The fourth form monsters’ latest trick is their best ever – they’ve burned down St Trinian’s!
As the school stands trial for arson en masse at the Old Bailey, the police breathe a sigh of relief. But miraculously, the judge’s infatuation with Rosalie – the beautiful blonde of the sixth form – means the school is freed. And with them go the most glamorous sixth formers ever seen in gym slips.
The mysterious Professor Canford (Cecil Parker) agrees to take charge of the school and – partnered with batty new headmistress Miss Harker-Packer (Irene Handl) – plans to reform the school within twelve months.
His first move is to take the glamorous girls of the sixth form on a cultural tour of Greece, but the police sense something is afoot and send Sergeant Ruby Gates (Joyce Grenfell) to keep an eye on the tour.
The girls are kidnapped by a Middle Eastern potentate with many sons thanks to Flash Harry (George Cole) – who is now running a marriage bureau in the school potting shed – and Alphonse O’Reilly (Sidney James). But the fourth formers arrive across the desert wastes of Arabia to save them.
Bereft of Alastair Sim, this third film in the St Trinian’s series has its moments, but, sadly, all too few of them.
Woefully short on mayhem, the film spends too much time in the company of eventual castaways Professor Canford and Sergeant Ruby. What’s worse, Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat waste the opportunities presented by casting Eric Barker and Thorley Waters as the men from the Ministry of Education.
Professor Canford
Cecil Parker Sergeant Ruby Gates
Joyce Grenfell Flash Harry
George Cole Butters
Thorley Walters Culpepper-Brown
Eric Barker Miss Harker-Packer
Irene Handl Alphonse O’Reilly
Sidney James Gore-Blackwood
Dennis Price Judge
Raymond Huntley Superintendent Kemp-Bird
Lloyd Lamble Miss Partridge
Liz Fraser Minister
John Le Mesurier
Director
Frank Launder
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