The Belles of St. Trinian’s

THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN’S [1954 / 2014] [60th Anniversary Digitally Restored Edition] [Blu-ray]
A Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat Production!

‘THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN’S’ is a classic comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School, and released in 1954, directed by Frank Launder and written by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat. Featuring a star cast of British comedy talent including, Alastair Sim as both Miss Millicent Fritton and Clarence Fritton, Joyce Grenfell, George Cole, Beryl Reid and many others. This 60th anniversary edition has been fully digitally restored, plus features brand new extra content.

The unruly schoolgirls of St. Trinian’s are more interested in men and mischief than homework and hockey. But greater trouble beckons when the arrival at the school of Princess Fatima of Makyad coincides with the return of recently expelled Arabella Fritton, who has kidnap on her mind.

FILM FACT: Alastair Sim stars in a dual role as the headmistress Miss Millicent Fritton and her twin brother Clarence Fritton. The opening scenes of the girls returning to school were filmed at All Nations Christian College. This includes the entrance gate of Holycross Road and the outside shots of the school. Ronald Searle appeared in a cameo role as a visiting parent. Roger Delgado plays the Sultan's aide and it was also the first film appearance of Barbara Windsor, then a teenager.

Cast: Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley, Betty Ann Davies, Renée Houston, Beryl Reid, Irene Handl, Mary Merrall, Joan Sims, Balbina, Jane Henderson, Diana Day, Jill Braidwood, Annabelle Covey, Pauline Drewett, Jean Langston, Lloyd Lamble, Richard Wattis, Guy Middleton, Arthur Howard, Michael Ripper, Eric Pohlmann, Sidney James, Martin Walker, Noel Hood, Vivienne Martin, Elizabeth Griffiths, Andrée Melly, Belinda Lee, Michael Kelly, Tommy Duggan, Paul Connell, Lorna Henderson, Vivien Wood, Cara Stevens, Jerry Verno, Jack Doyle, Windsor Cottage (The Horse), Sandra Alfred (uncredited), Michael Balfour (uncredited), Pam Ballard (uncredited), Jennifer Beach (uncredited), Alanna Boyce (uncredited), Heather Bradley (uncredited), Shirley Burniston (uncredited), Sandra Caron (uncredited), Sandra Scott Carr (uncredited), Roger Delgado (uncredited), Shirley Eaton (uncredited), Catherine Feller (uncredited),  Gillian Ferguson (uncredited), Irene French (uncredited), Raymond Glendenning (Commentator) (uncredited), Mandy Harper (uncredited), Gilbert Harrison (uncredited), Damaris Hayman (uncredited), Lillemor Knudsen (uncredited), Sally Lahee (uncredited), Dilys Laye (uncredited), Henry B. Longhurst (uncredited), Christina Lubicz (uncredited), Norman Maitland (uncredited), Marcia Manolescue (uncredited), Myrette Morven (uncredited), Arthur Mullard (uncredited), Dominica More O'Ferrall (uncredited), Marigold Russell (uncredited), Mavis Sage (uncredited), Arthur Sandifer (uncredited), Stuart Saunders (uncredited), Ronald Searle (Visiting Parent) (uncredited), Barry Steele (uncredited), Jim Tyson (uncredited), Sandra Walden (uncredited), Jacquie Wallis (uncredited), Ann Way (uncredited), Kaye Webb (uncredited), Carol White (uncredited) and Barbara Windsor (uncredited)

Director: Frank Launder

Producers: Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat

Screenplay: Frank Launder, Sidney Gilliat, Val Valentine and Ronald Searle (inspired by the original drawings of the Girls and Staff of St Trinian's)

Composer: Malcolm Arnold

Cinematography: Stanley Pavey (Director of Photography)

Image Resolution: 1080p (Black-and-White)

Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Mono Audio

Subtitles: English SDH

Running Time: 91 minutes

Region: Region B/2

Number of discs: 1

Studio: British Lion Films / STUDIOCANAL

Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN’S’ [1954] reunited Alastair Sim and Joyce Grenfell and threw in a bevy of 1950s character actors. The standout is George Cole as Flash Harry, Arthur Daley's spiritual ancestor, but there's sterling support from Hermione Baddeley, Irene Handl, Beryl Reid, Joan Sims and Sid James, while cameos include Searle and his wife and editor Kaye Webb as concerned parents.

The Sultan of Makyad, concerned for the moral welfare of his daughter Fatima, decides to send her to St Trinian's, a school in Barchester, where he keeps his racehorses. As news reaches Barchester that term is about to start, shopkeepers board up their fronts and policemen panic. Bookmaker Clarence Fritton goes to see the headmistress, his sister Millicent, to persuade her to take his daughter Bella back despite her expulsion for arson, as he wants her to act as a spy, obtaining information about the Sultan's horses from Fatima. Miss Millicent Fritton grudgingly agrees after Clarence Fritton [Alastair Sim] threatens to tell their mother that she's mortgaged the family home to keep the school afloat.

St Trinian's is presided over the genial Miss Millicent Fritton [Alastair Sim], whose philosophy is summed up as: "in other schools girls are sent out quite unprepared into a merciless world, but when our girls leave here, it is the merciless world which has to be prepared." The girls themselves come in two categories, the fourth form, most closely resembling Ronald Searle's original drawings of ink-stained, ungovernable pranksters, and the much older sixth form, one of them is even married) sexually precocious to a degree that must have seemed somewhat alarming in 1954.

Sex, smoking, drinking and especially gambling is not on the official curriculum, but they're not exactly frowned upon, and one of the most telling moments comes when the unforgettable spiv Flash Harry [George Cole] a silver-tongued, pencil-'tached rogue who seems to dwell in the bushes in the school grounds, abetting the girls in various nefarious pursuits of bootleg gin, racing bets. Characterised by the shiftiest walk in film history, George Cole made an entire career out of this under-the-law persona. At one point in the film, he is asked if he's a teacher and he replies "In a way" his role as their bookie has certainly taught the girls plenty about economics.

The teaching staff is a dissolute bunch of wrecks, alcoholics, ex-cons, ingénues and insinuated, but not openly declared, and you have to remember that this was 1954 and where lesbians, played by a cadre of “underused” and by great British funny-ladies. Into the mix that includes Irene Handl, Beryl Reid, and Joan Sims strides Joyce Grenfell as the bumbling undercover police officer Ruby Gates whose precision-timed horsy exuberance and prat falling is about the only genuine innocence on show.

What this really means is that ‘THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN’S ‘is all about the various layers of comedy from the various characters. There is the wonderful humour of Alastair Sim as headmistress Miss Millicent Fritton whilst also playing her brother Clarence Fritton and there is again, just as much jolly fun with the encourage able George Cole giving us Flash Harry a forerunner to his Arthur Daily. And of course there is the wonderful Joyce Grenfell who as undercover police woman Ruby Gates is a bounty of over exaggerated mannerisms especially her walk.

Artist Ronald Searle first invented the horde of unruly schoolgirls in 1941 while serving in World War II, producing a series of acerbic cartoons for satirical magazines Lilliput and Punch right through to 1953. This wasn't the innocent public school j apery of broken windows and dodging prep as depicted in Just William or the Jennings series. This amoral, pre-pubescent rabble were the punkettes of their day; smoking, gambling, fighting and running riot over their slipshod educational establishment like prototype Mafiosa in ill-fitting gymslips.

Whilst there is a lot of talent on show in the film ‘THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN’S’ and the sharp eyed amongst you will notice that on top of Joyce Grenfell there is also Sid James, Irene Handl, Joan Sims and the stunning Belinda Lee the stars are Alastair Sim and George Cole. In the case of George Cole his performance as Flash Harry is simply amusing, slick, fast talking and dodgy you just can't help but laugh especially whenever he walks to the school with his theme music playing. But even George Cole is over shadowed by Sim who not only plays one character but two, although it is as headmistress Millicent Fritton where he delivers so many laughs. It's such a daft character, slightly dodgy a little daft, very old fashioned and almost oblivious to some of the troubles whilst co-conspirator in others and everything which Sim does is simply funny.

What this all boils down to is that whilst ‘THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN’S’was a film made well over 60 years ago and it is still as much fun now, as it ever has been. The storyline is slim but the humour runs thick and freely and that is what makes it so good, that and not only a wonderful performance by George Cole as Flash Harry but Alastair Sim who is simply wonderful righteous fun from start to end.

Blu-ray Image Quality – This Blu-ray image transfer is really excellent and the film is full of deeply crushed monochromatic blacks which stand up remarkable well, making this a real visual treat. Stanley Pavey’s wonderful stunning cinematography. Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 and you get a brilliant 1080p encoded image. Generally speaking, depth and clarity are very pleasing. The majority of the close-ups, in particular, look very good. During the outdoor footage, shadow definition is also convincing. Contrast levels are stable, but there are areas of the film where minor inherited fluctuations are visible. Light grain is present throughout the entire film, but it is slightly toned down. There are no traces of problematic sharpening corrections and serious transition or stability issues to report. To sum it all up, STUDIOCANAL have done a stunning restoration of ‘The Belles of St. Trinian's’ that will please fans of the film and especially of seeing the brilliant actor Alastair Sim in another stunning Classic British Comedy. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.

Blu-ray Audio Quality – Once again with this STUDIOCANAL Blu-ray release, there is only one standard audio track and that is a 2.0 LPCM Mono Audio track. Plus, again they have only provided an optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. The sound is very crisp and clear, plus there are no sudden drops in dynamic activity. Rather predictably, and the dynamics is okay. All the usual clicks, pops, crackle, and background hiss you had with these old films, have been totally removed and the dialogue is stable and exceptionally easy to follow.

Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:

Special Features: The Girls of St Trinian’s [2014] [1080p] [1.78:1/1.37:1] [16:47] With this particular special feature, we get to meet the girls, but now in their late youth, who originally appear in ‘The Belles of St. Trinian's’ [1954] film and we get intimate interviews with these ladies in a proper studio. First up we meet Gillian Ferguson, who played the girl pupil Celeste West and was 11 years old at the time of the film. Next up we have Annabelle [Covey] Heath, who played the girl pupil Maudie [the bookie] and was also 11 years old in the film. Next up is a.k.a. Pauline Drewett who played Celia [Jackie West] in the film and was about 12 years of age in the film. Not only do we get informed that all of the young girls at the time were at Stage School and had to have a face to face audition in front of Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat and were successful in getting the parts in the film. We also get black-and-white clips from the 1954 film. Some of the women said they felt intimidated by Alastair Sim, but some also thought he was a very funny man and especially seeing Alastair in drag, but all the women also praised Alastair Sim and respected him for being a great actor. All in all this is a very nice little feature, with lots of intimate thoughts on all the women appearing in the film and how much thy thoroughly enjoyed their experience in the film. We are also informed that all the women went onto to do other things in their careers, like working in other films, working in Television, also in the Theatre, but also working in Panto, which again they thoroughly enjoyed.

Special Features: Interview with Alistair Sim’s Daughter Merlith McKendrick [2014] [1080p] [1.78:1/1.37:1] [4:58] here we get another angle on Alastair Sim, especially via his Daughter in this very intimate interview. Merlith McKendrick informs us that she really loved and also a lot of respect and affection for Alastair Sim her father and Merlith thought he was a brilliant actor and was also very funny, but when growing up did not realis how famous and successful Alastair Sim was. Merlith McKendrick also commented on George Cole and had a great deal of fun with George when Merlith was on the set of the film. We also get to see some more black-and-white clips from the 1954 film. Merlith also informs us that she loved seeing Alastair in drag and especially in that character in the film. But one thing Merlith would of loved, and that is to be able to go to a St. Trinian’s School and be naughty like all the characters in the film.

Special Features: Interview with Geoff Brown [Film Historian] [2014] [1080p] [1.78:1/1.37:1] [18:25] With this extra, Geoff brown talks about extensively about that period of time in the film industry and especially around the 1954 period when the film was made. He also talks extensively about Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, and also tells us that both of these men started in the film business around the 1928 silent film period. But both these men came into contact about the same time when they both worked for the same film company by accident and both slowly worked their way up the ladder of great success. Their first collaboration was on a screenplay for a film entitled ‘Seven Sinners’ and was a thriller film about a sinister character who like making trains crash. Outside of the film industry, they both had totally different interests, Frank Launder on a Saturday, and liked to go the race track and gamble heavily, but he also owned a horse, which was the one used in the 1954 film. Whereas Sidney Gilliat would rather spend time at the Opera and especially at the Glyndebourne festivals. But despite their difference, they always worked well together. All in all this is quite a nice little feature, and especially the insight into both Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat. But as a bonus we also get great praise from Geoff Brown about how brilliant an actor Alastair Sim was.

Special Features: Interview with Steve Chibnall [Professor of British Cinema, De Montfort University] [2014] [1080p] [1.78:1/1.37:1] [11:50] here Steve Chibnall also talks extensively about Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, who renowned for their comedy films, but they also dabbled into thriller films and one in particular was Alfred Hitchcock’s film ‘The Lady Vanishes,’ but they were much more happier working on comedy films, but sadly the St. Trinian’s films were the only ones they were associated with. One little interesting fact, is that Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat worked with Alastair Sim for well over 15 years and at the time was a very harmonious period of great collaboration. But by the time they finished filming the second St. Trinian’s film, Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat had to part company with Alastair Sim, as they had a very bad atmosphere, especially with Sidney Gilliat, as Alastair keep forgetting is lines and near the end lost his temper and asked to leave the set. But all in all this again is a very nice short feature and a joy to watch.

Special Features: Interview with Melanie Williams [Senior Lecturer in Film Studies U.E.A.] [2014] [1080p] [1.78:1/1.37:1] [12:47] Melanie Williams is a very qualified Senior Lecturer on Film Studies, especially how young this lady is. And most of this interview is talking about the St. Trinian’s genre and fascinations about these particular films and how popular they were at the time. Melanie also talks about Ronald Searle very extensively, especially in the period when he was a Japanese P.O.W intern and that is where he started doing his cartoons, especially depicting the harsh reality of these harsh prisons. Melanie Williams has never really found out why these St. Trinian’s films were so popular, but Melanie Williams also mentions about how the critics at the time really slated these St. Trinian’s films, but Melanie thinks it is how the girls in the school are portrayed as nasty little urchins, who love to cause mayhem. Although the first St. Trinian’s films was a great success, but the follow up films, especially after the second film, were not such a great success, but Melanie suspects that from the third film onwards, the reason they were not a success is because Alastair Sim was not in them. But all in all, this again is a nice little feature, especially with Melanie Williams informing us with such knowledge on all these St. Trinian’s films and is a joy to listen to Melanie.

Finally, in a testament to Alastair Sim's expertise as a character actor, never once does the viewer consider Miss Millicent Fritton as anything less than all women, albeit in a 'horsey' home-counties mould and a benevolent matriarch to her wayward brood of pupils and teachers alike. Even the impact of this 1954 film has to always have a cast of British thespian grotesques charachters, who appear on screen as if they themselves stepped straight out of another world. From George Cole's two-bit dodgy dealer 'Flash Harry' a character he would later recreate so perfectly in the television's Minder - and Grenfell's scatty undercover policewoman Ruby Gates, to appearances by stalwarts like Beryl Reid, Joan Sims and Irene Handl as school mistresses, here is a cast who capture on screen that certain undefinable eccentricity which is uniquely English. It is Alistair Sim however, in the dual role of the school's headmistress and her ne'er-do-well brother, the bookmaker Clarence Fritton, who stands out. In his book, St. Trinian's: The Entire Appalling Business, Searle summed up his most famous creations by referring to a St. Trinian's pupil as, "Sardonic, witty and very amusing. She would be good company. In short: typically human and despite everything, endearing." This is probably as good a description of ‘THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN’S’ film as any, and explains why this classic British film and especially this stunning Blu-ray release is as magical today, as it was when it was first released. Highly Recommended!

Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado 
Le Cinema Paradiso 
United Kingdom