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The Pure Hell of St. Trinian’s

£695.00

Film

The Pure Hell of St. Trinian’s

Additional information

Year

1960

Size/Type

UK Quad / Single Sided / (30" x 40"), Printed in England by Charles & Read Ltd.

Country of Origin

UK / British

Condition

Near mint minus – Very fine plus / originally folded (as issued)

Director

Frank Launder

Actor/Actress

Cecil Parker, Dennis Price, George Cole, Irene Handl, Sidney James, Thorley Walters

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“The hellions of St. Trinians are recruited to a sheik’s harem. Little does he know what he’s letting himself in for.”

“The Pure Hell of St. Trinian’s” was the third film of the original ‘St. Trinian’s’ series and as with the previous movie posters, artwork was provided by the incomparable Ronald Searle. It was Searle’s initial drawings of the St. Trinian’s ‘hellions’ that provided the original inspiration for the franchise in the 1950’s. Although the film lacked the the comedic finesse of the previous two the UK film poster is easily the best of the trio with Searle saving his best artwork for last as the titular school is depicted burning to the ground; there is more than an element of a typical ‘horror’ poster than a comedy were the purple and pink colour tones ‘pop’ from the paper.  Presented in excellent condition this originally folded (as issued) unrestored 1960 country of origin British UK quad film poster displays and presents to superb effect and represents a truly scarce piece of cinematic movie memorabilia… A huge and loving fanbase exists for this classic British series of comedy films and this original film poster certainly brings back plenty of happy memories…British comedy nostalgia at it’s finest…cool, funny and colourful with outstanding comedic artwork …A personal favourite that brings a big smile.

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Trivia: This was Joyce Grenfell‘s final appearance in the “St. Trinian’s” film series.

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Vintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria... read more +

Film Description

The Pure Hell of St. Trinian’s Movie Poster

“When the school burns to the ground there’s clearly been some arson around. The pupils are found guilty and the judge hands them into the care of a pretty dubious child psychiatrist. The sixth form are soon kidnapped and on their way to Arabia with the Ministry of Education, Barchester police, and an Army Bath Unit after them. But real rescue is at hand in the shape of Britain’s finest fighting force – St. Trinian’s fourth form.”

This, the third ‘St. Trinian’s’ film, opens with the school being burnt to the ground; this leads to all the pupils being put on trial. It looks as though they will be split up and sent to various approved schools until Professor Canford (Cecil Parkera man with progressive views on education suggests that not only can he keep them together, he can also turn them into civilised girls. Thus St. Trinian’s reopens near to its old site. They haven’t been back long when Canford suggests taking the Sixth Form girls on a tour of the Greek Islands. The new headmistress isn’t so sure but eventually they depart but their ship doesn’t head to the Mediterranean; instead it sails round Africa to Arabia where the girls are taken into the harem of a local emir who intends to marry them off to his sons. Luckily Superintendent Samuel Kemp-Bird (Lloyd Lamblewas suspicious and had Sgt Ruby Gates (Joyce Grenfell) stowaway aboard the ship to see what was going on. When news gets back to England the nearest regiment are contacted to rescue the girls and two civil servants are sent to assist… of course nothing goes according to plan but never fear the fourth form will save the day!

Things got off to a fine start with the girls burning the school down then ending up on trial but once Professor Canford was introduced it became clear that his character, along with Flash Harry (George Cole) and Sgt Gates where going to be the protagonists rather than any of the girls. Indeed none of the girls are proper characters; the fourth form are just there to be wild and the sixth formers, who are thankfully clearly in their twenties, are there to look sexy in skimpy gym kits (or less)! There are some nicely surreal moments such as the civil servants who deal with stress by dancing and the regiment which is a ‘mobile bath unit’. The end came as a bit of a disappointment; when the fourth form turned up I was expecting to climactic mayhem but instead they just turn up and we are told that the sixth form has been rescued. Worth watching if you enjoyed the earlier two films.

 

 

Vintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria

Mint
A poster that has never been used or displayed and may show the most minor signs of age and wear. The poster should have no holes or tears.

Near Mint
A generally unused poster with fresh, saturated colors. May have minimal tears at folds. Has no significant holes, no paper loss, may have minor tears along edges, may have fine pin holes.

Very Fine
A poster with bright colour and crisp overall appearance. It may have very general signs of use including slight fold separation and fold wear. It may have pin holes or very minor tears. This is the highest grade allowed for a poster that has been restored either on linen or on paper.

Fine
A poster with good colors and overall clean appearance. It may have minor tears small paper loss and minor stains. It may have some fold seperation.

Good
An average poster with overall fresh color. May have tears, minor paper loss, minor hazing. Paper may be brittle due to age, may have minor stains. May have a small amount of writing in an unobtrusive place. May have medium or major restoration.

Fair
A poster with faded colors and brittle paper, showing significant signs of use. May have tears and paper loss. May have tape, writing, stains in image area. In need of restoration or had major restoration.

Poor
A poster that is worn, torn, and/or damaged. May have staining, cracking, dry rot, and/or large tears. May be heavily soiled, may have pieces missing. In need of major restoration.

All photographs and images used on our site are photographs of the actual poster/item you are buying, we do not use stock photographs.

Most Popular Poster Types

US Posters

LOBBY CARD
11 x 14″ printed on heavy stock paper. Used as display in theatre lobbies. Originally made in sets of eight. Some sets have a title card, which contains credits and artwork, essentially a mini-poster. The remaining seven cards are coloured photographic credits and poster artwork showing different scenes from the movie.

WINDOW CARD
14 x 22″ printed on heavy stock paper with the top 4-6 inches usually left blank for the local cinema owner to fill in the cinema and the date it was due to play. Largely discontinued during the 1970’s.

HALF SHEET
22 x 28″ printed on heavy stock paper. The image displayed is normally a smaller version of the main poster, although some do have different artworks and sometimes come in two versions.

INSERT
14 x 36″ printed on heavy stock paper. Inserts usually have the same artwork as a one sheet. Popular with collectors since they are smaller and easier to frame. Normally come tri folded or rolled.

STYLE Y/FORTY BY SIXTY
40 x 60″ printed on heavy stock paper. Rare since they were primarily used for major motion pictures only. Designed to be used outside the theatre, on an easel, normally at a drive-in movie theatre.

ONE-SHEET
27 x 41″ printed on paper. This is the most common size of poster, intended to be displayed in a glass “marquee” case. It is the most sought after size by collectors. Since the 1980’s most posters are sent to the theatre rolled and maybe slightly smaller measuring 27″ by 40″ and with the advent of backlit light boxes a growing number of modern movie posters are available double-sided and the more traditional single-sided.

THREE-SHEET
41 x 81″ printed on paper. These were printed on two or three separate sheets designed to overlap, few survive. Used for larger advertising spaces, normally posted on walls, perfect for huge movie theatres the drive-in, where people could see them from a distance. From the 1970’s on, three-sheets were sometimes printed in one piece and issued as “international” versions to be used abroad.

BRITISH Posters

BRITISH QUAD
30 x 40″ Most common poster size used in the UK. British Quads are horizontal and may have different artwork to the US one sheet. Like a US one sheet they normally come in two versions. Like a US one sheet they are usually supplied single-sided or more commonly now as a double sided poster.

BRITISH ONE-SHEET
27 X 40″, printed on paper. Very rarely used size.

ITALIAN Posters

ITALIAN LOCANDINA
13 x 28″ six inches shorter than the US insert, very nice size to frame. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.

ITALIAN PHOTOBUSTA
18 x 26″ Glossy, high quality, used as lobby cards in Italy. Size may vary, either vertical or horizontal format. There are also double Photobusta or mini Photobusta.

2-FOGLIO (DUE)
(DUE): 39 x 55″ This is the standard poster size used in Italy. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.

4-FOGLIO
(QUATTRO) 55 x 79″ Very large Italian poster printed in two pieces, often contains very beautiful artwork.

FRENCH Posters

FRENCH
47 x 63″ (GRANDE) or 24 x 33″ (PETITE) French movie posters normally come with different artwork to either the US or the UK. Like the Italian’s some of the artwork is extrememly beautiful.