''The Wildcats of St Trinian's'' is the fifth British

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

set in the fictional

St Trinian's School ''St Trinian's'' is a British gag cartoon comic strip series, created and drawn by Ronald Searle from 1946 until 1952. The cartoons all centre on a boarding school for girls, where the teachers are sadists and the girls are juvenile delinquent ...

. Directed by

Frank Launder Frank Launder (28 January 1906 – 23 February 1997) was a British writer, film director and producer, who made more than 40 films, many of them in collaboration with Sidney Gilliat. Early life and career He was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, ...

, it was released in 1980. The film pokes fun at the British trade union movement which had been responsible for the recent wave of strikes that culminated in the

Winter of Discontent The Winter of Discontent was the period between late September 1978 and February 1979 in the United Kingdom characterised by widespread strikes by private, and later public sector trade unions demanding pay rises greater than the limits Prime ...

. The film was not a critical or commercial success. It has yet to be released on

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...

except in the US.

Plot

The girls of St. Trinian's hatch yet another fiendish plot—a trade union for British schoolgirls. Their friend and mentor, Flash Harry, suggests a plan which involves kidnapping girls from other rather more respectable colleges and substituting their own "agents". Thus begins a hilarious, often bloody, battle of wits as the girls meet resistance not only from Olga Vandermeer, their Headmistress, but from the Minister of Education, a private detective, and an oil sheikh. Despite all his desperate efforts to foil the conspiracy, the Minister has to face a growing realisation that the girls' demands will have to be met—for him this will mean a very great and very personal sacrifice.

Cast

Sheila Hancock Dame Sheila Cameron Hancock (born 22 February 1933) is an English actress, singer, and author. She has performed on stage in both plays and musicals in London theatres, and is also known for her roles in films and on television. Her Broadway ...

as Olga Vandemeer *

Michael Hordern Sir Michael Murray Hordern (3 October 19112 May 1995) was an English actor. He is best known for his Shakespearean roles, especially King Lear. He often appeared in film, rising from a bit part actor to leading roles; by the time of his death ...

as Sir Charles Hackforth *

Joe Melia Giovanni Philip William "Joe" Melia (23 January 1935, Camden, London – 20 October 2012, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire) was a British actor. Educated at the City of Leicester Boys' Grammar School and Downing College, Cambridge Downing ...

as Flash Harry *

Thorley Walters Thorley Swinstead Walters (12 May 1913 – 6 July 1991) was an English actor. He played comedy roles in films including '' Carlton-Browne of the F.O.'' (1959) and ''Two-Way Stretch'' (1960). Early life Walters was born in Teigngrace, Devon, th ...

as Hugo Culpepper Brown *

Rodney Bewes Rodney Bewes (27 November 1937 – 21 November 2017) was an English television actor and writer who portrayed Bob Ferris in the BBC television sitcom '' The Likely Lads'' (1964–66) and its colour sequel ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? ...

as Peregrine Butters *

Deborah Norton Deborah Norton (born 1944) is an English actress. Personal life Deborah Norton was born in Croydon, Surrey, in 1944. She attended a Quaker boarding school and later studied at the Drama Centre London. She worked in Britain until she toured A ...

as Miss Brenner *

Maureen Lipman Dame Maureen Diane Lipman (born 10 May 1946) is an English actress, columnist and comedian. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and her stage work has included appearances with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakesp ...

as Miss Katy Higgs *

Julia McKenzie Julia Kathleen Nancy McKenzie (born 17 February 1941) is an English actress, singer, presenter, and theatre director. She has premièred leading roles written by both Alan Ayckbourn and Stephen Sondheim. On television, she is known for her BAFT ...

as Miss Dolly Dormancott *

Ambrosine Phillpotts Ambrosine Phillpotts (13 September 1912 – 12 October 1980) was a British actress of theatre, TV, radio and film. ''The Times'' wrote, "She was one of the last great stage aristocrats, a stylish comedienne best known for playing on stage an ...

as Mrs Mowbray *

Rose Hill Rose Hill may refer to: People * Rose Hill (actress) (1914–2003), British actress * Rose Hill (athlete) (born 1956), British wheelchair athlete Film * ''Rose Hill'' (film), a 1997 movie Places Australia * Rose Hill, New South Wales * Rose ...

as Miss Martingale *

Diana King Diana King (born 8 November 1970) is a Jamaican singer-songwriter who performs a mixture and fusion of reggae, reggae fusion and dancehall. They are best known for their hit 1995 single " Shy Guy" and their remake of " I Say a Little Prayer ...

as Miss Mactavish *

Luan Peters Luan Peters (11 June 1946 – 24 December 2017), also known as Karol Keyes, was an English actress and singer. Biography Born Carol Ann Hirsch, she made her stage debut in a pantomime aged four, then went on to win a drama scholarship at the ag ...

as Miss Poppy Adams *

Barbara Hicks Barbara Hicks (12 August 1924 – 6 September 2013) was an English film actress. She appeared in Terry Gilliam's 1985 cult film ''Brazil'' and Merchant Ivory Productions's 1992 Bafta award-winning ''Howards End''. Biography Hicks was born in ...

as Miss Coke *

Rosalind Knight Rosalind Marie Elliott (' Knight; 3 December 1933 – 19 December 2020) was an English actress. Her career spanned 70 years on stage, screen, and television. Her film appearances include ''Blue Murder at St Trinian's'' (1957), ''Carry On Nurse'' ...

as Miss Walsh *

Patsy Smart Patsy Smart (14 August 1918 – 6 February 1996) was an English actress, best remembered for her performance as Miss Roberts in the 1970s ITV television drama '' Upstairs, Downstairs''. She also appeared in: ''Danger Man'', '' Only When I Lau ...

as Miss Warmold *

Bernadette O'Farrell Bernadette Mary O'Farrell (30 January 1924 – 26 September 1999) was an Irish actress in film and television, best known for playing Maid Marian in the 1950s. Early years O'Farrell was born in Birr, County Offaly, Irish Free State. Her mother ...

as Miss Carfax *

Sandra Payne Sandra Payne may refer to: * Sandra Payne (actress) (born 1944) English actress * Sandra Payne (artist) (1951–2021) American visual artist {{Disambiguation ...

as Miss Taylor *

Frances Ruffelle Frances Ruffelle (born 29 August 1965) is an English musical theatre actress and singer. She won a Tony Award in 1987, and represented the United Kingdom in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest with the song " Lonely Symphony (We Will Be Free)", ...

as Angela Hall / Princess Roxanne *

Hilda Braid Hilda Braid (3 March 1929 – 6 November 2007) was an English actress who had a long career on British television. She became well known in her later years for playing Victoria "Nana" Moon on the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders''. Early life ...

as Miss Summers * Mary Manson as Mayfield Headmistress * Judy Gridley as Mayfield Mistress * Veronica Quilligan as Lizzie * Miranda Honnisett as Jennie * Eileen Fletcher as Agatha * Anna Mackeown as Harriet * Sarah Jane Varley as Janet * Theresa Ratcliff as Maggie *

Lisa Vanderpump Lisa Jane Vanderpump (born 15 September 1960) is an English television personality and actress. She initially gained fame as a main cast member on ''The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'' from 2010 until 2019. Vanderpump parlayed her ''Housewiv ...

as Ursula *

Debbie Linden Debbie Linden (22 February 1961 – 6 October 1997) was a Scottish-born glamour model and actress best known for her career in England, especially her role as old Mr Grace's secretary in the sitcom ''Are You Being Served?'' (1981). Born in Glas ...

as Mavis * Sandra Hall as Big Freda * Eliza Emery as Butch *

Suzanna Hamilton Suzanna Hamilton (born February 8, 1960) is an English actress, notable for playing the role of Julia (1984), Julia in the Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984 film), 1984 film adaptation of George Orwell's classic novel, ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'', as well ...

as Matilda * Danielle Corgan as Eva Potts * Nicholas McArdle as Police Sergeant * Eric Kent as Man in Phone Booth *

Ballard Berkeley Ballard Blascheck (6 August 1904 – 16 January 1988), known professionally as Ballard Berkeley, was an English actor of stage and screen. He is best remembered for playing Major Gowen in the British television sitcom ''Fawlty Towers''. Life a ...

as Humphrey Wills * Melita Clarke as Air Hostess *

Sarah Lam Sarah Lam is a British- Chinese actress known for UK television roles. Career She played Susannah in the sitcom '' No Problem!'', Linda Mo in '' Angels'', Anna Lee in '' Howards' Way'' and Caroline Choi in '' Brookside''. Other TV credits inclu ...

as Chinese Girl *

Tony Wredden Tony may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tony the Tiger, cartoon mascot for Frosted Flakes cereal * Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer * ...

as Prince Narouz * Jeremy Pearce as Evan Williams * Matthew Smith as Eddie * Jason Anthony as Sam *

Alfie Curtis Alfie Curtis (28 July 1930 – 30 November 2017) was a British actor. He appeared in a number of television and film roles and is best known for playing Dr. Evazan in ''Star Wars'' (1977). Life Curtis was born in Stepney, London on 28 July 193 ...

as Taxi Driver

Production

It had been fourteen years since the previous St Trinians film. "I didn't want to do another St Trinians unless it could top the previous one," said Launder during filming. "I think this one does."The terrible Trinians again, ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'', 1 October 1979, p. 15 Sidney Gilliat was a production consultant.

Reception

Derek Malcolm of ''

'' called it "one of the worst films I've ever seen... Please don't do anything like it again. Ever.""Being funny is no laughing matter", Malcolm, Derek, ''

'', 18 December 1980, p. 9 Launder wanted to follow the film with an adaptation of the books by

Norman Thelwell Norman Thelwell (3 May 1923 – 7 February 2004) was an English cartoonist well known for his humorous illustrations of pony, ponies and horses. He was also active as a comic artist, drawing the series ''Penelope and Kipper''. Life and career ...

about a pony school. He almost made it in Norway in the late 1970s and in 1979 planned on making it in Britain the following year. However no movie resulted.

References

External links

ST Trinians World-The Wildcats of St. Trinian's
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wildcats of St. Trinian's, The 1980 films 1980s high school films 1980s teen comedy films British sequel films British teen comedy films Films directed by Frank Launder Films shot in Berkshire St Trinian's films 1980 comedy films 1980s English-language films 1980s British films