The Belles Of St Trinian's (1954) -
While I would have always said that the earlier St Trinian's films were the better ones, having only recently watched the reboot from 2007, I think that the first ever cinematic outing for the girls just lacked something that the newer one had (The sequel (2009) wasn't much good though)
I can only assume that the following 'Blue Murder At' (1957) and 'Pure Hell Of' (1960) films were the ones that resonated with me as a younger viewer during school holidays. Those and 'The Great Train Robbery' (1966) of course, which I know was brilliant as it's the one I have seen most often.
This one was a bit of a simple story and the girls didn't seem to be as united as they later became, so it was difficult to know whose side to be on?
With the Rupert Everett ones, the girls are all working together to keep the school running, in order to continue their shenanigans unhampered, but this film had them all broken in to factions against the headmistress and each other, in a selfish way, which didn't show them at their best.
Alistair Sim was of course superb in the dual role of Miss Fritton and her Brother Clarence and the majority of the others did a good job too. Not to forget dear old George Cole, who will eternally be remembered as Flash Harry and how could he not be with that portrayal as good as it is.
There's no denying that it's still great fun to watch and lead the way for the others that followed admirably, as well as probably a number of other films that must surely have used this as a reference to realise genius comedy, full of innuendo for years after, but it's not my favourite of the collection.
577.22/1000.
