While You Wait....

Man About Mayfair
 Sir Basil Seal

Here's a little tidbit from Sir Basil while you are waiting for something really profound to show up on these pages.  Good luck, and all that...I want you all to toss this little gem to the top of your Netflix queue and to watch it with more than rapt attention.  The film in question is School for Scoundrels or How to Win Without Actually Cheating! (1960).  Not, I might add, the sophomoric and ridiculous American remake, mind you.  This is a British film directed by Robert Hamer and stars Ian Carmichael (Bertie Wooster, Lord Peter Wimsey), Alistair Sim (Scrooge), Terry-Thomas, one of the early "Lady Seals" Janette Scott with great cameos from Dennis Price, Peter Jones and John Le Mesurier.

Based on the Life-manship books of Stephen Potter, this film is a complete joy, staying true, as it does, to the spirit of the books. Sim is fantastic as Professor Potter and Ian Carmichael is great as the downtrodden Henry Palfery.  Terry-Thomas, is of course, Terry-Thomas and one never tires of looking at Janette Scott.  Well, I did, but then I was married to her, so it doesn't count.  I know you will enjoy it, although you might want to read the books first (as if you haven't already) to get the full effect.  In the film you will visit Yeovil and see a Swiftmobile.  Don't ask, just watch.  And see if you catch the hilarious Joan Greenwood voice parody...Priceless.  For the uninformed, you will also need to rent Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) and The Importance of Being Ernest (1952) both fantastic films, to be able to catch the Joan Greenwood voice parody.  Yes, Joan Greenwood was also a "Lady Seal"...

Do so now.

Comments

[Mr. Peperium]

Thanks and will do. We're all in need of a laugh or three these days.

We just received a bevy of black and white drawing room comedies I'd never heard of from Netflix. They were suggested by the website, based on our apparent addiction to black and white drawing room comedies and I right-hoed with a click of the old mouse. Am looking forward to this weekend enormously.

[Basil Seal]

I believe the top photo is from "Double Bunk"(1961) and not SfS...Might as well throw that in your queue as well...

[Old Dominion Tory]

For those of you who aren't members of Netflix, here are some scenes from the film, courtesy of YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaGcCj0WVgg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6lFoEBG7Oc&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkfT7p6kBE0&NR=1