The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery

The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966) is a delightful British comedy film, directed by the talented Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder. The movie features famed performers Frankie Howerd, Dora Bryan, and George Cole in lead roles while engaging Reg Varney, Raymond Huntley, and Richard Wattis in great supporting positions.

The movie is set in the fictitious St Trinian's School, an idiosyncratic English boarding school for girls of all ages, notorious for producing untamed, unruly, and free-thinking students. Famed for their rebellious philosophy, the pupils of St Trinian's embody an endearing type of anarchic chaos, with the institution itself a perfect launching ground for the hilarious antics that define this series of movies.

In this installment, the Great St Trinians Train Robbery offers a unique re-imagined tale of true crime, entwining some easy slapstick humor with the criminal world. It delivers an unexpected twist as a group of mischievous school girls get involved in a high-stakes cat and mouse chase with a sordid gang of thieves.

As the film opens, we see a group of criminals successfully carrying out a train robbery and stashing the loot in an unoccupied and secluded country mansion. Unfortunately for them, the building is soon bought to serve as the new home for St Trinian's School, leading to a lot of tension and intrigue as the school girls and the criminals occupy the same space.

Frankie Howerd plays the role of the hapless criminals' beleaguered leader, while George Cole reprises his role as the somewhat slippery Flash Harry, a role that he had made his own across the series. Both actors epitomize quirkiness and are bound to make the audience laugh with their witty one-liners, perfect comic timing, and unique takes on their characters.

Dora Bryan shines as the flustered headmistress, trying to maintain a shred of sanity and semblance of order amongst her wild flock, only to be slowly drawn into their chaos. The on-screen performances are enhanced by the elegant and boisterous screenwriting by Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder, making it an engaging watch.

Without giving too much away, one can expect a circus of humorous escapades as the criminals attempt, time and time again, to retrieve their stashed loot. However, they soon realize they may have met their match in the thoughtless determination and unconventional strategies of the St Trinian's students. The girls, on the other hand, carelessly stumble onto the heist, leading to comical confrontations with the criminals.

The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery has a loud, risky energy that is very infectious, and it keeps the audience engaged with a series of zany events. The pace of the plot is fast and packed with humour, making for a commendable entertainer.

The setting of the English countryside and some imaginative costumes, combined with the superb cinematography, effectively supports the storytelling's comic touch. The film also features some catchy songs and music sequences that capture the madcap St. Trinians spirit.

Even though it was released back in 1966, the humour remains fresh and is bound to bring smiles to contemporary viewers. The film stands as a classic example of British comedy in cinema at the time, showcasing a perfect slapstick style, filled with deadpan delivery and comic absurdity.

With its unique mix of schoolgirls, train robbers, and unforeseen hilarity, The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery remains an irresistible comedy film even today. Short of expecting anything profound or extraordinarily intellectual, the audience can indulge in pure cinematic fun that has stood the test of time.

While it can be seen as a standalone film, this movie continues the legacy of the St Trinian's series, providing the charm and laughter that viewers have come to expect from this unique school's escapades. It's a must-watch for those with a penchant for British comedies from the golden era, promising a rollicking ride from start to end.