This film opens with the theft of two and a half million pounds from a mail train; after stealing the money the thieves stash the loot at the abandoned Hamingwell Grange with the intention of retrieving it later when the heat has died down. What they didn't count on was that the infamous St. Trinian's school would be moving into the building with the help of corrupt minister Sir Horace. When the thieves return for the loot they are chased off by the girls and their leader, Alphonse, contacts the nameless mastermind behind the robbery and is told to send his daughters to the school so that they can case the joint. They inform there father that there will be a parents days soon during which the building will be empty. The thieves pass themselves off as caterers and start removing the loot but when it starts raining everybody comes indoors and when the girls spot them the chase is on... the thieves load the loot onto a stolen train and in the final scenes of the film they, the girls and the police charge back and forth in trains; of course the villains were doomed from the start!
This entry into the St. St Trinian's franchise has some good laughs and nicely includes references to some topical events; most obviously the Great Train Robbery of 1963. The plot is fairly basic but that is probably a good thing as it means most of the time can be spent on providing laughs. Much of the action concentrates in the thieves, the school staff and civil servants involved in a subplot where they want the school shut and only a fairly limited time is given to the girls themselves; this is a pity as they provide a great sense of anarchic fun; thankfully they take a greater role towards the end; the train chase was a lot of fun. There are some flaws of course; the film is frequently speeded up during the chases; this is funny once or twice but here it is used far too much far worse though is the use of 'browned-up' actor to play the comedy-Pakistani railway worker; surely the creators could have found an actor of Pakistani origin... no doubt it provided laughs in '66 but now it just feels awkward to watch. Despite these flaws the film is a decent way to pass the time.
This entry into the St. St Trinian's franchise has some good laughs and nicely includes references to some topical events; most obviously the Great Train Robbery of 1963. The plot is fairly basic but that is probably a good thing as it means most of the time can be spent on providing laughs. Much of the action concentrates in the thieves, the school staff and civil servants involved in a subplot where they want the school shut and only a fairly limited time is given to the girls themselves; this is a pity as they provide a great sense of anarchic fun; thankfully they take a greater role towards the end; the train chase was a lot of fun. There are some flaws of course; the film is frequently speeded up during the chases; this is funny once or twice but here it is used far too much far worse though is the use of 'browned-up' actor to play the comedy-Pakistani railway worker; surely the creators could have found an actor of Pakistani origin... no doubt it provided laughs in '66 but now it just feels awkward to watch. Despite these flaws the film is a decent way to pass the time.