School For Scoundrels

Robert Hamer, UK, 1960, 94 minutes

In this little-seen British comedy, Ian Carmichael plays you.

You, if you've ever been in love and outplayed. The object of Henry Palfrey's (for Carmichael is he) affections is the beautiful young April Smith, (Janette Scott) his rival, dastardly cad Raymond Delauney. (Terry-Thomas) Henry, chump that he is, is outplayed at every turn by the gap-toothed sneering Delauney, until he comes upon the college run by Stephen Potter (Alastair Sim) which teaches one-upmanship, or how to win without actually cheating, a veritable school for scoundrels...

Based on the real Stephen Potter's 'One-Upmanship' books (also real, but sadly out of print. I do have copies, of course.) this is a bright, sparkly comedy, utilising the cream of the British comedy talent at the time. Alastair Sim is pure googly-eyed salubriousness as the headmaster of the college, in a bizarre reversal of his more famous St Trinian's role, but the staff of his establishment is stuffed full of cameos from stalwarts of the day, while Peter Jones and Dennis Price steal every scene they are in as a pair of unscrupulous car dealers.

Ian Carmichael bumbles along good-naturedly in the same way he could be seen a couple of years ago in 'Heartbeat' and the same way Hugh Grant made a living from for about ten years, but it is Terry-Thomas, Sim's co-star in Blue Murder at St. Trinian's, who steals the proverbial. Every cad, every bounder, and every rotter seen on film since owes something to him. Too often relegated to a minor character, here he is given full reign and relishes it, every twitch and mannerism sealing his place as the definitive screen rascal.

Not to suggest I have a fondness for this movie, but if you aren't convinced that this is one of the best movies ever made, email me at schoolforscoundrels@fsmail.net, and I'll tell you you're wrong.

Review by Ben Critchley
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2006