School for Scoundrels

School for Scoundrels
by Hal E. Chester, Cyril Frankel, Robert Hamer

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DVD details

Actor: Alastair Sim, Dennis Price, Ian Carmichael, Janette Scott, Terry-Thomas
Director: Cyril Frankel, Hal E. Chester, Robert Hamer
Brand: LIONS GATE HOME ENT.
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Spanish (Subtitled)
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 94 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-03-27
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Lions Gate

DVD Reviews of School for Scoundrels

DVD Review: The best of British
Summary: 5 Stars

Wonderful film. Ian Carmichael, Terry Thomas and Alistair Sim. The school of Oneupmanship, run by Alistair Sim, teaches social misfit Ian Carmichael how to get one over on Terry Thomas, the archetypal English Cad. Perfect casting, wonderful story. We are left with a level playing field at the end of the film on which Ian Carmichael gets the girl.
The only bad news about this film is that the Americans have yet again remade a classic British movie in there inimitable style. Please do not confuse this film with its erstwhile impostor.

DVD Review: Sharp-Tongued Comedy Will Make You a 'Scoundrel'
Summary: 5 Stars

For anyone who has ever wanted revenge, School for Scoundrels is a treat. A storyline that, while original, could have become formulaic is instead a gem. Its secret is its screenplay- a witty jewel that could survive the most stilted acting. Twists and turns keep you antsy, hoping for that elusive happy ending. Each character seems perfectly casted, suiting their personalities superlatively. `Scoundrels' is a laudable film, and all too overlooked at that. Its "show, not tell" delivery is commendable, and you will likely find yourself cheering for the protagonist by the end of the movie.

DVD Review: Schools For Scoundrels
Summary: 5 Stars

Another wonderful British comedy with poor Henry always being the loser and taken advantage of. He learns of a school which teaches all about the secrets of success and life. After taking the classes, he sets out to test all that he has learned. He is able to get back at all of the people who took advantage of him in very interesting ways. Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers and Alistair are all great in their parts.

DVD Review: School for Scoundrels
Summary: 5 Stars

"If you're not one up, you're one down", according to Alastair Sim's character. Who better to advise Ian Carmichael when he goes tete-a-tete with Terry-Thomas. Once you've seen this movie, you'll come away with a silly grin on your face. And if you never see this movie, I can only say, "Oh, hard cheese", your loss.

DVD Review: The Game of Laughsmanship; Four-and-a-half stars.
Summary: 4 Stars

At the hands of anyone other than this cast of stellar actors, "School for Scoundrels" would constitute lightweight fare, perhaps worthy of an amusing television sitcom. With players of the calibre of Alistair Sim, Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, and Dennis Price, however, the film still sparkles with laughter, as so many of the British comedies of the Fifties and Sixties did.

Alistair Sim chews the scenery with his usual panache, and delights in the process. Ian Carmichael is charming as the milquetoast twit who learns "lifesmanship" from Sim and emerges victorious over the caddish Terry-Thomas in pursuit of the girl, played with charm by Janette Thomas; and Dennis Price, undertaking a more supporting role than usual, brings his smooth brand of snake-oil to one half of the Winsome Welshmen--a pair of unscrupulous London used-car salesmen; they foist a white elephant of an automobile on Carmichael, whose revenge on them, with Sim's aid, is delightful to behold.

The film is provided only with Spanish subtitles, which might make it difficult for the English-speaking hearing-impaired, but the sound is clear, and the actors' diction is impeccable (although I didn't understand Terry-Thomas's "Hard Cheese!"--bellowed on the tennis court on the first go).

I was afraid that the comedy might have lost some of its sparkle in the ensuing years, but it has not. It is full of good fun and laughter.

Description of School for Scoundrels

Based on the Stephen Potter "One Upmanship" and "Lifemanship" books, a young man finds a very special school. It teaches him how to take advantage of people; how to seduce women, how to gain points in conversation, and how to beat a better tennis player by driving him crazy. He begins to put the lessons into operation.

Comedy DVDs

Genres > Art House & International > By Country > British Cinema
General
Classics > General
Comedy > General
British
By Theme > Comedy of Manners
Classic Comedies
Satire
Kids & Family > Comedy

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