The St Trinians Films The Rise of the

The St Trinian’s Films The Rise of the Naughty Schoolgirl Derek Stuckert | Katrina Kane |Melanie D’Andrea

Post-War England l World War II effects l Pessimism l at a time when the effects of war and rationing meant that many uniforms were indeed ill-fitting, shabby, secondhand often home-made from black-out material. Searle's girls were strong young women, united around their school - which, as in the school stories, was the focus of their lives - against the rest of the world. The image may have changed radically from that of the curly-haired Captain of Games, with her straight, fearless grey eyes, but it was a strong one, better suited to coping with post-war life; the joke for the girls was on the old pre-war myth. 
stt 33 However, by the 1950 s and 1960 s, when the film comedies were made, St Trinian's was used to mock post-war institutions such as the civil service, the police and the army alongside girls' schools and school stories. Rather than being the main focus of the satire, the female characters and their school were increasingly marginalised in favour of male characters, becoming ever more sexualised and passive in the process. The intended audience for the humour was both adult and male. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the humour was also reactionary in its political perspective. The films reworked the St Trinian's myth and thus its place in popular culture, and it is this reworked image which persists as the image of St Trinian's today. When St Trinian's went on the films - as so many schoolgirls of the day desired to do - the joke was as much on Searle as it was on them. l

Schoolgirl Gone Ink l Ronald Searle l was born in Cambridge in 1920 l l l Searle was soon called up into the regular army - on 1 September 1939 The Concept l The concept and name for St Trinian's came from St Trinnean's school in Edinburgh, which was established by Miss C. Fraser Lee and opened on 4 October 1922 with sixty girls, at 10 Palmerston Road. l She practised the revolutionary Dalton system of education — where the emphasis was on self- rather than school-imposed discipline — which led to it being said that St Trinnean's was the school "where they do what they like". [2] Ronald Searle’s Cartoons l Themes l Mocking post-war institutions (civil service, the police and the army , girls' schools ) l Strong females l Subtle Political Undertones

Movies’ Themes l More Political l School System l Adulthood Criticism l Unconventional Sexuality l Sexual Tension l Pedophelia l Mild Prostitution/Exploitation l Continuous Storyline

Mise-en-Bloody-Scene • Split-screen (Belles of St Trinian’s) • Mostly Interiors of school • Travel Cartoon • Undercranking • Active Camera • Reflexivity • High-key lighting • Sitcom-esque • Variety of Shots: • Medium Shots • Close Ups • Establishing shot

Two Categories: l Fourth Form most closely resembling Searle's original drawings of ink-stained l ungovernable pranksters l Fourth Form includes a number of much younger girls who are the most ferocious of them all. Weapons of choice: Lacrosse stick and fire l l The Girls l Sixth Form l sexually precocious to a degree (especially alarming in 1950 s) l much older l l one of them is even married Weapon of choice: pure sexuality

The Brits Keep it Short and Simple l 4 main films The Belles of St Trinian’s (1954) l Blue Murder at St. Trinian’s (1957) l The Pure Hell of St. Trinian’s (1960) l l The Great Train Robbery of St Trinians (1966)

“The Belles of St. Trinian’s” (1954) l http: //www. vtap. com/video/The+Belles+o f+St. +Trinian%252 F%2527 s+%25281954 %2529/CL 0202597132_1 fa 57 d 13 c_Tz. M 2 N Tk 3 fmlu. Oj. R-c. Tpicn 5 idzp. PMz. Y 1 OTc

Frank Launder Writer, Director, Producer Other Films include • The Lady Vanishes (1938) • The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) Most Famous for St. Trinian’s Series

The Producers

Usual Suspects Alastair Sim Miss Fritton, The Headmistress In Drag Also player her shady brother Clarence House Hold name in Britain George Cole “Flashy Harry” Joyce Grenfell Sgt. Ruby Gates

Blue Murder at St. Trinian’s "Flash Harry" has set up a marriage agency for the Sixth form and an Italian Prince is interested in meeting the girls. Meanwhile, the father of one of the Sixth Formers is involved in a diamond theft and recklessly decides to hide out at the school. Cheating in an academic competition so that they can win a 'goodwill' trip overseas to pave the way for the Sixth Form girls to meet the Prince, the girls force the reluctant diamond thief to masquerade as their headmistress so that he can accompany them on their trip as their 'chaperone'. Chaos reigns as the St. Trinian's girls run amok in Europe, leaving a string of victims in their wake as they win by underhanded means at hockey in France and at water polo in Italy. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=x 34 IXg Dc. MTw

Pure Hell at St Trinian’s l Plot l http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=F 2 o. Zj Qtw. Kd 4&feature=related l Themes l Cinematic Styles l Beginning Narration

Modern Influences l Other l St. Films Trinian’s (2007) l http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=te. IIa 3 w. Deo. U l Music Videos l http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=_bsni. Yw. Sa. Wg

l Thank you Britain for our sexy school girl costumes. You made what America is today. l American Men (and women) Thank you.