Flash Harry (St Trinian's)
Encyclopedia
Henry Cuthbert Edwards aka Flash Harry is a fictional character
from the St. Trinian's series of films who first appears in the 1954 The Belles of St Trinian's
. The term refers to "an ostentatious, loudly-dressed, and usually ill-mannered man", who may also be a spiv
. Sir Malcolm Sargent
was also (and earlier) nicknamed "Flash Harry".
In the St Trinian's movies, Harry is a long-term associate of the girl pupils, a Cockney
involved in all sorts of shady dealings. His father sold racecard
s and, when he was 12, Harry himself was employed as a boot polisher by Miss Fritton, headmistress of St Trinian's. As an adult, Harry is one of the few whom the pupils trust: he helps to bottle and sell their gin
, distilled in the school chemistry lab, and places bets on race horses for them. Harry also runs the St Trinian's Matrimonial Agency for the teenage Sixth Form girls, setting them up with wealthy men. He even runs a betting scam of his own.
By the time Amber Spottiswood (Dora Bryan
) becomes headmistress, Harry's official connection to the school is as "chairman of the board of governors" and he earns money as a costermonger
while the school is closed. He sets up a betting shop on the school grounds under the name Harry Hackett Ltd and takes bets from locals and pupils.
Harry appears to be quite well known in the criminal community: another crook (Lionel Jeffries
) referring to him as "riff-raff".
Joe Melia
played the part in The Wildcats of St Trinian's
in 1980.
Russell Brand
was "Flash Harry" in the 2007 St. Trinian's
film, but did not return for St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold
in 2009.
The main plot of The Belles of St. Trinian's centered around the kidnapping of a race horse and featured Sid James
of Carry On fame as a shady bookmaker. Two years later, James starred in the comedy Dry Rot
which followed a similar plot. James's character was also called Flash Harry and was in some ways similar to the Flash Harry of St. Trinian's.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the St. Trinian's series of films who first appears in the 1954 The Belles of St Trinian's
The Belles of St Trinian's
The Belles of St Trinian's is a comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School, released in 1954. It and its sequels were inspired by British cartoonist Ronald Searle. Directed by Frank Launder and written by him and Sidney Gilliat, it was the first of a series of five...
. The term refers to "an ostentatious, loudly-dressed, and usually ill-mannered man", who may also be a spiv
Spiv
In the United Kingdom, a spiv is a particular type of petty criminal, who deals in stolen or black market goods of questionable authenticity, especially a slickly-dressed man offering goods at bargain prices...
. Sir Malcolm Sargent
Malcolm Sargent
Sir Harold Malcolm Watts Sargent was an English conductor, organist and composer widely regarded as Britain's leading conductor of choral works...
was also (and earlier) nicknamed "Flash Harry".
In the St Trinian's movies, Harry is a long-term associate of the girl pupils, a Cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
involved in all sorts of shady dealings. His father sold racecard
Racecard
Racecard is a printed card used in horse racing giving information about races, principally the horses running in each particular race. Racecards are often given in newspapers...
s and, when he was 12, Harry himself was employed as a boot polisher by Miss Fritton, headmistress of St Trinian's. As an adult, Harry is one of the few whom the pupils trust: he helps to bottle and sell their gin
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
, distilled in the school chemistry lab, and places bets on race horses for them. Harry also runs the St Trinian's Matrimonial Agency for the teenage Sixth Form girls, setting them up with wealthy men. He even runs a betting scam of his own.
By the time Amber Spottiswood (Dora Bryan
Dora Bryan
Dora May Bryan OBE is an English actress of stage, film and television.-Early life:Bryan was born as Dora May Broadbent in Southport, Lancashire, England. Her father was a salesman and she attended Hathershaw County Primary School in Oldham, Lancashire...
) becomes headmistress, Harry's official connection to the school is as "chairman of the board of governors" and he earns money as a costermonger
Costermonger
Costermonger, or simply Coster, is a street seller of fruit and vegetables, in London and other British towns. They were ubiquitous in mid-Victorian England, and some are still found in markets. As usual with street-sellers, they would use a loud sing-song cry or chant to attract attention...
while the school is closed. He sets up a betting shop on the school grounds under the name Harry Hackett Ltd and takes bets from locals and pupils.
Harry appears to be quite well known in the criminal community: another crook (Lionel Jeffries
Lionel Jeffries
Lionel Charles Jeffries was an English actor, screenwriter and film director.-Early life and career:Jeffries attended the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset. In 1945, he received a commission in the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry...
) referring to him as "riff-raff".
Portrayers
"Flash Harry" was played by George Cole in the first four St Trinian's movies:- The Belles of St Trinian'sThe Belles of St Trinian'sThe Belles of St Trinian's is a comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School, released in 1954. It and its sequels were inspired by British cartoonist Ronald Searle. Directed by Frank Launder and written by him and Sidney Gilliat, it was the first of a series of five...
, 1954 - Blue Murder at St Trinian'sBlue Murder at St Trinian'sBlue Murder at St Trinian's is British comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School. Directed by Frank Launder and written by him and Sidney Gilliat, it was the second of the series of five films and stars Terry-Thomas, George Cole, Joyce Grenfell, Lionel Jeffries and Richard...
, 1957 - The Pure Hell of St Trinian'sThe Pure Hell of St Trinian'sThe Pure Hell of St Trinian's was a 1960 British comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School. Directed by Frank Launder and written by him and Sidney Gilliat, it was the third in a series of five films.-Plot:...
, 1960 - The Great St Trinian's Train RobberyThe Great St Trinian's Train RobberyThe Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery is a British comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School, released in 1966, three years after the Great Train Robbery had taken place...
, 1966
Joe Melia
Joe Melia
-Films:* Too Many Crooks * Follow a Star * The Intelligence Men * Four in the Morning * Modesty Blaise * Oh! What a Lovely War * Antony and Cleopatra * Sweeney!...
played the part in The Wildcats of St Trinian's
The Wildcats of St Trinian's
The Wildcats of St. Trinian's is the fifth British comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School, released in 1980.It poked fun at the British trade union movement which had been responsible for the recent wave of strikes that culminated in the Winter of Discontent.The film was not a...
in 1980.
Russell Brand
Russell Brand
Russell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author and radio/television presenter.Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK in 2004 for his role as host of Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother's Big Mouth. His first major film role was in the 2007 film St Trinians...
was "Flash Harry" in the 2007 St. Trinian's
St Trinian's (2007 film)
St Trinian's is the sixth in a long-running series of films based on the works of cartoonist Ronald Searle. The first five films form a series, starting with The Belles of St Trinian's in 1954, with sequels in 1957, 1960, 1966 and 1980....
film, but did not return for St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold
St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold
St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold is a 2009 comedy film directed by Oliver Parker and Barnaby Thompson, both of whom directed the previous film in the series...
in 2009.
The main plot of The Belles of St. Trinian's centered around the kidnapping of a race horse and featured Sid James
Sid James
Sid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona...
of Carry On fame as a shady bookmaker. Two years later, James starred in the comedy Dry Rot
Dry Rot (film)
Dry Rot is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Ronald Shiner, Brian Rix, Peggy Mount and Sid James.The story is an adaptation of a 1954 farce by John Roy Chapman who also wrote the screenplay, in which the sketchy story plays second fiddle to the quick-paced action and...
which followed a similar plot. James's character was also called Flash Harry and was in some ways similar to the Flash Harry of St. Trinian's.