The Belles of St Trinians
Dir: Frank Launder
1954
****
The original St Trinian's is also the best and most innocent of the series. Based on an idea by cartoonist Ronald Searle, St Trinians is a girls school run by a likable but ever so slightly corrupt school mistress and over run with wayward, out of control girls between the ages of 6 and 19. The teachers come across as the children while the children come across quite adult like, to the point of even having their own bookie. It's made even more gloriously absurd by the fact the headmistress is played by lovable favorite, Alastair Sim in drag. The cast is a pretty impressive array of old favorite including quite a few Carry On cast members in early roles. It's silly and fun and very British. The modern versions don't come close!