Bottoms Up

This movie has stayed fondly in my memory since I saw it as a kid. The sight of a hoard of school kids destroying a platform that was meant to be used for a mass caning was unforgettable. I'm sure a lot of people would pay to see it again - where is an entrepreneur to convince the studio to release it on video or DVD?

Jimmy Edwards is the headmaster of a third-rate public school -- for Americans, that means a private school. He believes in beating the boys for any offense and none. Eventually, they revolt.

It's a feature-length version of Edwards' TV show, WHACK-O. I've never seen it, but found that his blustery character palled on me over ninety minutes. It's certainly possible that at the shorter length of TV sitcom, it was more palatable. Apparently, the show, which ran eight seasons from 1956 through 1972, for a total of 60 episodes, would have Edwards attempting to steal the boys' pocket money, like a futile Sgt. Bilko.

Other notable players include Martitia Hunt, Sidney Taffer and John Stuart.

After the war comedy films set in schools were a mainstay of popular cinema going.It all really started with "The Happiest Days Of Your Life" which is undoubtedly top of the class.Then there followed the St Trinians films and then this film.It is a TV spin off from the BBC TV series "Whacko".The TV series was written by Frank Muir and Dennis Norden but they only contributed additional material to this and it shows.\unfortunately it isn't very funny.This despite the loudest attempts by Jimmy Edwards ably assisted by Arthur Howard and Richard Briers and Donald Hewlett.It is very loud but not very funny or original.It is far and away the least funny of the school films.

What a great old classic this is! Today's filmmakers and actors could learn so much from viewing such a masterpiece. Not a special effect in site and yet great family fun. Political correctness wasn't invented in 1959 and so Professor Jim drinks and smokes his cigars throughout the film. Bottoms are presented for caning (although Jim never actually canes anything other than a cushion and the deputy headmaster). This film seems to be making a comeback as it appears frequently on ebay. A great pity that the episodes of Whacko! have been lost. If anyone fancies an hour and a half of good, honest fun - they could do worse than obtain this wonderful classic.

When this film was shown recently on TV there was an apologetic announcement before the start, to say that it contained some racist elements which would be frowned on today. Fortunately I wasn't put off. In fact the fake Arabian prince, who is in reality a Cockney, is a thieving little bully, while the real prince is polite and charming; how this is racist, I fail to understand. That apart, all I can say is that I laughed out loud all through the film, which is witty, entertaining and fast-paced, as well as an excellent showcase for Jimmy Edwards's comic talents and those of the rest of the cast. Strongly recommended.