BBC Documentaries

The Rank Charm School (1982x9)

: 21, 1982

Barry Norman tells the story of a famous training establishment for would-be stars in the 1940s and 50s. The Rank Organisation called it 'The Company of Youth' but the press quickly dubbed it 'The Charm School', where youngsters from varied backgrounds and with little or no acting experience, were put under contract at £10 a week and trained at a church hall next door to Rank's Highbury Studios. Taking part are former charm school students Diana Dors, Pete Murray, Christopher Lee, Barbara Murray, Peggy Evans, Susan Beaumont and the Viscountess Rothermere, publicity executive Theo Cowan, Rank's Director of Artists Olive Dodds, and producer Betty Box.