Fun at St. Fanny's

Fun at St. Fanny's
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Maurice Elvey
Written by	Fred Emney Anthony Verney Denis Waldock
Produced by	David Dent Peter Noble
Starring	Fred Emney Cardew Robinson Vera Day Davy Kaye
Cinematography	Eric Cross
Edited by	Robert Jordan Hill
Music by	Edwin Astley
Production company	Adelphi Films
Distributed by	British Lion (UK)
Release dates	15 December 1955 (1955-12-15) (London, England)
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

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]

YouTube Encyclopedic

1/3
Views:
710 060
5 226
5 181

Transcription

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 villians. But his plan is foiled by Maisie, sister of one of the crooks, who has fallen in love with Cardew.

Cast

Fred Emney as Dr. Septimus Jankers
Cardew Robinson as Cardew the Cad
Vera Day as Maisie
Johnny Brandon as Fanshawe
Davy Kaye as Ferdy
Freddie Mills as Harry the Scar
Gerald Campion as Fatty Gilbert
Miriam Karlin as Mildred
Claude Hulbert as Winkle
Kynaston Reeves as McTavish
Gabrielle Brune as Matron
Stanley Unwin as the guide
Dino Galvani as Pumpernickel
Peter Butterworth as the potter
Paul Daneman as Fudge
Roger Avon as Horsetrough
Ronnie Corbett as Chumleigh
Aud Johansen as Praline
Tom Gill as constable
Marianne Stone
Douglas Ives as museum attendant
Stuart Saunders as Police Sergeant
Neil Wilson as second museum attendant
Melvyn Hayes as heckling boy at concert
Anthony Valentine as schoolboy in audience

Production

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

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."^[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 ecomic, 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

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