简介：DeclineandFallisbasedonEvelynWaugh'sfirstpublishednovel(in1928),andtellsthestoryofPaulPennyfeather.UnjustlydismissedfromOxfordUniversityforindecentbehavior,heembarksonaseriesofadventureswhichtakehimfirsttoLlanabbaCastle,aridiculousprivateschoolofnoacademicstatureinWales,andthenintothefashionablehigh-societyworldofMargotBeste-Chetwynde,therichandglamorousmotherofoneofhispupils.OnthepointofgettingmarriedtoMargot,heisarrested,convictedandsentencedtosevenyearsinprisonforinvolvementinthewhiteslavetrafficwhichisthesourceofhermoney.Afterarelativelyshortperiodoftimeinprison(wherehemeetsseveralindividualswhohadalsobeenacademiccolleaguesatLlanabbaCastle),heisreleasedthroughtheagencyofMargot'snewhusband,theBritishHomeSecretarySirHumphreyMaltravers.Althoughinthebook,PaulPennyfeatherresumeshisstudiesasanOxfordundergraduate,studyingtobecomeaclergyman,thefilmendswithhimwalkingoffintothesunsettowhoknowswhatnewadventures.ApartfromPaulandMargot--playedbytheseductivelylovelyactressGenevievePage--thestoryfeaturesacastofcharacterswhoreappearindifferentcontexts,notablyAugustusFagan,theproprietorofLlanabba,Philbricktheschoolbutler(playedwonderfullybyColinBlakeley),Prendergast,oneofthemasters,wholaterhashisheadsawnoffbyaderangedprisoninmate,and,mostmemorably,CaptainGrimes(LeoMcKern),anunrepentantpederast,bigamistanddrunk,forwhomschoolmasteringisjustonemoredoomedventureinacareerthatonlyamanofgreatresiliencecouldsurvive.…