School for Secrets – 1946 | 108 mins | Drama, War | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Light-hearted and fictionalised tribute to the role of scientists during WWII and the invention of radar that helped to turn the tide of the war. Peter Ustinov was hired to write, produce and direct this sprightly melodrama. With its starry cast of character actor and witty dialogue, Ustinov focuses more on the diverse characters than scientific advances.

England, 1939. Five disorganised and bickering scientists are called together prior to the outbreak of WWII and asked to pull together to improve the country’s radio direct-finding apparatus. The five consist of slightly eccentric zoologist Prof. Heatherville (Ralph Richardson), irascible Scottish Dr. McVitie (John Laurie), the prickly Prof. Laxton-Jones (Raymond Huntley), cheerful Dr. Dainty (Ernest Jay) and urbane radio expert Mr. Watlington (David Tomlinson), and when war is declared they are housed in Kippenhampton near an RAF base to accelerate work on the pioneering radar system.

The work is not without danger and sacrifice, as the scientists are called upon to go on bombing raids and ultimately join a raid on a German-held radio station near Cologne.