Film

The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery

Name: The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Family
Released: 1966
Cast: Frankie Howerd, Dora Bryan, George Cole, Reg Varney, Raymond Huntley

Comedy
Heist
Light-hearted

A 1966 caper where the anarchic girls of St Trinian's stumble upon a fortune hidden in their school and must outwit actual criminals to keep it. It's deliberately silly, energetically paced, and unapologetically British—all chaos and charm with a cast having genuine fun. Perfect if you want comedy that doesn't apologize for being broad.

TMDb rating

3.1

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy broad, gleefully anarchic British comedy where a crowd of unruly schoolgirls turns a heist into chaos, and you don't mind cheerful silliness.

Skip it if the broad mugging and repeated gags may wear thin for you, especially if you want sharp plotting rather than pratfalls and slapstick.

What it asks of you: Its shape is brisk and episodic, around ninety-three minutes, with little pause for mood; you mostly just sit back and let the noise roll on.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Carry On Cleo1964

The same spirit of cheerful irreverence and ensemble mischief, with a cast equally committed to the bit. British comedy at its most unambiguous and fondly ridiculous, built on wordplay and physical comedy that still lands.

But If you need comedy to punch up rather than punch sideways, or if broad innuendo and puns feel dated to you, this won't change your mind.

The Ladykillers1955

Criminals hiding in a lodging house while planning a heist, gradually undone by the people around them. The same recipe of scheming versus chaos, with Ealing's gift for turning the ordinary world subtly surreal.

But American rather than British, and considerably sharper—if you want St Trinian's warmth specifically, this edges toward meaner comedy.

Bottoms Up!1960

Another St Trinian's film, so it shares the DNA exactly: girls, schemes, authority figures in chaos, and a cheerful disregard for making sense. If this one clicked, the earlier films in the series are right there.

But By definition, it's more of the same—which is fine, but not a discovery if you're already enjoying this film.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Bedazzled1967

Both films are British comedies from the 1960s that prioritize ensemble energy and anarchic chaos over coherent plotting. St Trinian's and Bedazzled are happiest when things fall apart.

A Faustian comedy where a man gets seven chances to wish his way to happiness, each scenario more absurd than the last. It's British surrealism with a heart, and it trusts visual gags and performance over plot.

But It's philosophically aimless and the pacing is willfully slack—if you need a story to hold you, this feels like sketches pretending to be a film.

The Italian Job1969

A heist film that shares the playful anarchy and the British optimism that the scheming will work out. It's clever without being smug, and finds comedy in the gaps between planning and reality.

But More stylish and confident than St Trinian's—some viewers find it self-aware in a way that undercuts the fun.

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes1965

An ensemble caper with the same pleasure in controlled chaos, the same international cast doing bits, and the same generous spirit toward everyone involved in the muddle.

But It's very long and very episodic—some scenes feel like setups with punchlines that never quite land.

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes poster

The Smallest Show on Earth1957

A tiny cinema full of eccentrics trying to survive against the odds. It's warm, funny, and has that same British knack for finding comedy in the gap between incompetence and good intentions.

But It's quieter and more melancholic than St Trinian's—if you want energy and chaos, this might feel slight.

Murder Most Foul1964

Miss Marple investigates a theatre murder with the same willingness to let chaos and amateur meddling drive the plot. It's a mystery that doesn't take itself seriously, which is the point.

But It's a mystery first and comedy second—if you're hungry for laughs rather than solving-the-case, this won't deliver enough of either.

The Rebel1961

Tony Hancock as an artist rebelling against conformity, creating absurdist chaos wherever he goes. British comedy that trusts the audience to sit with awkwardness and eccentricity.

But It's considerably darker and more character-focused than St Trinian's—the humor comes from discomfort, not delight.

A Fish Called Wanda1988

A heist comedy where the criminals keep fouling each other up. It's got the same pleasure in watching schemes unravel and ego collide, updated for a later era.

But It's far raunchier and more acid than St Trinian's—the warmth has curdled into something closer to genuine contempt.

Matilda1996

Both celebrate children as agents of their own chaos, smarter and more resourceful than the adults around them. The pleasure is in watching them win.

A gifted child outsmarts adults through ingenuity and humor. It's a family film that loves seeing the powerless win through wit and loyalty, with real warmth toward its outsider kids.

But It's American and animated, pitched at a younger audience—the tone is sweeter and the stakes are lower than a live-action heist.

Bob le Flambeur1956

Both films romanticize the heist as performance rather than crime. The real pleasure isn't the money—it's the scheme itself, the team, the style of pulling it off.

A French noir about a professional gambler and petty criminals planning one last score. It's playful and romantic about the criminal underworld, finding beauty in the planning and failure equally.

But It's in French, black-and-white, and plays everything cool—the opposite of St Trinian's' cheerful brashness. If you need English-language color and action, this will feel glacial.