School for Scoundrels

School for Scoundrels is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Robert Hamer (and an uncredited Cyril Frankel and Hal E. Chester). It stars Ian Carmichael and Terry-Thomas. It was inspired by the "Gamesmanship" series of books by Stephen Potter. It has been remade twice: in Bollywood under the title Chhoti Si Baat (1975), and in Hollywood as School for Scoundrels (2006). Plot Henry Palfrey, the head of a family firm in London, travels to Yeovil to enroll in the "School of Lifemanship", run by its principal Dr. Potter. Arriving late, he overhears Potter explaining to his new intake of students that his courses focus on the science of "being one up on your opponents at all times". Palfrey is given an object lesson by Potter when he interviews them, when he loses a name-calling game without knowing it. When Potter delves in to why Palfrey has enrolled at his school, he deduces a woman is involved. Palfrey proceeds to explain the circumstances behind him travelling to Yeovil, in the form of a flashback. A few weeks prior to enrolling in the School of Lifemanship, Palfrey had an encounter with April Smith, a beautiful woman who he fell in love with after accidentally running into her while trying to catch a bus. Despite his good fortune of arranging a dinner date with her, Palfrey arrived at work late, where he proceeded to suffer the usual problems - a lack of respect from his employees, and being patronised by the firm's senior clerk Gloatbridge, who commands more respect from the workers and thus makes all the business decisions. Later that evening, Palfrey took April out for dinner, but after finding his reservation was voided for being late, the pair managed to gain entry after encountering a causal acquaintance of Palfrey, Raymond Delauney, who swiftly proceeded to seduce April and cast his friend in a bad light. The following day, Palfrey attempted to acquire a car of his own, after noting the fancy sports car Delauney had, but was conned into buying a ramshackle 1924 car by two second-hand car dealers. The final humiliation for Palfrey came when Delauney suggested a "friendly" tennis match at their local club, which he won easily, leaving Palfrey to feel completely despondent with his life. Back in the present, Potter recommends Palfrey to pay attention to the courses given. Over the next several weeks, Palfrey proves an apt pupil learning several ploys that can give him an upper hand.