School for Scoundrels

United Kingdom

1960

94 Min

Black and White

1.66:1

English

Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
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DIR Robert Hamer, Hal E. Chester, Cyril Frankel

SCR Hal E. Chester, Patricia Moyes, Stephen Potter

CAST Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, Alastair Sim, Janette Scott, Dennis Price, Peter Jones, Edward Chapman, John Le Mesurier, Irene Handl, Kynaston Reeves

SOUND Arthur Bradburn, Len Shilton

Synopsis

Hapless Henry Palfrey is patronised by his self-important chief clerk at work, ignored by restaurant waiters, conned by shady second-hand car salesmen, and, worst of all, endlessly wrong-footed by unspeakably rotten cad Raymond Delauney who has set his cap at April, new love of Palfrey’s life. In desperation Henry enrolls at the College of Lifemanship to learn how to best such bounders and win the girl. —IMDb

Director

Robert Hamer

A former editor with a flair for both darkly satirical comedy and even darker British film noir, Robert Hamer was a key figure in postwar British cinema. His sensitive talent was probably best showcased in the handsome and witty period-set comedy of murders, “Kind Hearts and Coronets” (1949) and the realistic yet superbly moody noir “It Always Rains on Sunday” (1947). Hamer was also responsible for what some critics consider the best segment in the classic horror anthology, “Dead of Night” (1945), in which a haunted mirror keeps displaying a murder committed long ago, and which begins to take possession of its new owner. Among other films, the adult and complexly plotted “The Spider and the Fly” (1949) and the witty and civilized detective comedy “Father Brown” (1954) stand out. Unfortunately, Hamer’s highly promising career was derailed by an alcohol problem and he died at the age of 52. —TCM

Cyril Frankel

Cyril Frankel (born December 1921, Stoke Newington, London) is a retired British film and television director. His career in television began in 1953 and he directed for over 30 TV programmes until 1990.

He directed many episodes of popular British TV shows, such as The Avengers, and the pilot episodes of the ITC Entertainment shows Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Department S in 1969. In 1970, he directed “Timelash”, an episode of UFO, which he described as a very interesting script and one of his personal favourites.

Frankel also directed many documentaries and feature films, including Never Take Sweets from a Stranger (1960) and School for Scoundrels (1960; Robert Hamer was incorrectly credited as director). One of his films, Man of Africa (1953) – the first film to feature a cast made up of relatively unknown black actors – was not released and was apparently lost. A complete copy has since been discovered and has been screened at a number of international film… read more

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wolfmansRazor

3Nov12

One of my adds! I was surprised to find this one missing from Mubi, since it features the quintessential Terry-Thomas performance. (And the rest of the cast ain't too shabby either.) It's one of those very British dark comedies that manages to feel remarkably light and breezy.

James Devereaux

27Oct12

Wonderful, old school, ironic British comedy. They certainly do not make them like this anymore. Terry-Thomas on top form too.

Kenji

15Jun12

An enjoyable old-fashioned comedy. A very upper class English lesson in how to shake off being a loser and instead win at tennis, get the smart car, the fine lady and become a smooth cad and bounder. As a teen I used the dirty rotten gamesmanship model at tennis to beat a much better player, with the help of two Chinese friends as spectators. And i look back now with not an ounce of regret or shame.

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