Filmography
May. 9th, 2010 08:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_lady_lilyThe Pure Hell of St. Trinians
Last of the original St T films, so now I have actually collected the set; I'm not actually sure I'd seen this one before, so I'm jolly glad I have. I think this might just be the most sophisticated of the lot, to be honest; although there's a lot less emphasis on prankish school girl stuff, there's some good character development and decent jokes.
The plot revolves around the plans of a dastardly sheikh to abduct the sixth form to be the wives of his thirty-five sons, and the obvious Hazard to British Girlhood from the Arabian states. Thankfully, they actually hired actors of colour to represent people of colour rather than resorting to make-up, but the stereotype is still pretty outrageous. Mind you, the stereotypes in general are pretty outrageous, and if we're honest, this kind of 'what Arab nations do' stereotype also turns up in plenty of the Carry On films and their ilk; this is the unfortunate cultural context of humorous stereotypes in which these films were created. Of course, mildly amusing is the fact that had the sheikh done things honestly through Flash Harry's matrimonial agency, there wouldn't have been a problem at all - it's more the abduction that's the problem!
Anyway. Obviously they didn't want to rely too heavily on this part of the plot, so the sixth form get one scene of defending themelves at the barricades, one scene of hitting the sheikh's sons around the head with pillows and vases, and then they get rescued by the fourth form. Who have commandeered the kit of the Army Bath Unit who are supposed to be rescuing them. Including a tank. Ah, the resourceful fourth form.
Joyce Grenfell makes a reappearance as Sergeant Ruby Gates, who gamely stows away in a life boat to try to find out where the girls are being taken, and becomes a national hero for her efforts to get them back - finally securing her marriage to her precious Sammy (Lloyd Lamble) who has been a right rotter and been fooling around with his pert secretary in her absence! Honestly, he's a real bounder, and Ruby deserves far better. Actually, Ruby comes out of this with some lovely characterisation and personality depth, and I'm rather sorry this is the end of her screen life.
I could go on, but I will close with the delightful fact that by the end of the film, most of the Ministry of Education appear to have taken up therapeutic dance to cope with the stress of dealing with St T's. I laughed like a drain every time the pastoral sequence came on. A beautiful example of British randomness and a really, really good running joke. Four stars overall, and I'm very glad I've seen it.
Last of the original St T films, so now I have actually collected the set; I'm not actually sure I'd seen this one before, so I'm jolly glad I have. I think this might just be the most sophisticated of the lot, to be honest; although there's a lot less emphasis on prankish school girl stuff, there's some good character development and decent jokes.
The plot revolves around the plans of a dastardly sheikh to abduct the sixth form to be the wives of his thirty-five sons, and the obvious Hazard to British Girlhood from the Arabian states. Thankfully, they actually hired actors of colour to represent people of colour rather than resorting to make-up, but the stereotype is still pretty outrageous. Mind you, the stereotypes in general are pretty outrageous, and if we're honest, this kind of 'what Arab nations do' stereotype also turns up in plenty of the Carry On films and their ilk; this is the unfortunate cultural context of humorous stereotypes in which these films were created. Of course, mildly amusing is the fact that had the sheikh done things honestly through Flash Harry's matrimonial agency, there wouldn't have been a problem at all - it's more the abduction that's the problem!
Anyway. Obviously they didn't want to rely too heavily on this part of the plot, so the sixth form get one scene of defending themelves at the barricades, one scene of hitting the sheikh's sons around the head with pillows and vases, and then they get rescued by the fourth form. Who have commandeered the kit of the Army Bath Unit who are supposed to be rescuing them. Including a tank. Ah, the resourceful fourth form.
Joyce Grenfell makes a reappearance as Sergeant Ruby Gates, who gamely stows away in a life boat to try to find out where the girls are being taken, and becomes a national hero for her efforts to get them back - finally securing her marriage to her precious Sammy (Lloyd Lamble) who has been a right rotter and been fooling around with his pert secretary in her absence! Honestly, he's a real bounder, and Ruby deserves far better. Actually, Ruby comes out of this with some lovely characterisation and personality depth, and I'm rather sorry this is the end of her screen life.
I could go on, but I will close with the delightful fact that by the end of the film, most of the Ministry of Education appear to have taken up therapeutic dance to cope with the stress of dealing with St T's. I laughed like a drain every time the pastoral sequence came on. A beautiful example of British randomness and a really, really good running joke. Four stars overall, and I'm very glad I've seen it.
