Alastair Sim is sadly missed from this St. Trinian's episode, and what is even worse, his replacement, Cecil Parker (as a Professor Canford), gives us a performance that is considerably below his best work. His heart was obviously not in it! Fortunately, there are at least three bright scenes, but generally speaking, Frank Launder's direction is as flat-footed as his script (on which he collaborated with Sidney Gilliat and Val Valentine). The movie's credits tell us that this script was "suggested by the cartoons of Ronald Searle." I know for a fact that Mr. Searle was not at all happy with this ascription and seriously considered taking the movie-makers to court, but was dissuaded by the fact that such a measure would give the movie even more publicity. And as we all know, publicity is publicity, and in the movie business it doesn't really matter if it's good or bad!
Review of The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's
