The fourth, last and weakest of the original "St. Trinian's" films, it never really takes off. It is an attempt to modernise the series which is not terribly successful. As the title would suggest, it was inspired by the Great Train Robbery in 1963, which is kind of interesting but the idea is not used well. There is some nice light satire of Labour's policies and sex scandals with the Minister for Schools Sir Horace's affair with the new headmistress Amber Spottiswood but there are no belly laughs unlike in the first three films. The train robbery plot is a parody of the Bond films but it falls flat. The attempt to modernise the films mean that it has dated far worse than the first three films, though that wouldn't be a problem if it was a better than average film. The main problem with the storyline is that focuses far too much on the adults and far too little on the students, even less than in "The Pure Hell of St. Trinians".
It has a great cast including Frankie Howerd, George Cole, Richard Wattis (who was absent from the previous film), Raymond Huntley, Dora Bryan, Michael Ripper, George Benson and Colin Gordon. However, Cole is wasted in a smaller role than in the first three films and the absence of Joyce Grenfell and Lloyd Lamble is very noticeable. On the bright side, Michael Ripper - the only actor besides Cole to appear in all four films - has his biggest role in the series and he also has the best line in the film: "That headmistress is his concubine!"
It has a great cast including Frankie Howerd, George Cole, Richard Wattis (who was absent from the previous film), Raymond Huntley, Dora Bryan, Michael Ripper, George Benson and Colin Gordon. However, Cole is wasted in a smaller role than in the first three films and the absence of Joyce Grenfell and Lloyd Lamble is very noticeable. On the bright side, Michael Ripper - the only actor besides Cole to appear in all four films - has his biggest role in the series and he also has the best line in the film: "That headmistress is his concubine!"