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{{Short description|1955 British film by Maurice Elvey}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Fun at St. Fanny's
| name = Fun at St. Fanny's
| image =
| image = Fun_at_St._Fanny's.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Maurice Elvey]]
| director = [[Maurice Elvey]]
| producer = David Dent <br> Peter Noble
| producer = {{ubl|David Dent|Peter Noble}}
| writer = [[Fred Emney]] <br> Anthony Verney <br> Denis Waldock
| writer = {{ubl|[[Fred Emney]]|Anthony Verney|Denis Waldock}}
| narrator =
| narrator =
| starring = [[Fred Emney]] <br> [[Cardew Robinson]] <br> [[Vera Day]] <br> [[Davy Kaye]]
| starring = {{ubl|[[Fred Emney]]|[[Cardew Robinson]]|[[Vera Day]]|[[Davy Kaye]]}}
| music = [[Edwin Astley]]
| music = [[Edwin Astley]]
| cinematography = [[Eric Cross (cinematographer)|Eric Cross]]
| cinematography = [[Eric Cross (cinematographer)|Eric Cross]]
| editing = Robert Jordan Hill
| editing = [[Robert Jordan Hill]]
| studio = [[Adelphi Films]]
| studio = [[Adelphi Films]]
| distributor = [[British Lion Film Corporation|British Lion]]
| distributor = [[British Lion Film Corporation|British Lion]] {{small|(UK)}}
| released = 1955
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1955|12|15|London, England}}
| runtime = 80 minutes
| runtime = 80 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| country = United Kingdom
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| budget =
| budget =
| gross =
| gross =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| website =
}}
}}
'''''Fun at St. Fanny's''''' is a 1955 British [[comedy film]] directed by [[Maurice Elvey]] and starring [[Fred Emney]], [[Cardew Robinson]] and [[Vera Day]].<ref>Hunter & Porter p.123</ref> The film revolves around the teachers and students of St Fanny's [[private school]], particularly the pupil Cardew the Cad who is kept at the school for many years after he should have graduated so that the dishonest headmaster can claim his inheritance. It was based on a radio show which was written by and starred Robinson. The film's sets were designed by [[art director]] [[Norman G. Arnold]].
'''''Fun at St. Fanny's''''' is a 1955 British [[comedy film]] directed by [[Maurice Elvey]] and starring [[Fred Emney]], [[Cardew Robinson]] and [[Vera Day]].<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Fun at St. Fanny's |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150042147 |access-date=5 December 2023 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> The film revolves around the teachers and students at St Fanny's [[private school]]. It was based on Robinson's "Cardew the Cad" character which he created in 1942 and was featured in the BBC's ''[[Variety Bandbox]]'' programme.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_81vQWGYelwC&dq=variety+fanfare+cardew+robinson+bbc+radio&pg=PA276|title=The Daily Telegraph Third Book of Obituaries: Entertainers|first=Group Limited|last=Telegraph|date=1 June 1998|publisher=Pan|isbn=9780330367752 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

==Plot==
Cardew the Cad is a 25-year-old pupil at St. Fanny's school who will inherit a fortune unless he is expelled, when the cash will go to the school. Headmaster Dr. Septimus Jankers tries to get Cardew expelled by framing him for a robbery committed by a gang of villains. But his plan is foiled by Maisie, sister of one of the crooks, who has fallen in love with Cardew.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{div-col}}
* [[Fred Emney]] as Dr. Septimus Jankers
* [[Cardew Robinson]] as Cardew the Cad
* [[Fred Emney]] as Dr. Septimus Jankers
* [[Vera Day]] as Maisie
* [[Cardew Robinson]] as Cardew the Cad
* [[Johnny Brandon]] as Fanshawe
* [[Vera Day]] as Maisie
* [[Davy Kaye]] as Ferdy
* [[Johnny Brandon]] as Fanshawe
* [[Freddie Mills]] as Harry the Scar
* [[Davy Kaye]] as Ferdy
* [[Freddie Mills]] as Harry the Scar
* [[Gerald Campion]] as Fatty Gilbert
* [[Gerald Campion]] as Fatty Gilbert
* [[Miriam Karlin]] as Mildred
* [[Miriam Karlin]] as Mildred
* [[Claude Hulbert]] as Winkle
* [[Claude Hulbert]] as Winkle
* [[Kynaston Reeves]] as McTavish
* [[Kynaston Reeves]] as McTavish
* [[Gabrielle Brune]] as Matron
* [[Gabrielle Brune]] as Matron
* [[Stanley Unwin (comedian)|Stanley Unwin]] as The Guide
* [[Stanley Unwin (comedian)|Stanley Unwin]] as the guide
* [[Dino Galvani]] as Pumpernickel
* [[Dino Galvani]] as Pumpernickel
* [[Peter Butterworth]] as The Potter
* [[Peter Butterworth]] as the potter
* [[Paul Daneman]] as Fudge
* [[Paul Daneman]] as Fudge
* [[Roger Avon]] as Horsetrough
* [[Roger Avon]] as Horsetrough
* [[Ronnie Corbett]] as Chumleigh
* [[Ronnie Corbett]] as Chumleigh
* Aud Johansen as Praline
* Aud Johansen as Praline
* [[Tom Gill (actor)|Tom Gill]] as Constable
* [[Tom Gill (actor)|Tom Gill]] as constable
* [[Marianne Stone]]
* [[Marianne Stone]]
* Douglas Ives as Museum Attendant
* Douglas Ives as museum attendant
* Stuart Saunders as Police Sergeant
* Stuart Saunders as Police Sergeant
* Neil Wilson as Second Museum Attendant
* Neil Wilson as second museum attendant
* [[Melvyn Hayes]] as Heckling Boy at Concert
* [[Melvyn Hayes]] as heckling boy at concert
* [[Anthony Valentine]] as Schoolboy in audience
* [[Anthony Valentine]] as schoolboy in audience
{{div-col-end}}

==Production==
The film's sets were designed by [[art director]] [[Norman G. Arnold]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fun at St. Fanny's (1955) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6aabbdf4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329054909/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6aabbdf4 |archive-date=29 March 2016 |website=BFI |access-date=1 June 2022 }}</ref>

==Critical reception==
''[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' wrote: "The talents of excellent music-hall performers (Fred Emney and Miriam Karlin) and able character actors (Vera Day, Gerald Campion, Claude Hulbert) are atrophied by the wretched story and puerile dialogue of this depressing farce."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1956 |title=Fun at St. Fanny's |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305827426/D6A87C136E6747BCPQ/1 |journal=[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]] |volume=23 |issue=264 |pages=19 |via=ProQuest}}</ref>

''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote: "A straggling story, set in a boy's college, shows a harassed headmaster dodging pressing creditors. Humor is labored and the stock situations handed out with an edge of vulgarity showing nothing new in idea or treatment, utilizing all the immature antics of uncontrollable youngsters.&nbsp;... Cardew Robinson, vaude-tv comic, plays himself in the role of protracted adolescent, making a play for the femme staff and extracting many laughs. Miriam Karlin handles the tough female teacher assignment realistically while Gabrielle Brune is the school matron. Vera Day swings a pretty hip as the bookie's chiselling sister. Claude Hulbert contributes his customary fatuous pose as a junior master. Freddie Mills, ex-boxing champ, and Davy Kaye represent the seamy side of the racetrack with conviction."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=11 January 1956 |title=Fun at St. Fanny's |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1017018635/506E5FBE6C92418EPQ/4 |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |volume=201 |issue=6 |pages=22 |via=ProQuest}}</ref>

''[[Evening Standard|The Standard]]'' called it "the British school joke stretched almost to infinity."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1421699/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Fun at St. Fanny's (1956)|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref>

In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' [[David Quinlan (film critic)|David Quinlan]] rated the film as "poor", writing: "Competent cast routed by what must be one of film history's worst comedy screenplays."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Quinlan |first=David |title=British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 |publisher=[[Batsford Books|B.T. Batsford Ltd.]] |year=1984 |isbn=0-7134-1874-5 |location=London |pages=312}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* Hunter, I.Q & Porter, Laraine. ''British Comedy Cinema''. Routledge, 2012.


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:1955 films]]
[[Category:1955 films]]
[[Category:1955 comedy films]]
[[Category:1955 comedy films]]
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[[Category:British films]]
[[Category:British comedy films]]
[[Category:British comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Maurice Elvey]]
[[Category:Films directed by Maurice Elvey]]
[[Category:Films set in England]]
[[Category:Films set in England]]
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[[Category:1950s British films]]

[[Category:British black-and-white films]]

[[Category:English-language comedy films]]
{{1950s-UK-comedy-film-stub}}
[[Category:Films scored by Edwin Astley]]

Latest revision as of 16:19, 16 September 2024

Fun at St. Fanny's
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMaurice Elvey
Written by
Produced by
  • David Dent
  • Peter Noble
Starring
CinematographyEric Cross
Edited byRobert Jordan Hill
Music byEdwin Astley
Production
company
Distributed byBritish Lion (UK)
Release dates
  • 15 December 1955 (1955-12-15) (London, England)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Fun at St. Fanny's is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Fred Emney, Cardew Robinson and Vera Day.[1] The film revolves around the teachers and students at St Fanny's private school. It was based on Robinson's "Cardew the Cad" character which he created in 1942 and was featured in the BBC's Variety Bandbox programme.[2]

Plot

[edit]

Cardew the Cad is a 25-year-old pupil at St. Fanny's school who will inherit a fortune unless he is expelled, when the cash will go to the school. Headmaster Dr. Septimus Jankers tries to get Cardew expelled by framing him for a robbery committed by a gang of villains. But his plan is foiled by Maisie, sister of one of the crooks, who has fallen in love with Cardew.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

The film's sets were designed by art director Norman G. Arnold.[3]

Critical reception

[edit]

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The talents of excellent music-hall performers (Fred Emney and Miriam Karlin) and able character actors (Vera Day, Gerald Campion, Claude Hulbert) are atrophied by the wretched story and puerile dialogue of this depressing farce."[4]

Variety wrote: "A straggling story, set in a boy's college, shows a harassed headmaster dodging pressing creditors. Humor is labored and the stock situations handed out with an edge of vulgarity showing nothing new in idea or treatment, utilizing all the immature antics of uncontrollable youngsters. ... Cardew Robinson, vaude-tv comic, plays himself in the role of protracted adolescent, making a play for the femme staff and extracting many laughs. Miriam Karlin handles the tough female teacher assignment realistically while Gabrielle Brune is the school matron. Vera Day swings a pretty hip as the bookie's chiselling sister. Claude Hulbert contributes his customary fatuous pose as a junior master. Freddie Mills, ex-boxing champ, and Davy Kaye represent the seamy side of the racetrack with conviction."[5]

The Standard called it "the British school joke stretched almost to infinity."[6]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "poor", writing: "Competent cast routed by what must be one of film history's worst comedy screenplays."[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Fun at St. Fanny's". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  2. ^ Telegraph, Group Limited (1 June 1998). The Daily Telegraph Third Book of Obituaries: Entertainers. Pan. ISBN 9780330367752 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Fun at St. Fanny's (1955)". BFI. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Fun at St. Fanny's". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 23 (264): 19. 1 January 1956 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ "Fun at St. Fanny's". Variety. 201 (6): 22. 11 January 1956 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Fun at St. Fanny's (1956)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  7. ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 312. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
[edit]
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