, which considerably outshines later such efforts by the likes of Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie)and Robin Williams (Mrs Doubtfire). --David Stubbs
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This classic B&W film from 1954 stars the wonderful Alistair Sims playing the duel roles of headmistress and her brother who gambles with the school's future. The story line is original and cannot be beaten! The infamous girls of the country's most notorious school put their money on a horse owned by one of their rich colleague's father. Helped by the dodgy yet hilarious George Cole, they win the day. Along the way the girls and their sorry mistresses fall foul to some wonderful slapstick humour and all-too-sadly-missed-nowadays innocent fun. A movie that all generations will love and highly recommended!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I recorded this when it was on TV a few years ago, and it remains one of my favourite films. Alistair Sim and George Cole make a wonderfull comedy duo as Millicent Fritton, the school's inept headmistress, and Flash Harry, the dodgy geezer who hangs around the school grounds. Joyce Grenfell shines as the 'Coppers nark, in skirts' (as described by Flash Harry).
I love one of the last scenes. When Miss Fritton is listening to complaints from the parents of some of her students about the way she runs her school, Harry rushes in and informs Miss Fritton that she has won £5000 on a horse she'd bet on,and she comes out with the following line;
'Really Harry? Oh well, in that case, ladies and gentlemen, courtosy forbids me to tell you where you can send your daughters.'
This line never fails to make me laugh.
I love one of the last scenes. When Miss Fritton is listening to complaints from the parents of some of her students about the way she runs her school, Harry rushes in and informs Miss Fritton that she has won £5000 on a horse she'd bet on,and she comes out with the following line;
'Really Harry? Oh well, in that case, ladies and gentlemen, courtosy forbids me to tell you where you can send your daughters.'
This line never fails to make me laugh.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
One of the best British films of its time and still with plenty to offer. Alistair Sim plays a double role as headmistress Millicent Fritton and her brother Clarence.
Millicent's character is a staunch believer in traditional values, yet is not above a little skulduggery where the future of her school is concerned and happily turns a blind eye to the nefarious antics of her pupils. Clarence she disapproves of because he has 'black market values' and heads up a gang of dodgy geezers, which includes Sid James.
The central plot revolves around the sixth and fourth form girls who are each trying to get possession of a prize racehorse, owned by the father of a new pupil. The sixth form are trying to prevent it from racing for Clarence's benefit and the fourth form, along with Miss Fritton, want it to win because the school funds have been placed on it at 10/1.
Assisted by George Cole as small-time spiv 'Flash 'Arry' and informed upon by Joyce Grenfell as Policewoman Ruby Gates, who is undercover as gym teacher 'Creepy Crawley', all is resolved, with many a flour-bomb and ink-blot being exchanged along the way.
Though nowadays the notion of schoolchildren creating fear and destruction is all too true, in its time it was considered an hilarious idea and while some comic value is lost as a result, there are golden performances and wry moments to savour.
Millicent's character is a staunch believer in traditional values, yet is not above a little skulduggery where the future of her school is concerned and happily turns a blind eye to the nefarious antics of her pupils. Clarence she disapproves of because he has 'black market values' and heads up a gang of dodgy geezers, which includes Sid James.
The central plot revolves around the sixth and fourth form girls who are each trying to get possession of a prize racehorse, owned by the father of a new pupil. The sixth form are trying to prevent it from racing for Clarence's benefit and the fourth form, along with Miss Fritton, want it to win because the school funds have been placed on it at 10/1.
Assisted by George Cole as small-time spiv 'Flash 'Arry' and informed upon by Joyce Grenfell as Policewoman Ruby Gates, who is undercover as gym teacher 'Creepy Crawley', all is resolved, with many a flour-bomb and ink-blot being exchanged along the way.
Though nowadays the notion of schoolchildren creating fear and destruction is all too true, in its time it was considered an hilarious idea and while some comic value is lost as a result, there are golden performances and wry moments to savour.
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