The Belles of St. Trinian's

The Belles of St Trinian's
DVD cover
Directed by	Frank Launder
Written by	Frank Launder Sidney Gilliat Val Valentine
Based on	St Trinian's cartoons by Ronald Searle
Produced by	Frank Launder Sidney Gilliat
Starring	Alastair Sim Joyce Grenfell George Cole Hermione Baddeley
Cinematography	Stanley Pavey
Edited by	Thelma Connell
Music by	Malcolm Arnold
Production companies	London Films Individual Pictures
Distributed by	British Lion Films
Release date	28 September 1954 (1954-09-28)
Running time	86 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Belles of St Trinian's is a 1954 British comedy film, directed by Frank Launder, co-written by Launder and Sidney Gilliat, and starring Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley. Inspired by British cartoonist Ronald Searle's St Trinian's School comic strips, the film focuses on students and teachers of the fictional school, dealing with attempts to shut it down while the headmistress faces financial troubles, which culminates in students thwarting a scheme involving a racehorse.^[1]

The film was among the most popular British films of 1954, critics praising the comedy and several of the cast, including Sim's dual role as the headmistress, Miss Millicent Fritton, and her twin brother, Clarence Fritton.^[2] The film was the first of the St. Trinian's series – three sequels were later produced: Blue Murder at St Trinian's (1957); The Pure Hell of St Trinian's (1960); and The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966).