Girdle of Gold

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Girdle of Gold is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Montgomery Tully. It stars Esmond Knight, Maudie Edwards, and Meredith Edwards, with a script by Jack Dawe. Set in a small Welsh town, the story follows Griffiths the Hearse, a crafty undertaker who hides £150 in the lining of his wife’s girdle. Unknown to him, his wife plans to elope with Evans the milkman. Before she goes, she sells the girdle and buys a new one, and the old girdle is bought by newlywed Mary Rees who is off to London for her honeymoon. This sparks a frantic chase as Griffiths pursues the money and Evans tries to clear his name of theft.

The film was shot at Walton Studios near London, with location work in the capital. Sets were designed by art director Don Russell. Girdle of Gold runs 66 minutes and was released by Eros Films. Critics gave mixed opinions: some felt the premise was lively but the execution slow and uneven, while others called it an unpretentious small-town farce with its share of laughs, despite rough direction and a somewhat cheap production. A later comment described it as a decent idea that is hampered by its handling.