Made in Dagenham [Blu-ray]

Director: Nigel Cole Nigel Cole

Overview

As produced by heavyweight Stephen Woolley (The Crying Game) and headlined by Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky) and Bob Hoskins (The Long Good Friday), this period docudrama brings to life a pivotal event from British history. In 1968, women's rights took a broad leap forward when workers at the Ford Dagenham automobile plant -- buckling beneath deplorable working conditions rightly perceived as gender discrimination -- suddenly stormed out into the streets and began to strike in protest of the unfair treatment levied at them. Little could they have foreseen the ramifications that this courageous and noble act would engender in successive years. Christopher Smith directs.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/29/2011
UPC:	0043396374492
Original Release:	2010
Rating:	R
Source:	SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMT
Language:	English
Time:	1:53:00
Sales rank:	36,293

Special Features

Outtakes; Deleted Scenes; Commentary with Director Nigel Cole; The Making of Made In Dagenham

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Sally Hawkins	Rita O'Grady
Bob Hoskins	Albert
Miranda Richardson	Barbara Castle
Geraldine James	Connie
Rupert Graves	Peter Hopkins
Rosamund Pike	Lisa Hopkins
Richard Schiff	Robert Tooley
Andrea Riseborough	Brenda
Daniel Mays	Eddie O'Grady
Jaime Winstone	Sandra
Lorraine Stanley	Monica
Nicola Duffett	Eileen
Matt Aubrey	Brian,Brian
Roger Lloyd-Pack	George
Phil Cornwell	Dave
Karen Seacombe	Marge
Thomas Arnold	Martin,Composer
Sian Scott	Sharon O'Grady
Robbie Kay	Graham O'Grady
Andrew Lincoln	Mr. Clarke
Joseph Mawle	Gordon
Kenneth Cranham	Monty Taylor
Gina Bramhill	Hopkins' Secretary
Marcus Hutton	Grant
Joseph Kloska	Undersecretary #1
Miles Jupp	Undersecretary #2
Frank Baker	Frank
Philip Perry	Arthur Horovitz
Peter-Hugo Daly	Bartholomew
Simon Armstrong	Rogers
Matilda Cole	Emily
Romy Taylor	Rosie,Lisa Hopkins' Son
Angus Barnett	Passing Van Driver
Birgitta Bernhard	Choir Mistress
Laurie Cannon	Reporter #1
William Ivory	Reporter #2
Nico Tatarowicz	Reporter #3
Denis Gilmore	Man on Bike
Danny Huston	Voice of American Boss
Mitchell Mullen	Kronnfeld
John Sessions	Harold Wilson
Matt King	Trevor Innes
Victoria Watkins	Union Secretary
Craig Randall	Vicar
David Bond	Union Chairman
Simon Nehan	Welsh Union Man

Technical Credits

William Ivory

Nigel Cole	Director
William Ivory	Screenwriter
Stephen Woolley	Producer
Elizabeth Karlsen	Producer
Tim Haslam	Executive Producer,Producer
Christine Langan	Executive Producer,Producer
Norman Merry	Executive Producer,Producer
Chris Bentley	Special Effects
Ben Brazier	Sound Effects,Sound Effects
Rachel Carberry	Sound Effects
Jennie Evans	Sound Effects
Robert Farr	Sound Effects
Paul White	Producer

Editorial Reviews

With all the heart of Norma Rae minus the grittiness of North Country, Made in Dagenham is the tale of unlikely labor leader Rita O'Grady (Sally Hawkins), a wife and mother who works at the Ford factory in the town of Dagenham, who, once she discovers that the women in this factory are being exploited, makes it her mission to fight for equal pay for equal work. The film is based on the true account of the British women machinists strike in 1968, and director Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls) incorporates archival footage and retro set pieces to set the tone for this tale of female empowerment. He takes a light approach to introducing the players before delving deeply into dramatic territory, and though the film starts off slowly it hits its stride once it gets away from its light and airy machinations and starts offering more dramatic moments where Hawkins gets to flex her acting muscles. The story centers on Rita O'Grady, a quiet, unassuming working-class heroine, wife, and mother who works at the Ford factory in Dagenham, England, where she stitches together car-seat upholstery along with 187 other women. Ford, who classifies these women as unskilled laborers, proposes a pay cut, but sympathetic union rep Albert (Bob Hoskins) encourages Rita to join the union negotiations. The ladies want to be classified as semi-skilled workers -- no more unpaid overtime or they'll call off work -- so when management calls their bluff, Rita transforms herself into a hardened labor leader and launches an all-out strike that causes the Ford plant to shut down and brings management to their knees. However, when resident villain and union-buster Robert Tooley (Richard Schiff) plays his trump card and threatens to take Ford's business elsewhere, Rita and the ladies must band together and push for equality. Screenwriter William Ivory lets the story play out just as you would expect, but without the twists, turns, and little surprises that would have made the film less paint-by-numbers. Still, Dagenham is truly heartfelt and inspiring regardless of the supposed feminist placebo effect, but what makes the movie the most engaging is Hawkins' performance. She shines as the witty and intelligent activist Rita O'Grady, and even when things get rough for Rita -- her marriage in trouble, the men's union working against her, top-level executives targeting her from overseas -- Hawkins pushes through with thoughtful emotion and skilled effectiveness. You truly follow her on a journey that transforms her from passive housewife to silver-tongued leader. The meatiest part of the film is nearly halfway through, but these moments are what make the film powerful, and though the subject matter seems outdated and gender-specific, Cole does a good job of revisiting an issue that still resonates with people today. Don't be surprised if you see these women picketing their way to the Oscars. Hawkins' performance alone is enough to draw the Academy's attention, and despite a few bumps along the way, Made in Dagenham is a soulful retro romp for everyone's inner activist.