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Please Sir! (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Please Sir!' is a 1971 British comedy film directed by Mark Stuart and starring John Alderton, Deryck Guyler and Carol Hawkins. It is a spin-off from the ITV television series of the same name which ran from 1968 to 1972.
The film was shot at Pinewood Studios and on location in London in Primrose Hill and Willesden. The country park scenes were shot at Black Park, close to Pinewood in Buckinghamshire. Produced by L.W.I. Productions, it was released by the Rank Organisation on 10 September 1971.
Plot
Mr. Hedges, the somewhat naive and idealistic teacher of the rebellious Class 5C of Fenn Street School lobbies to have his class allowed on the annual school camping trip despite opposition from the head teacher Mr. Cromwell, the fastidious and officious school caretaker Mr. Potter, snobbish teacher Miss Ewell and the world-weary Mr. Price. Eventually (with Mr. Hedges having won the hearts and minds of Mr. Cromwell and Miss Ewell with a speech about giving Class 5C a helping hand with the benefits of the trip to the countryside) Class 5C get to go on the trip - providing Mr. Hedges comes along to supervise his unruly class.
Once on the camping trip Mr. Hedges pursues Penny Wheeler, a local part-time barmaid, and the class indulge in their usual activities, eg. Dennis relishes the clean air and rural surroundings and befriends a gypsy boy named Nobbler. Meanwhile 5c engage in a feud with stereotypical upper-class pupils from the posh Boulters School, which is resolved after a false rape allegation from Sharon. A case of stolen money is resolved through Mr. Hedges trusting the class. At the final dance Mr. Hedges is ensnared in the romantic clutches of teacher Miss Cutforth, contrary to his wishes.
Music
The film's closing theme - 'La La La Lu'- was written by Mike Vickers and performed by Cilla Black. Black and her manager/husband Bobby Willis claimed they had been led to believe the song would open and close the film, but it was instead used over the final scenes of the pupils dancing and then partially over the closing credits. The planned release of the single was consequently abandoned by Black, who instead used the track as the 'B Side' of her single 'Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)', which became her final top 10 single in the UKBlack, Cilla. 'What's It All About?'. Ebury Press; New Ed edition (1 July 2004).
Cast
* John Alderton as Bernard Hedges
* Deryck Guyler as Norman Potter
* Noel Howlett as Maurice Cromwell
* Joan Sanderson as Doris Ewell
* Richard Davies as Mr. Price
* Erik Chitty as Mr. Smith
* Patsy Rowlands as Angela Cutforth
* Peter Cleall as Eric Duffy
* Carol Hawkins as Sharon Eversleigh
* Liz Gebhardt as Maureen Bullock
* David Barry as Frankie Abbott
* Peter Denyer as Dennis Dunstable
* Malcolm McFee as Peter Craven
* Aziz Resham as Feisal
* Brinsley Forde as Wesley
* Jill Kerman as Penny Wheeler
* Norman Bird as Reynolds
* Barbara Mitchell as Mrs. Abbott
* Peter Bayliss as Mr. David Dunstable
* Eve Pearce as Mrs. Daphne Dunstable
* Jack Smethurst as Bus Driver
* Brenda Cowling as Mrs. Duffy
Reception
The film was one of the most popular movies of 1972 at the British box office.
References
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