School for Scoundrels (1960)

Director:

Robert Hamer

Writers:

Stephen Potter (novels)
Patricia Moyes (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

April 1960 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Learn to gain weight by LOSING scruples!

Plot:

Based on the Stephen Potter "One Upmanship" and "Lifemanship" books, Henry Palfrey tries hard to impress but always loses out to the rotter Delauney...

Plot Keywords:

Graduation | Car Salesman | Tutor | London | Railway Station

Cast

Ian Carmichael	...	Henry Palfrey
Terry-Thomas	...	Raymond Delauney
Alastair Sim	...	Mr. S. Potter
Janette Scott	...	April Smith
Dennis Price	...	Dunstan
Peter Jones	...	Dudley
Edward Chapman	...	Gloatbridge
John Le Mesurier	...	Head Waiter
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Stringer
Kynaston Reeves	...	General
Hattie Jacques	...	1st Instructress
Hugh Paddick	...	Instructor
Barbara Roscoe	...	2nd Instructress
Gerald Campion	...	Proudfoot
Monte Landis	...	Fleetsnod

Also Known As:

School for Scoundrels or How to Win Without Actually Cheating! (UK) (long title)

Runtime:

UK:94 min | USA:94 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #19566) | Australia:G | Finland:S | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Associated British Elstree Studios, Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)

Trivia:

The used car salesmen Dunstan and Dudley (Dennis Price and Peter Jones) were based on characters from the BBC radio comedy series "In All Directions" broadcast during the 1950s. The radio characters were known as Morry and Dud and were played by Peter Ustinov and Peter Jones who also wrote the scripts together with scriptwriters Frank Muir and Denis Norden. Their catch phrase "run for it!" was reprised in the film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Palfrey beats Delauney at tennis, the shadows are wrong. At several points the shadows are behind both players.

Quotes:

[last line. Mr S. Potter to the camera]
Mr. S. Potter: I do apologize ladies and gentlemen, events do seem to have taken a most unfortunate turn. This sort of calamity we cannot always guard against, even amongst our best students. You see once, once sincerity rears its ugly head, well lifemanship is powerless...
[an orchestra starts to play]
Mr. S. Potter: stop that music... orchestra!... orchestra... stop that infernal din. Please, no, I... look at me, I must get back to Yeovil.

Movie Connections:

Remade as School for Scoundrels (2006)

The English Sense of Humour

Stephen Potter's biography tells that, before this happy film version was made, Cary Grant was keen, with American producer Carl Foreman, to make a film about Potter's brilliant (now sadly out-of-print)Oneupmanship books. The problem that confronted Grand and Foreman was that they couldn't find anyway to make the humour "American". In the end they dropped it and this rather Ealing-esque film was made instead. This film is just great fun and a reminder of what British cinema at its best can offer. Thank goodness Grant and Foreman didn't give it the "American" treatment. Thank heavens also for a sterling case, in which Terry-Thomas particularly stands out. Tennis, anyone?