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The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery

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The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery - 1966 | 93 mins | Comedy | Colour

The Production Team

Director: Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat.
Producer: Leslie Gilliat.
Script: Sidney Gilliat, Frank Launder and Ivor Herbert.
Cinematography: Ken Hodges.
Editing: Geoffrey Foot.
Art Direction: Albert Witherick.
Music Direction: Malcolm Arnold.

The Cast

George Cole - Flash Harry
Frankie Howerd - Alphonse Askett
Dora Bryan - Amber Spottiswood
Eric Barker - Culpepper-Brown
Reg Varney - Gilbert
Portland Mason - Georgina
Richard Wattis - Bassett
Raymond Huntley - Judge
Godfrey Winn - Truelove
Arthur Mullard - Big Jim
Terry Scott - Policeman

Plot Synopsis

The first colour entry in St. Trinian's series takes inspiration from the notorious real-life mail train robbery of 1963. The fourth entry in the series based on Ronald Searle's cartoon schoolgirls has its moments but lacks inspiration and the presence of Alastair Sim and Joyce Grenfell is sorely missed.

Alphonse Askett (Frankie Howerd), leads a gang of crooks who pull of a train-robbery, Operation Windfall, and stash their loot in a deserted country mansion. After waiting a few years they return to the mansion to collect their £2.5 million booty, unfortunately, following a Labour election triumph, the building has been converted into a new home for St. Trinian's School for Girls. The crooks decide to infiltrate the school by sending Askett’s delinquent daughters, Lavinia and Marcia Mary, to St. Trinian’s to find out where the loot is stashed. The crooks attempt to retrieve the money on Parent's Day, disguised as caterers, results in a climatic train chase between the robbers and the girls.