Value for Money – 1955 | 90 mins | Comedy | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Clichéd ’50s romantic comedy adapted from the novel by Derrick Boothroyd, the film charts a miser who is forced to broaden his outlook on life after he takes a trip to London. Diana Dors is at her best as a brass-digging blonde but Gregson is a catalogue of regional clichés. Confidently directed by Ken Annakin, the film boasts some fascinating period locations, all captured by Geoffrey Unsworth in vibrant Technicolor.

Despite inheriting his old man’s riches, Yorkshire rag merchant Chayley Broadbent (John Gregson) is haunted by the spirit of his miserly father and still counts every penny, so much so that fiancée Ethel (Susan Stephen) turns down his marriage proposal, unable to face a life of drudgery as his replacement housekeeper. Rejection encourages the moneybags skinflint to depart Barfield and drown his sorrows down in London, where Cup Final night throws him together with voluptuous gold-digging chorus gal Ruthine West (Diana Dors) who knows a good thing when she sees it.

When Chayley returns to Barfield, still doe-eyed over Ruth, the warning voice of his deceased father echoes and angry fiancée Ethel breaks off their engagement. Chayley duly returns to London to propose to Ruth,but she makes it clear she is after a man of substance, and under the misapprehension that he is of meagre resources, rejects his proposal. Wounded, Chayley returns to Barfield determined to make a name for himself and get elected onto the local council just to impress Ruth. He accordingly invites Ruth to the grand opening of a children’s playground in Barfield and she finally realises he’s wealthy,so quickly suggests marriage and begins spending his hard-earned cash. With the voice of his father ringing in his ears, Chayley ditches Ruth.