Customer Reviews
Synopsis, Random Reviews, Trivia & Cast Details - By: G. Collins, 25 Jul 2008 
School for Secrets tells the inside story of the `Boffins' - Britain's backroom boys - who developed the miracle discovery of radar & helped stave off the German invasion of Britainin 1940.
Five different scientists, led by Professor Heatherville (Ralph Richardson), are brought together & workin total secrecy under incredible pressurein a race against time to develop this vital weapon. Their dedication disrupts their family lives as they are forced to sacrifice everything to make the great breakthrough.
Their success is illustrated by the effect Radar has on the fighting abilities of the RAF over the skies of Britainin those crucial summer & autumn months of 1940. However, Germany is also planning its own Radar capability & British commandos must be dispatched to strike at a vital Nazi installation.
Written, produced & directed by Peter Ustinov
and boasting a distinguished supporting cast including
Richard Attenborough, David Tomlinson & John Laurie,
this film celebrates one of Britain's greatest wartime achievements
----------------------
Plot Summary for
School For Secrets (1946)
Wartime tale of a group of British scientists' efforts to develop the first land based & airborne radar systems. They did it justin time for it to be usedin the Battle of Britain against the might of the Nazi Luftwaffe. Without it the little island could well have been overrun. - Summary written by Steve Crook
--------------------------------------
Copyright ©1946 Two Cities Films Limited. - All rights reserved.
Licensed by Granada Ventures Limited
©2006 Packaged & Distributed by DD home Entertainment - #DD20681
DVD Region 2- Monochrome: Black & White
Running Time Approx: 102 minutes
--------------------
CAST INCLUDES
Ralph Richardson as Prof. James Heatherville v Raymond Huntley as Prof. Walter Laxton-Jones - John Laurie as Dr. Jock MacVitie - Ernest Jay as Dr. David Dainty - Joan Young as Joan MacVitie - David Tomlinson as Dr. Edward Watlington - Richard Attenborough as Amn. Jack Arnold - Hugh Pryse as Sir Nicholas Hathaway - Patrick Waddington as Group Capt. Aspinall - David Hutcheson as Squadron Leader Frank Sowerby - Pamela Matthews as Eve Watlington - Joan Haythorne as Mrs. Laxton-Jones - Ann Wilton as Mrs. Dainty - Marjorie Rhodes as Mrs. Arnold - Edward Lexy as Sir Desmond (gentleman's club) - Finlay Currie as Sir Duncan Wills - Peggy Evans as Cpl. Daphne Adams v Ingrid Forrest as WAAF Penelope Birkenshaw - Geraldine Keyes as WAAF Phyllis Hammond - Vida Hope as WAAF drill sergeant - Robin Bailey as Wives' escort officer v D. Bradley Smith as Air Marshal Cotter - Murray Matheson as Wing Cdr. Allen - Norman Webb as Dr. Wainwright - Joseph Almas as Dr. Klemmerhahn - Arthur Rieck as U-Boat Lt. Hentz - Aubrey Mallalieu as Club member #1 - Desmond Roberts as Club member #2 - Guy Belmore as Club member #3 - O. B. Clarence as Williams (club servant)- Cyril Smith as Flight Sgt. Cox - Hugh Dempster as Squadron Leader Slatter - Paul Carpenter as Flight Leader Argylle - Kenneth Buckley as Squadron Leader Buckley - Anthony Dawson as Flight Lt. Norton - Anthony Wyckham as Flight Officer Ogden - Michael Hordern as Lt. Cmdr. Lowther - Robert Long as Flight Officer Davies - James Hayter as Warrant Officer - Sonia Elverson as WAAF Teller - Robert Wyndham as Raiding party major - Andrew Blackett as Raiding party captain - Tony Arpino as Commando #1 - Peter March as Commando #2 - Bob Elson as Commando #3 - Roger Keyes as Commando #4 - Trevening Hill as Commando #5 - Edward Hodge as Commando #6 Bill Owen as Paratroop sergeant - Ernest Urbank as German sentry #1 Karl Morel as German sentry #2 - Alvar Liddell as BBC announcer (voice) - Richard Mantell as Air Vice-Marshal - Kenneth More - Arthur Mullard
~ et al . . . ~
Written, Produced & Directed by Peter Ustinov
Cinematography by Jack Hildyard v Original Music by Alan Rawsthorne
Film Editing by Russell Lloyd
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT RADAR ? - By: I. M. BARRETT, 10 Apr 2008 
In The Royal Festival Hall, Sir Peter Ustinov, thenin his 80s, had compered a concertin his inimitable manner. There, I had reminded him of this film, "SCHOOL for SECRETS" which he directed when Britain was emerging from the war. It was now 60yrs later, but he immediately reeled off the names of all the actors! The film was Ustinov's transition from MOI (Ministry of Information) film-making to that delicious, comfortable style of British cinema which was about to enter its best times.
In a gentle drama, so reminiscent of Ustinov's style, "SCHOOL fOR SECRETS" portrayed the story of the development of RADAR. You may imagine the production as beingin similar vein & time setting to that of the film "ENIGMA" which portrayed fiction based on fact but with a 60 year time backshift. It is a classic marker which ought to be revived & you should see this film which also illustrates film-making under the conditions of post-war austerity when low-budget production was the norm.
IT SHOULD ALSO BE REMADE. I propose this because, due to the operation of the Oficial Secrets Act & the 30 yrs (+)release rule, Ustinov's production was not allowed to research the development of the technology, nor the associated apochrypha & anecdotes. Without RADAR, we shoud not have won the war. It is also the basis of the amazing electronic agein which we live. Today, two generations are almost ignorant of both the historical & the scientific bases of our freedom. They need to be educated & this story about the technology & those who developed it, to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude, needs to be retold.
Sir Richard Attenborough who played a rolein the film may be pleased to advise on the remake. Meanwhile, enjoy the original version!
Ian M Barrett.
