If..../Trivia

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • Banned in China: The film is noted for its highly controversial content (both at the time of release in 1968 and even in the present), including romance between male pupils, nudity, feral sex-scenes and pupils gunning down their classmates, parents and staff in the surreal finale — the film was X-rated upon its UK release.
  • Dawson Casting: Played straight with the older pupils, who were mostly in their early to mid-20's at the time of shooting, but the younger First Years (the "Scum") all look to be of the correct age (11-12 years old) for starting secondary school.
  • Unintentional Period Piece: Conditions for pupils and staff are rather spartan, but this no longer applies. School fees have been rising faster than inflation since the 1970s, and a lot of the extra money has gone on a "facilities arms race." Private schools nowadays are reported to be very comfortable.