THE PURE HELL OF ST TRINIANS

UK, 1960, 94 minutes, Black and white.
George Cole, Cecil Parker, Thorley Walters, Joyce Grenfell, Eric Barker, Raymond Huntley, Irene Handl, Dennis Price, Sid James.
Directed by Frank Launder.

The Pure Hell of St Trinian's is one of several sequels to the very funny Belles of St Trinians, directed by Frank Launder. It is based on the cartoons by Ronald Searle. The sequels lacked the presence of Alastair Sim. As compensation we have Cecil Parker, Irene Handel, George Cole and Joyce Grenfell. There are guest spots by Dennis Price and Sid James. Thorley Walters and others lead a good cast of character actors.

The film capitalises on the popularity of the original - the horrible schoolgirls are presented as caricatures - from burning down the school, to invading the courtroom, from upsetting British justice, to turmoil on a plane and fighting in the Middle East.

The humour and the comedy is in full swing in the court sequence with Raymond Huntley as the judge while the law considers the burning of the school. There is also Cecil Parker as a doubtful educator taking over the running of the school, with mad Irene Handl's help, including a culture exhibition (fashions, action painting and a striptease). There is also a stranding at sea, a desert island with Joyce Grenfell and George Cole and a touch of romance. Joyce Grenfell enjoys herself as the 16-years-engaged policewoman who is on the verge of marriage when St. Trinian's girls break out again. She works undercover on the ship and on the desert island as well as in the Middle East (including a belly dancer show). Dennis Price is suave as an educator. Sid James is himself as the agent set up to get Flash Harry's girls into the harems and dances of the Middle East.

The film pokes fun at so many British institutions, as did the films of the '50s and early '60s: the law, education, bureaucracy, the army.

Enjoyable enough, with corny and crass touches - but an indication of the style of British satire of the times.