The WILDCATS of ST. TRINIAN'S (Sheila Hancock, Michael Hordern)

I knew it wouldn't be the best film but I am so chuffed! Never seen it always wanted to! Plays UK perfectly and still is a giggle though tacky lol. Love how it's got corries maureen lipman in! Would buy again if needed! You get what's being sold so top marks!

Considering the DVD before moving on the film itself, this is clearly a DVD-R, but is a good one. The transfer to DVD is fine, with entirely satisfactory picture and sound quality. At least, that's true as far as I'm concerned. Very likely, someone watching it on more expensive equipment than mine would find some fault to pick. That is to say it's fine played on a DVD player and viewed on a reasonably modern 32 inch television. If one owns a monster than covers an entire wall, who knows? The disc is region free, and will play on region 2 equipment without difficulty. The menu allows scene access, but (of course) offers no extras.The film is no longer shown on television. (I never saw it on television, but am told that it was once to be seen in that medium.) It is unlikely to be issued by a major distributor as it is (I believe) in the public domain. So this DVD may represent our only chance to watch it. It's essential, I think, for a St Trinian's completist (which I seem to be). For those unfamiliar with the St Trinian's films, I strongly advise against starting with this.So, for St Trinian's fans only, what is there to say of this film?Having recently seen 'Wildcats of St Trinian's' for the first time, the film has made me think -- which is a good thing. Less of a good thing is what it's made me think: what's wrong with this film? It contains some good jokes and satisfying scenes of schoolgirl anarchy... and yet...Two things have occurred me. One is the character of Flash Harry. The other strikes at the very heart of the film.Flash Harry first. In the first four films, he was played as a comic spiv by George Cole. The comic spiv was developed by Arthur English and perhaps rose to its zenith in the form of Private Walker of Dad's Army. A spiv was a petty criminal, taking advantage of wartime and post war shortages. The comic version does no real harm, unlike (I have no doubt) real spivs. In the first St Trinian's film, The Belles of St Trinian's (1954), Flash Harry was a boot boy the school had taken on in 1940. In the chaos of the war, presumably, the headmistress Miss Fritton has lost track of him, he's vanished into the shrubbery (seemingly literally) and now assists the girls (amongst other things) by selling the bathtub gin they distill. All of this seems to make enough sense for the purposes of the film. In the following films, the boot boy nonsense seems forgotten. George Cole continues to play Flash Harry as a comic spiv and does so with sufficient charm for us to all but overlook some of the dodgier agenda (such as his acting as a marriage bureau for the schoolgirls).In Wildcats, the role of Flash Harry is played with a lot less charm by Joe Melia. Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, the makers of all five of the films 1954-80, seem to have recognised that the idea of the comic spiv no longer works. Flash Harry is restored to his role of school boot boy: an idea that no longer works in 1980. He also runs the local Chinese restaurant and take away, an idea that wouldn't have worked at any time. As a boot boy, he's a left wing trade union organiser -- something I found impossible to square with his being the entrepreneur of the local Chinese eatery. (Eh?) And how could school boot boys form an effective militant trade union? The thing clearly makes no sense at all. Perhaps George Cole could have carried it off, perhaps not. Alas, Joe Melia fails to do so.The second great problem, as I said, strikes to the heart of the film. The plot concerns the girls forming a schoolgirls trade union. As such, it makes no sense. How could striking schoolgirls bring the nation to its knees? But there's a bigger problem. Following the winter of discontent, perhaps unsurprisingly, the film carries a strong element of union bashing. On the other hand, like all St Trinian's films, it's firmly on the side of the girls. (Were a St Trinian's film to present the girls other than as the [anti?] heroes, it would be unbearable.) But the girls are the trade unionists. Consequently, the film attempts to gallop in opposite directions -- supporting the girls, but opposed to trade unions (which, in this case, comprises the girls the film supports). Tugged hard in both directions, the film falls apart. What on earth were Launder and Gilliat thinking?It makes a sad end to the 1954-80 films. That said, there remains quite a lot to enjoy.When I started to write this review, I awarded the film three stars, and thought that I was being generous. Having almost completed the review, I find myself regarding the DVD as an essential purchase for fanatical followers of the St Trinian's girls. On that basis, I've awarded an extra star, but for die hard fans only. For others, two stars is probably nearer the mark.

sadly a poor version of the St Trinians films the story line was pathetic a shame because the actors are some of the best for comedy type films i would rate it as only half as good as the first 3, the two much later ones were also far better more in line with the fun and comedy of the first three,

Does what it says

The film itself wasn't a patch on the original b & w films. Not as good as the Train Robbery even!The DVD kept sticking so I am sending it back

enjoyed every minute of it

One for avid St Trinian's fans only I'm afraid, but interesting to see many familiar faces of character actors from days gone by. In particular, Rosalind Knight plays a frazzled geography teacher in this film (1980) but she was one of the leggy sixth-form beauties in one of the original films back in the 50's. The story is of the girls forming a union and going on strike, and the bolshie attitude, language and terminology is exactly how it was back then, in the days of stoppages and union demands. Well worth a look for the nostalgia, but not the best film in the series.

Great thank. You

The 'New' St Trinian's - first 4 are classics and much better, but still has some of the 'old' flavor. Keeping 'Flash' Harry was a bit much.

Not as good as the original 4 films

Quite similar to the first five, mostly just a remake.

Little plot, fewer great-looking "girls," none of the "stars": No Alastair Sim, no Margaret Rutherford, no Joyce Grenfell. Not even Terry-Thomas. Worth it only if you're a fan/addict.

it is great thank you