Shoulder to Shoulder

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Shoulder to Shoulder
Shoulder to Shoulder title card.png
Title card
Created by
Directed by
Starring
Theme music composer Ethel Smyth
Opening theme"The March of the Women"
Composer Stanley Myers
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes6
Production
ProducerVerity Lambert
Running time75 minutes
Original release
Network BBC2
Release3 April (1974-04-03) –
8 May 1974 (1974-05-08)

Shoulder to Shoulder is a 1974 BBC television serial relating the history of the women's suffrage movement, created by script editor Midge Mackenzie, producer Verity Lambert and actor Georgia Brown. It was broadcast on BBC2 between 3 April and 8 May 1974.

Contents

Development

The drama series grew out of discussions between Mackenzie and the actress and singer Georgia Brown, who was dissatisfied at the lack of decent roles for women in TV drama. Brown enlisted the producer Verity Lambert in the project she and Mackenzie were devising to dramatise the struggle for women's suffrage, and the three women presented the idea to the BBC, which gave approval for the series. Originally they had hoped to use only female script writers but this proved impracticable. Male writers were used and the three female originators of the project later said they needed to remove from their scripts a number of 'innuendoes, misconceptions and untruths' indicative of what Georgia Brown termed "the male point of view". [1]

The series, directed by Waris Hussein and Moira Armstrong, dramatized the fight for the right to vote for British women. It covered the period from the 1890s to 1919 and followed the suffrage movement as it was influenced by the Pankhursts: Richard, Emmeline, Christabel and Sylvia, and Annie Kenney. [2] [3] The series was written by Douglas Livingstone, Alan Plater, Ken Taylor and Hugh Whitemore. The series was made in association with Warner Bros. Television. [4] The designers were Susan Spence, Evan Hercules and Eileen Diss; costumes were by Joan Ellacott. Emmeline Pankhurst was played by Sian Phillips; her daughters Christabel and Sylvia by Patricia Quinn and Angela Down. Michael Gough played Emmeline's husband, Dr Richard Pankhurst. Georgia Brown played Annie Kenney, a mill worker who joined the cause and eventually became a dynamic speaker for the movement. Lady Constance Lytton, an upper class activist for women's suffrage who underwent force feeding in prison, was played by Judy Parfitt. Sally Miles played Flora Drummond; Sheila Allen, Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence. Fulton Mackay played the socialist leader Keir Hardie, Robert Hardy was Asquith and Bob Hoskins played Jack Dunn. [1] [5]

Repeat broadcast

After an extensive period of critical neglect, [1] Shoulder to Shoulder was rebroadcast on BBC Four in April 2024 to mark both its 50th anniversary and the 90th birthday of Phillips, as well as being added to BBC iPlayer. A retrospective conversation between Phillips, Hussein and Armstrong was also shown. [6]

Tie-in book

The book Shoulder to Shoulder documents the lives and works of some of Britain's leading suffragettes. It includes many excerpts from their speeches, diaries, letters, memoirs, other writings and various newspaper cuttings, photographs, and cartoons. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmeline Pankhurst</span> British suffragette (1858–1928)

Emmeline Pankhurst was a British political activist who organised the British suffragette movement and helped women win the right to vote. In 1999, Time named her as one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century, stating that "she shaped an idea of objects for our time" and "shook society into a new pattern from which there could be no going back". She was widely criticised for her militant tactics, and historians disagree about their effectiveness, but her work is recognised as a crucial element in achieving women's suffrage in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christabel Pankhurst</span> Suffragette, co-founder of the Womens Social and Political Union, and editor

Dame Christabel Harriette Pankhurst was a British suffragette born in Manchester, England. A co-founder of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), she directed its militant actions from exile in France from 1912 to 1913. In 1914, she supported the war against Germany. After the war, she moved to the United States, where she worked as an evangelist for the Second Adventist movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's Social and Political Union</span> UK movement for womens suffrage, 1903–1918

The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was a women-only political movement and leading militant organisation campaigning for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom founded in 1903. Known from 1906 as the suffragettes, its membership and policies were tightly controlled by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Christabel and Sylvia. Sylvia was eventually expelled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adela Pankhurst</span> British-Australian suffragette and political activist (1885–1961)

Adela Constantia Mary Walsh was a British born suffragette who worked as a political organiser for the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in Scotland. In 1914 she moved to Australia where she continued her activism and was co-founder of both the Communist Party of Australia and the Australia First Movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annie Kenney</span> British suffragette (1879–1953)

Ann "Annie" Kenney was an English working-class suffragette and socialist feminist who became a leading figure in the Women's Social and Political Union. She co-founded its first branch in London with Minnie Baldock. Kenney attracted the attention of the press and public in 1905 when she and Christabel Pankhurst were imprisoned for several days for assault and obstruction related to the questioning of Sir Edward Grey at a Liberal rally in Manchester on the issue of votes for women. The incident is credited with inaugurating a new phase in the struggle for women's suffrage in the UK with the adoption of militant tactics. Annie had friendships with Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, Baroness Pethick-Lawrence, Mary Blathwayt, Clara Codd, Adela Pankhurst, and Christabel Pankhurst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Brown (English singer)</span> British actress, singer (1933–1992)

Georgia Brown was an English singer and actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flora Drummond</span> British suffragette

Flora McKinnon Drummond, was a British suffragette. Nicknamed 'The General' for her habit of leading Women's Rights marches wearing a military style uniform 'with an officers cap and epaulettes' and riding on a large horse, Drummond was an organiser for the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) and was arrested nine times for her activism in the Women's Suffrage movement. Drummond's main political activity was organising and leading rallies, marches and demonstrations. She was an accomplished orator and had a reputation for being able to put down hecklers with ease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suffragette</span> British movement for womens suffrage

A suffragette was a member of an activist women's organisation in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for the right to vote in public elections in the United Kingdom. The term refers in particular to members of the British Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), a women-only movement founded in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst, which engaged in direct action and civil disobedience. In 1906, a reporter writing in the Daily Mail coined the term suffragette for the WSPU, derived from suffragist, in order to belittle the women advocating women's suffrage. The militants embraced the new name, even adopting it for use as the title of the newspaper published by the WSPU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst Memorial</span> Memorial in London to Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst

The Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst Memorial is a memorial in London to Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel, two of the foremost British suffragettes. It stands at the entrance to Victoria Tower Gardens, south of Victoria Tower at the southwest corner of the Palace of Westminster. Its main feature is a bronze statue of Emmeline Pankhurst by Arthur George Walker, unveiled in 1930. In 1958 the statue was relocated to its current site and the bronze reliefs commemorating Christabel Pankhurst were added.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Phillips (suffragette)</span> English suffragette (1880–1969)

Mary Elizabeth Phillips was an English suffragette, feminist and socialist. She was the longest prison serving suffragette. She worked for Christabel Pankhurst but was sacked; she then worked for Sylvia Pankhurst as Mary Pederson or Mary Paterson. In later life she supported women's and children's organisations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eagle House (suffragette's rest)</span>

Eagle House is a Grade II* listed building in Batheaston, Somerset, near Bath. Before World War I the house had extensive grounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florence Haig</span> Scottish artist and suffragette

Florence Eliza Haig (1856–1952) was a Scottish artist and suffragette who was decorated for imprisonments and hunger strikes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gladice Keevil</span> British suffragette

Gladice Georgina Keevil was a British suffragette who served as head of the Midlands office of the Women's Social and Political Union between 1908 and 1910.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's Sunday</span> Suffragette mass demonstration, London 1908

Women's Sunday was a suffragette march and rally held in London on 21 June 1908. Organised by Emmeline Pankhurst's Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) to persuade the Liberal government to support votes for women, it is thought to have been the largest demonstration to be held until then in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lillian Dove-Willcox</span> British suffragette

Lillian Dove-Willcox (1875–1963) was a British suffragette who was a member of Emmeline Pankhurst's personal bodyguard.

Caroline Phillips was a Scottish feminist, suffragette and journalist. She was honorary secretary of the Aberdeen branch of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), met and corresponded with many of the leaders of the movement and was also involved in the organisation of militant action in Aberdeen.

<i>Sylvia</i> (musical) 2018 British musical

Sylvia is a British musical with book by Kate Prince and Priya Parmer, with music by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde and lyrics by Prince based on the life of Sylvia Pankhurst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace Roe</span> Head of suffragette operations for the WSPU

Eleanor Grace Watney Roe was Head of Suffragette operations for the Women's Social and Political Union. She was released from prison after the outbreak of World War I due to an amnesty for suffragettes negotiated with the government by the WSPU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holloway brooch</span> Award

The Holloway brooch was presented by the Women's Social and Political Union (WPSU) to women who had been imprisoned at Holloway Prison for militant suffragette activity. It is also referred to as the "Portcullis badge", the "Holloway Prison brooch" and the "Victoria Cross of the Union".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSPU Holloway Prisoners Banner</span> Suffragette banner designed by Scottish artist Ann Macbeth

The WSPU Holloway Banner is a suffragette banner designed by Scottish artist Ann Macbeth.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Shoulder to Shoulder | A Television Heaven Review". Archived from the original on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  2. ↑ "Shoulder to Shoulder". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Shoulder to Shoulder (TV Mini-Series 1974)". IMDb.com. 5 October 1975. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "BFI Screenonline: Shoulder To Shoulder (1974)". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  5. ↑ Angelini, Sergio. "Shoulder To Shoulder (1974)". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Mulkern, Patrick (9 April 2024). "Shoulder to Shoulder, the TV classic about the suffragettes, is 50 years old – we speak to Dame Siân Phillips, Waris Hussein and Moira Armstrong". Radio Times . Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  7. ↑ Mackenzie, Midge (1975) ISBN   0-394-73070-4 Vintage Books and later as Random House 1st Vintage Books Ed edition (31 December 1988) ISBN   0679721312 ISBN   978-0-679-72131-4
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