Lady Godiva Rides Again – 1951 | 90 mins | Comedy | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Notas jovial as the title might have you believe, this mundane satire trades theusual Launder and Gilliat light touch for a dark and depressing depiction aboutthe seedy side of post-war showbusiness. The cast is mostly forgettable but forAlastair Sim’s cameo as a world-weary producer and Dennis Price as a lasciviousfilm star.

Setin a dreary provincial town, waitress Marjorie Clark (Pauline Stroud), enters alocal Lady Godiva contest against the wishes of uptight boyfriend Johnny(George Cole), and unexpectedly wins. Despite her father Tom (Stanley Holloway)disapproving and outrage in the national press from moral groups like theWomen’s Institute, Marge duly takes her place in the town pageant as LadyGodiva. This brings Marge to the attention of Eddie Mooney, exploitationmanager of Fascination soap, offering her the chance to enter the MissFascination national beauty contest in Westbourne; with carries with it a firstprize of £1,000, a mink coat, and a three-month film contract.

Unbeknownto the rest, the competition is rigged in favour of Dolores August (DianaDors), and due to a mix-up Margie is crowned Miss Fascination 1951. She thinksshe is on the way to fame and stardom with tuition at a film charm school,however she slowly sinks lower and lower until the only offer is burlesque witha travelling French review. She is about to have to perform in a nude show asLady Godiva when she is rescued by an Australian admirer.