The Pure Hell of St Trinian’s *** (1960, Cecil Parker, George Cole, Joyce Grenfell, Thorley Walters, Dennis Price, Sidney James) – Classic Movie Review 2797

Co-writer/co-producer/director Frank Launder’s less entertaining 1961 number three in the comedy film franchise brings back the hellish schoolgirls from Ronald Searle’s St Trinian’s cartoons, who now torch their school and are recruited for an Arab’s harem.

It misses Alastair Sim as the headmistress, though in fact he hardly appears the second film (1957’s Blue Murder at St Trinian’s) either. But happily George Cole (as Flash Harry) and Joyce Grenfell (in her last appearance as Police Sergeant Ruby Gates) are back for more merry high-jinks, and both of them give outstanding comedy performances. And Cecil Parker is very amusing as a crooked professor, who sells his sixth-formers.

The great vintage British comedy cast makes it worthwhile, compensating for Frank Launder and co-writer/co-producer Sidney Gilliat’s rather weary screenplay.

Also in the cast are Thorley Walters, Dennis Price, Sidney James, Julie Alexander, Eric Barker, Raymond Huntley, Irene Handl, Lloyd Lamble, Nicholas Phipps, Lisa Lee, John le Mesurier, George Benson, Martin Benson, Elwyn Brook-Jones, Basil Dignam, Mark Dignam, Cyril Chamberlain, Michael Ripper, Monty Landis, Warren Mitchell, Clive Morton, Wensley Pithey, Bill Shine, Liz Fraser as Constable Susan Partridge, Sally Bulloch, Harold Berens, Dawn Beret, Maria Lennard, Ann Wain.

Number four in the franchise is The Great St Trinian’s Train Robbery in 1966, with Cole and Ripper the only returning cast members.

A fifth film followed belatedly, The Wildcats of St Trinian’s (1980), with a different cast and Joe Melia playing Flash Harry.

George Cole died on August 5 2015, aged 90.

And Liz Fraser on 6 September 2018, aged 88.

Adieu, dear departed.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2797

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