I have one word for you: Terry-Thomas.
Remembering the old English, gap-toothed actor only makes me think how many more wonderful characters we used to have in film.
His filmography is impressive enough stateside, but part of what got him here is what he'd already done across the pond. A notable example is Robert Hamer's "School For Scoundrels" (1960, B&W).
He stars with straight man Ian Carmichael and Alastair Sim in this divinely droll (yes, that's the word) comedy with a simple conceit: The ever-wily Sim runs a school to help social losers (read: can't get a girl), which Carmichael sensibly decides to attend. The wise, older man teaches his charges all the tricks of the trade to get people bowing to you, intead of vice-versa.
With Carmichael's new skills, he's able to outwit first smug, then snarling Terry, who likes the same girl (the fetching Janette Scott).
For Anglophiles and adventurous others, this is "School" worth attending.
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