Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

School for Scoundrels Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 23, 2015

Robert Hamer's "School for Scoundrels" (1960) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; new video interview with Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw; video interview with Terry-Thomas biographer Graham McCann; gallery of stills; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

"What sort of an idiot would drive a thing like this?"

Henry Palfrey (Ian Carmichael, I'm All Right Jack, The Colditz Story) has enough money to enjoy a trouble-free life, but he is so clumsy and naive that even the people that work for him routinely make him look like a loser. In a desperate attempt to change his luck, he enrolls in the College of Lifemanship where Professor Potter (Alastair Sim, An Inspector Calls, The Belles of St Trinian's) and his assistants perform miracles and transform losers into winners.

After Henry’s case is evaluated his training begins and his confidence is slowly rebuilt. Professor Potter personally oversees his progress and occasionally makes small but important corrections. Eventually, the transformation is completed and Henry is sent right back to where he came from.

Overflowing with confidence, Henry immediately confronts Raymond Delauney (Terry-Thomas, His and Hers, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World), a cocky, flashy, and unusually annoying gentleman who has repeatedly made him look terrible in front of the girl (Janette Scott, The Devil's Disciple, His and Hers) he has fallen in love with.

School for Scoundrels was inspired by Stephen Potter’s novels, but familiarity with the novels isn’t necessary to enjoy it. In fact, the film would probably be a lot more effective if one sees it without knowing anything about the novels and their subjects.

The narrative is broken into two contrasting sections. In the first, Henry is a complete idiot who does everything wrong. He isn’t totally clueless and can see that he is always forced to defend himself, but does not quite understand why his luck is so poor. (The key point here is that luck really has nothing to do with it; rather it is the British class system that needs and breeds the losers). On the opposite end is Delauney, an experienced player with a big bag of tricks who loves to humiliate his opponents.

In the second section, the roles are reversed and Henry becomes the aggressor that always finds a way to crush Delauney. The transformation surprises not only Delauney, but also the beautiful girl who suddenly can’t resist Henry’s charm and style. (Here the key point is that success comes to those who know how to manipulate the system, not those who try hard or play by the rules).

The film is simply brilliant and in more than a few ways actually remains quite relevant. Obviously, some rules have evolved, but the basic logic behind Professor Potter’s lessons is still the same. It is a cynical logic insisting that in the game of life a dirty win is always more important than an honest loss, but as Henry discovers it is always better to be a winner than clueless loser.

Carmichael, Scott and Sim are absolutely phenomenal, but Terry-Thomas gives the film its identity. He is at his very best here and it is easy to see that his energy actually has an effect on his colleagues. There are also a few terrific sequences with Edward Chapman, who plays Gloatbridge, Henry’s snobbish personal assistant.

Director Robert Hamer was replaced by Cyril Frankel halfway through the shooting of School for Scoundrels. Hamer struggled with alcoholism and simply could not continue working on the film.

School for Scoundrels Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.67:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, School for Scoundrels arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal.

The film has been digitally restored in 2K and looks very good in high-definition. There are a few small density fluctuations in during the opening credits, but the rest of the film looks great. In fact, even previously problematic transitions now look really good. There are some traces of grain management, but the work is very delicate and grain is always visible. Depth remains pleasing, though occasionally some very small fluctuations can be spotted. However, it appears that they are in fact source-related (compare screencaptures #6 and 18 to see how small they are). There are no traces of compromising sharpening adjustments. Overall image stability is very good. Lastly, there are no large cuts, damage marks, debris, stains, or torn frames. All in all, this is a year another lovely restoration and presentation of a classic British film from the folks at StudioCanal. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

School for Scoundrels Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

John Addison's playful score benefits the most from the lossless treatment -- the music is crisp and clear and there are no distortions in the high-frequencies. (You can test the short themes that are heard after Ian Carmichael sells the car back to the dealers around the 00.53.00 mark). Balance is very good. Dynamic intensity is rather limited, but this should not be too surprising consider the age of the film. The dialog is stable, clean, and easy to follow. Also, there are no audio dropouts or digital distortions to report in our review.

School for Scoundrels Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Peter Bradshaw - in this new video interview, Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw discusses the production history of School for Scoundrel, some of the political overtones in the film as well as in Stephen Potter's novels, his favorite scenes (the restaurant scene where Henry is humiliated by Delauney), Terry-Thomas' brilliant performance, etc. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Stills Gallery - a collection of production stills.

• Trailer - original trailer for School for Scoundrels. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Interview with Graham McCann - new video interview with Terry-Thomas biographer Graham McCann. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Interview with Chris Potter - new video interview with Stephen Potter's grandson, Chris Potter. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

School for Scoundrels Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Terry-Thomas is sensational in this outstanding comedy about a clumsy and naive young man who decides to enter the College of Lifemanship where an odd professor and his assistants perform miracles and transform losers into winners. The brilliant cast also includes Ian Carmichael, Alastair Sim, Janette Scott, Dennis Price, and Edward Chapman. School for Scoundrels has been recently restored in 2K and is now available on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom courtesy of StudioCanal. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.