The Belles of St Trinian’s – 1954 | 91mins | Comedy | B&W

Plot Synopsis

A big commercial hit and rollicking comedy based on Ronald Searles’s cartoons of a terrifying girls’ school known as St. Trinian’s.

Clarence Fritton (Alastair Sim), bookie brother of the headmistress Millicent (also Sim), of St Trinian’s School for Girls, sneaks his daughter into the sixth form to pick up racing tips from the daughter of an Arabic racehorse owner. The horse, Arab Boy, is due to run in the Gold Cup and is being backed by the fourth form girls, Miss Fritton, and the school funds to win a fortune. Cockney spiv Flash Harry (George Cole) is also on hand to make a profit from the girl’s alcohol producing venture, while dotty Policewoman Ruby Gates (Joyce Grenfell) attempts to keep an attentive watch on proceedings. The racehorse is kidnapped by the sixth form, but rescued and wins – saving St Trinian’s from bankruptcy.