The film was originally to be called
Beauty Queen. It was inspired by the Miss Kent 1950
beauty competition held at
Leas Cliff Hall in
Kent.
Frank Launder, joint producer of the film with Leslie Gilliatt, was one of the judges in the competition. The filmmakers reportedly tested over 500 women to play the lead role including
Joan Collins and
Audrey Hepburn, who was judged too thin. The actor chosen was Pauline Stroud. Her only previous film experience was as
Vera-Ellen's stand-in in
Happy Go Lovely (1951). Collins was given a bit part. The movie was the film debut of Anne Heywood, then known as
Violet Pretty, who had won a number of beauty contests. It was the first time John McCallum, who was Australian, played an Australian in a British film. Kay Kendall was cast as Stroud's sister after Launder saw her in a BBC play; the film helped revive Kendall's career after
London Town. Filming took place in June–July 1951. The production filmed on location in
Folkestone,
Kent.
The Leas Cliff Hall was used as the location for the beauty competition, and The Metropole was the setting for the seaside hotel hosting the Fascination Soap Pageant. Folkestone West station features in the film for the railway scenes where Marjorie Clark (Pauline Stroud) arrives and meets Dolores August (Diana Dors) and her consorts, Larry and Vic. The now closed Rotunda Amusement Park was also used for the scenes where Larry (John McCallum) and Marjorie visit and go on rides. Diana Dors appeared in a swimsuit in one scene. She shot two versions – one in a bikini for release in Europe, another in a more conservative swimsuit for release in America. American censors objected to the content of the film, including the revealing nature of outfits worn by Dors. ==Reception==