Back in the early 1950s, cartoonist/satirist Ronald Searle dreamed up the "Belles of St. Trinians," a gaggle of sweet-faced, diabolically inclined British schoolgirls. These characters were featured in several popular British comedies of the 1950s and 1960s, many of which hold up pretty well today despite some very dated jokes and topical references. The last of the series, , hasn't weathered the years quite as well as its predecessors. This time, the girls rebel against their educational workload by organizing a union and going on strike. They also kidnap the daughter of an Arabian millionaire as a bargaining chip. Inasmuch as this is a comedy, the audience is assured that the hostage is a willing participant in the zany goings-on. was written and directed by Frank Launder, who with his partner Sidney Gilliat had cooked up most of the previous "St. Trinian's" farces.