Main Cast: Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, Alastair Sim, Janette Scott, Dennis Price
Release Year: 1960
Country: UK
Run Time: 94 minutes
Plot
In the British farce School for Scoundrels, Ian Carmichael plays a naïve young loser, Henry Palfrey, who is anxious to get ahead in the world. He enrolls in a "school" that specializes in teaching one-upmanship -- the slogan is "How to win without actually cheating." Through fair means and foul, Henry learns how to come out top dog in any situation, with such experts as (the real-life) Stephen Potter (Alastair Sim) as his guide. A perceptive series of comic blackouts exposing the essential hypocrisy in all walks of life, School for Scoundrels was based on the book by Potter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
School for Scoundrels is a minor comic gem, much better appreciated in its native England than elsewhere, but greatly deserving of wider exposure. Scoundrels is a rare creation, one that manages to drip with cynicism and irony yet retain a certain amount of heart. Much of the credit goes to the deftly fashioned Peter Ustinov-Frank Tarloff screenplay, which utilizes a strong support structure on which to hang a number of beautifully realized comic episodes. The authors set every situation and gag up clearly and precisely, but without going overboard into the tiring and predictable. They clearly understand the importance of laughs brought about by character rather than just gags -- hence their ability to get big laughs from the phrase "hard cheese." Equal credit for those laughs must go to Terry-Thomas' delivery, which brings us to the marvelous cast. Terry-Thomas has never played his lecherous cad character with such flair, and Alastair Sim plays up his impishness, his drollery, and that slightly sinister quality of his to very good effect. In most cases, they'd wipe the screen with whoever was stuck playing Palfrey, but fortunately Ian Carmichael manages to hold his ground and then some, adding the warmth and humanity that the film requires to keep on track. Scoundrels has some flaws, including direction that is satisfactory but little more, but on the whole, it is a treat. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Terence Verity - Art Director, Robert Hamer - Director, Richard Best - Editor, Hal E. Chester - Executive Producer, John Addison - Composer (Music Score), Eric Aylott - Makeup, Erwin Hillier - Cinematographer, Douglas Rankin - Producer, George Blackwell - Special Effects, John Addison - Screenwriter, Hal E. Chester - Screenwriter, Peter Ustinov - Screenwriter, Patricia Moyes - Screenwriter, Stephen Potter - Book Author
The film stars Ian Carmichael as Henry Palfrey, a failure who attends the "School of Lifemanship" in Yeovil, run by Dr. Potter (Alastair Sim), who teaches him how to win in life, and get the better of his rival (Terry-Thomas), through gamesmanship and various other underhand means.
