The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery. The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery is a British film comedy set in the fictional St Trinian's School, released in 1. Great Train Robbery had taken place.[1] It also parodies the technocratic ideas of the Harold Wilson government and its support of the comprehensive school system. Directed by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat with a script by Sidney and Leslie Gilliat, it was the last in the series of four films, one in 1. It retained George Cole, Richard Wattis, Eric Barker, Michael Ripper and Raymond Huntley from the earlier films.

Several new actors were brought in, including Frankie Howerd as Alfred (Alphonse) Askett, Reg Varney as Gilbert, Dora Bryan as headmistress Amber Spottiswood, and Stratford Johns as the Voice. Although asked twice, Joyce Grenfell refused to appear again as Sergeant Ruby Gates; she was later reported to have said that she regretted appearing in the St Trinian's saga.[citation needed]Raymond Huntley appeared as the "Minister of Schools" (a fictional title), having appeared in a different role in the earlier films; and Cyril Chamberlain appeared as Maxie. The extensive use of trick gadgets in Alphonse's hairdressing salon (used to communicate with the gang's mastermind) spoofs the secret gadgets used in the James Bond spy films of the Sixties, while the gimmick of having the mastermind conceal his identity throughout the film (he is never seen on screen) spoofs the character of Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who was originally only an unseen voice."Alphonse" Askett (Frankie Howerd) is a hairdresser who is also the operational leader of a gang of crooks who are led behind the scenes by an invisible mastermind (voiced by Stratford Johns). He gives instructions to Askett about the robbery, Operation Windfall, using a variety of James Bond- like communications devices—including a converted showerhead. The crooks hide the loot in Hamingwell Grange, a deserted country mansion, and after waiting for the hue and cry to die down they return to collect the numerous mailbags which contain £2. However, following a Labour Partyelection triumph, the house has been converted into a new home for St Trinian's School for Girls.

Share this Rating. Title: The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery (1966) 5.9 /10. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? The Great Train Robbery was the robbery of £2.6 million from a Royal Mail train heading from Glasgow to London on the West Coast Main Line in the early hours of 8.

The crooks decide to infiltrate the school by sending Askett's delinquent daughters, Lavinia and Marcia Mary, to St Trinian's as pupils, with instructions to case the joint to find a means of recovering the money, secretly, from its hiding place. The crooks' subsequent attempt to retrieve the mailbags on Parents' Day, disguised as caterers, results in a climactic train chase between the robbers and the girls. A sub- plot is the affair between the headmistress of St Trinian's and the Minister, who uses his influence to corruptly obtain a large government grant for re- housing the school, following the latest fire, thus enabling it to move into the mansion.

This angers his staff who are normally Conservatives but who, early in the film, are seen excitedly watching Labour win the election, as they believe St Trinians will be shut down by a Labour government. This aspect of the story was probably the reason why the Ministry of Education became the fictional "Ministry of Schools" in this film, to avoid a possible action for defamation by the real Minister of Education.[citation needed]Synopsis[edit]A gang, whose unseen boss (voiced by Stratford Johns) directs them via radio, steal £2. Hamingwell Grange, and then awaits instructions on when and how to collect the money. Ministry of Education officials, although Conservatives, are happy when the Labour Party wins the election, as they are sure the Labour policy will be to close all the private schools, including St. Trinian's. However, the new Minister of Schools, Sir Horace Bradford (Raymond Huntley), whose lover, we soon find out, is St.

Trinian's Headmistress Amber Spottiswood (Dora Bryan), shocks the officials including the Deputy Minister Manton Bassett (Richard Wattis) and Butters, Controller of Schools, Public, Females, Second Category, Southern (Peter Gilmore) by giving St. Trinian's £8. 0,0.

Spottiswood uses the grant to purchase Hamingwell Grange and then goes about regrouping her staff: Deputy Headmistress Mabel Radnage (Barbara Couper); Maths Mistress Veronica Bledlow (Elspeth Duxbury); Games Mistress Magda O'Reilly (Maggie Rennie - married to actor Michael Rennie; French Mistress Albertine (Carole Ann Ford); Art Mistress Susie Naphill (Margaret Nolan); Music Mistress Drunken Dolly (Jean St. Clair); and Chairman of the Board of Directors Flash Harry Hackett (George Cole). At the new school, Harry sets up a betting establishment and Spottiswood's new school supplies arrive, which include slot machines, and erotic books for the new library. In London, hairdresser and gang leader Alfred (Alphonse) Askett (Frankie Howerd) gets instructions from the boss to retrieve the loot that night and regroups his men: Chips (Larry Martyn) his hairdresser assistant; Willy the Jelly- Man (Norman Mitchell), a toastmaster; Leonard "Len the Ledger" Edwards (Desmond Walter- Ellis), a bank manager; Gilbert the Wheel (Reg Varney), a driving instructor; Big Jim (Arthur Mullard); Maxie (Cyril Chamberlain); and two others. They go to Hamingwell Grange and find it occupied by the St. Trinian's School, whose staff and girls drive them away.

Alfred contacts the boss and reports this calamity. The boss tells Alfred to enroll his daughters, Lavinia (uncredited, but possibly Susan Jones)[1] and Marcia Mary (Maureen Crombie) at St. Trinian's, in order to get information about the school schedule. Once there, they break into the Headmistresses' office, find out that a parent's day celebration will soon be held outdoors leaving the school empty, and radio their father with this information. The boss puts in a low bid, and wins the catering contract; the gang, posing as the catering staff, is to retrieve the money after lunch, while everyone is attending the entertainment program outdoors. Days before the celebration Rose (uncredited), while raiding the pantry, sees the school dog emerge from a hole in the wall with a wad of money; she goes through the hole, finds the stolen money and takes some. The next day at Harry’s betting parlour, where he is assisted by Georgina (Portland Mason, James Mason’s daughter - 1st on left) and an unnamed girl (Ingrid Boulting – Roy Boulting’s stepdaughter – far left)[2] she places a £5.

Synopsis, cast and crew, and user comments. The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery is a British film comedy set in the fictional St Trinian's School, released in 1966, three years after the Great Train Robbery.

In London, Bassett and Butters tell the Minister that the school supplies noted on the bills as nature books and laboratory supplies are, in fact, very sexy books and slot machines. The Minister dismisses their claims leaving Bassett and Butters dismayed. Watch American Me Online Hulu more.

Eric the Liftman (Michael Ripper) suggests they provide evidence that there is only partying going on at St. Trinian's, by taking pictures. Bassett and Butters agree, and Eric goes along as photographer.

That night, when Rose goes to raid the pantry, Harry follows her, sees the bags of money, and connects them with the train robbery and the £1. The Ministry men arrive and take a picture of the sixth form girls partying, then go to the Headmistress to tell her of the impending problem she faces.

When they knock at her door the Minister answers and tries to explain away his presence there by saying he has come to the celebration early in order to investigate their claims. When Spottiswood asks him to come back to her, the men realize she is the Minister's concubine, and foresee the end of his career. The Minister is worried about a scandal, so Spottiswood has the girls kidnap the Ministry trio. In London, the boss contacts Alfred with the escape plan via truck, train, and boat.

On celebration day the Minister is still worried. Spottiswood tells him to stop worrying: she will have the sixth form girls take some suggestive pictures with the Ministry men, and agrees when he says that would be blackmail.