Value for Money
Value for Money is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring John Gregson, Donald Pleasence, Leslie Phillips, Joan Hickson, Derek Farr and Diana Dors.
| Value for Money | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Ken Annakin |
| Produced by | Sergei Nolbandov executive Earl St John |
| Written by | R. F. Delderfield William Fairchild |
| Based on | novel by Derrick Boothroyd |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Malcolm Arnold |
| Cinematography | Geoffrey Unsworth |
| Edited by | Geoffrey Foot |
Release date | 9 August 1955 |
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Premise
A wealthy young man (Gregson) from Yorkshire visits a London after his father's death. He goes to a nightclub and meets a performer (Dors). She decides to take him for every penny he is worth, and he decides to let her.[1]
Cast
- John Gregson as Chayley Broadbent
- Diana Dors as Ruthine West
- Susan Stephen as Ethel
- Derek Farr as Duke Popplewell
- Frank Pettingell as Mayor Higgins
- Charles Victor as Lumm
- Ernest Thesiger as Lord Dewsbury
- Jill Adams as Joy
- Joan Hickson as Mrs. Perkins
- Donald Pleasence as Limpy
- John Glyn-Jones as Arkwright
- Leslie Phillips as Robjohns
- Ferdy Mayne as Waiter
- Charles Lloyd-Pack as Mr. Gidbrook
Production
The film was based on a novel by Derrick Boothroyd was published in 1953.[2]
Producer Sergei Nolbandov did not want Diana Dors in the movie but Ken Annakin, who had directed the actor in Vote for Huggett, insisted. She was paid £8,000.[3]
Filming started 28 December 1954. It was the first film shot under Rank's new program to shoot everything in Vista Vision.[4] Filming took place at Pinewood Studios.[5] Much of the Yorkshire location filming was in Batley, West Riding of Yorkshire, historically an area within the Heavy Woollen District.
Reception
Variety said the film will "give considerable amusement to unsophisticated local audiences, but which, may find it tough sledding in the Overseas territory. In the U. S,, particularly, the Yorkshire dialect will not be a selling aid. This is a modestly amusing piece, staged on a bigger scale than the story would seem to warrant, and offering a touch of spectacle in a couple of song and dance numbers."[6]
References
- "ROMANTIC COMEDY". The Australian Women's Weekly. 24, (5). Australia, Australia. 4 July 1956. p. 55. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
- "HERE ARE THE NOVELS — Love v. brass in Yorkshire". News. 61, (9, 364). South Australia. 14 August 1953. p. 18. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
- Bret, Dvaid (2014). Diana Dors: Hurricane in Mink. Aurum Press.
- "Pinewood Rank Prod Goes 100% V Vision". Variety. 5 January 1955. p. 51.
- "GLAMOR MUSICAL AT PINEWOOD". The Australian Women's Weekly. 22, (39). Australia, Australia. 23 February 1955. p. 42. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
- Review of film at Variety