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Top of the Form (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Top of the Form' is a 1953 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Ronald Shiner, Anthony Newley and Harry Fowler. The film draws inspiration from Will Hay's 1937 classic 'Good Morning, Boys'. The film was released in black-and-white.
It was made at Pinewood Studios near London with sets designed by the art director Maurice Carter. The film earned billings of 143,000.[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=UyYTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA386&lpg=PA386&dq=vincent+porter+sue+harper&source=bl&ots=978Q3rMq7B&sig=R2UhMp6T53KbfjIFniBqZYP0amw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjLzJmegsPMAhUB_2MKHZcZDfEQ6AEIQzAI#v=onepage&q&f=true BFI Collections: Michael Balcon Papers H3 reprinted in 'British Cinema of the 1950s: The Decline of Deference' By Sue Harper, Vincent Porter p 41]
Plot summary
This story explores a bookmaker Ronnie Fortescue (Ronald Shiner), who becomes headmaster of a boys' school, and of his and his pupil's adventures in passing examinations and on a subsequent free trip to Paris. Once in Paris, headmaster and pupils become embroiled in gambling casinos, and in a plot to steal the French Crown Jewels.
Cast
*Ronald Shiner as Professor Ronnie Fortescue
*Anthony Newley as Percy
*Harry Fowler as Albert
*Jacqueline Pierreux as Yvette
*Alfie Bass as Arty Jones
*Mary Jerrold as Mrs. Bagshot
*Richard Wattis as Willoughby Gore
*Howard Marion-Crawford as Dickson
*Roland Curram as Terence
*Terence Mitchell as Clarence
*Gerald Campion as Pugley
*Oscar Quitak as Septimus
*Kynaston Reeves as The Dean
*Martin Benson as Cliquet
* Graham Stark as Wilson
* Hal Osmond as Barber
* Danny Green as Bookies thug
* Melvyn Hayes as Schoolboy with glasses
* Ronnie Corbett as Student
* Ronan O'Casey as Brother
* Naomi Chance as Northern Woman On Station
* Andreas Malandrinos as Museum Concierge
Critical reception
The 'Radio Times' called it a "misfiring Ronald Shiner vehicle...Less amusing than (Will) Hay's St Michael's outings and less anarchic than the St Trinian's romps, this efficient but underwhelming caper is all too typical of its director, John Paddy Carstairs": whereas 'TV Guide' hailed "An entertaining comedy."
References
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