The Iron Lady (2011)

An elderly Margaret Thatcher talks to the imagined presence of her recently deceased husband as she struggles to come to terms with his death while scenes from her past life, from girlhood to British prime minister, intervene.

Director:

Phyllida Lloyd

Writer:

Abi Morgan (screenplay)

Stars:

Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Susan Brown

Won 2 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meryl Streep	...	Margaret Thatcher
Jim Broadbent	...	Denis Thatcher
Susan Brown	...	June
Alice da Cunha	...	Cleaner
Phoebe Waller-Bridge	...	Susie
Iain Glen	...	Alfred Roberts
Alexandra Roach	...	Young Margaret Thatcher
Victoria Bewick	...	Muriel Roberts
Emma Dewhurst	...	Beatrice Roberts
Olivia Colman	...	Carol Thatcher
Harry Lloyd	...	Young Denis Thatcher
Sylvestra Le Touzel	...	Hostess 1949
Michael Culkin	...	Host 1949
Stephanie Jacob	...	Female Guest 1949
Robert Portal	...	Grey Suited Guest 1949

Storyline

Elderly and a virtual prisoner in her own home due to her concerned staff and daughter Carol, Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first woman prime minister, looks back on her life as she clears out her late husband Denis's clothes for the Oxfam shop. Denis is seen as being her rock as she first enters parliament and then runs for the leadership of the Conservative Party, culminating in her eventual premiereship. Now his ghost joins her to comment on her successes and failures, sometimes to her annoyance, generally to her comfort until ultimately, as the clothes are sent to the charity shop, Denis departs from Margret's life forever.

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Plot Keywords:

margaret thatcher | prime minister | conservative party | politics | parliament | 

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Taglines:

Never compromise

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violent images and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

La dama de hierro

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$220,409 (USA) (30 December 2011)

Gross:

$29,959,436 (USA) (20 April 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pathé, Film4, UK Film Council

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On the nightstand early in the film in Thatcher's apartment is a book on Bismarck, who was known as the 'Iron Chancellor'.

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Goofs

In the closing scene where Thatcher walks down the stairs of Number 10 Downing Street, a lighting rig is visible on the landing above her.

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Quotes

Margaret Thatcher: We will stand on principle... or we will not stand at all.

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Connections

Referenced in Bad Movie Beatdown: Review of 2011 (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Soldiers of the Queen"
(Leslie Stuart)
Performed by The Military Band of The Queens Regiment
Licensed courtesy of Essential Media Group LLC

User Reviews

Streep is mesmerizing, the film is not.

There's no doubt about it: Meryl Streep will be nominated for her 17th Academy Award for her portrayal of Britain's most controversial Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, in this otherwise underwhelming biopic. Streep is mesmerizing as usual, but the mode of storytelling employed by screenwriter Abi Morgan and director Phyllida Lloyd – sporadic flashbacks among elongated stretches of following the elderly and mentally fragile Maggie – is a huge misfire. The scenes which recount her path from young adulthood through to local politics and then to her 11 years of turbulent leadership are intriguing, however they are too far and few between to really grip. Sure, it checks off the list as far as famous moments go, but a more in depth insight into how she ran the country would've been nice.