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Top of the Form

  • 1953
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
46
YOUR RATING
Top of the Form (1953)
Comedy

Some trouble with gambling forces con man Fortescue to hide out in a boys' school, posing as a professor. When the undisciplined and lazy boys have to pass a few tests, cheating becomes the ... Read allSome trouble with gambling forces con man Fortescue to hide out in a boys' school, posing as a professor. When the undisciplined and lazy boys have to pass a few tests, cheating becomes the only option.Some trouble with gambling forces con man Fortescue to hide out in a boys' school, posing as a professor. When the undisciplined and lazy boys have to pass a few tests, cheating becomes the only option.

  • Director
    • John Paddy Carstairs
  • Writers
    • Leslie Arliss
    • John Paddy Carstairs
    • Sid Colin
  • Stars
    • Ronald Shiner
    • Harry Fowler
    • Anthony Newley
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    46
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Paddy Carstairs
    • Writers
      • Leslie Arliss
      • John Paddy Carstairs
      • Sid Colin
    • Stars
      • Ronald Shiner
      • Harry Fowler
      • Anthony Newley
    • 6User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top of the Form (1953)
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    Top cast

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    Ronald Shiner
    Ronald Shiner
    • 'Professor' Fortescue
    Harry Fowler
    Harry Fowler
    • Albert
    Anthony Newley
    Anthony Newley
    • Percy
    Alfie Bass
    Alfie Bass
    • Artie Jones
    Mary Jerrold
    Mary Jerrold
    • Mrs. Bagshot
    Howard Marion-Crawford
    Howard Marion-Crawford
    • Dickson
    Richard Wattis
    Richard Wattis
    • Willoughby-Gore
    Gerald Campion
    • Pugley
    Jacqueline Pierreux
    Jacqueline Pierreux
    • Ivette
    Roland Curram
    Roland Curram
    • Terence
    Terence Mitchell
    • Clarence
    Oscar Quitak
    • Septimus
    Kynaston Reeves
    • The Dean
    Martin Benson
    Martin Benson
    • Cliquot
    Danny Green
    Danny Green
    • Bookies thug
    Melvyn Hayes
    Melvyn Hayes
    • Schoolboy with glasses
    Ronan O'Casey
    Ronan O'Casey
    • Brother of boy
    Jim Brady
    Jim Brady
    • Man Reading Magazine In Barbers Shop
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Paddy Carstairs
    • Writers
      • Leslie Arliss(uncredited)
      • John Paddy Carstairs
      • Sid Colin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Quotes

      'Professor' Fortescue: You're going to pass this examination by 'ook or by crook.

      Albert: We'll do it by crook - it's easier...

    • Connections
      Referenced in Des O'Connor Tonight: Episode #2.4 (1978)

    User reviews6

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Top of the Form
    I was actually an extra in this film, as a schoolboy earning some holiday money. Even to me the scenes I was involved in seemed very contrived, and less funny than I would have hoped, following retakes. For instance Ronald Shiner had problems saying "Dickory Dock", rhyming slang for clock, and that scene was shot 21 times before Carstairs was satisfied. It was the first time I had seen Ronnie Corbett, and it is amazing how his stellar career has taken off since those early days. I filled in the school holidays with a lot of film extra work, and in my memory, this seemed the most laboured production, and reviewing the film after more than fifty years, this comes through on scree.
    helpful•2
    0
    • johnpembery
    • Sep 6, 2011

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 1953 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Skolans busgrabbar
    • Filming locations
      • Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Paul Soskin Productions
      • British Film-Makers
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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