It’s Great to Be Young – 1956 | 94 mins | Comedy, Drama | Colour

Plot Synopsis

It’s Great to be Young is a bubbly musical comedy handsomely shot in Technicolor, and if you can suspend your disbelief for 90 minutes you’ll be entertained by and introduced to a gentler school rebellion than the hellions of St. Trinians.

In the idyllic setting of Angel Hill Grammar School, stuffy new headmaster Frome (Cecil Parker) begins imposing all sorts of repressive rules to restrict the activities of the sixth-form music group and put more emphasis on academic studies. Jazz-loving teacher Mr. Dingle (John Mills), who can easily be persuaded to turn a history lesson into a music seminar, does his best to stand up for his students and help them raise funds for new instruments for the upcoming National Festival of School Orchestras. When Frome discovers the new instruments he locks them up and comes directly into conflict with Mr. Dingle – who relents from resigning when offered to do so.

To pay for the instruments, Mr. Dingle takes a part-time job playing the piano in his local public house but lands in hot water when another teacher, Routledge (John Salew), observes him performing and tips-off the headmaster about his extra curricular activities. Dingle is sacked, and in response the grammar school students revolt to campaign for the reinstatement their favorite teacher. The students initially attempt non-violent protest and disobedience, but when punished and ordered “not another word from any of you” by Mr. Frome, they do just that and take it literally, never speaking a word in class. Finally, in scenes reminiscent of Passport to Pimlico, the school kids blockade themselves inside the gymnasium. Frome decides to visit Mr. Dingle at home in an attempt to finally resolve the discord between all sides and return harmony to the school.