Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story (TV 2008)

Documents the rise of Mary Whitehouse during the 1960's, and the relationship between her and Sir Hugh Carleton Greene, the Director General of the BBC.

Director:

Andy De Emmony

Writers:

Amanda Coe, Patrick Reams (original idea)

Stars:

Julie Walters, Alun Armstrong, Hugh Bonneville

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julie Walters	...	Mary Whitehouse
Alun Armstrong	...	Ernest Whitehouse
Hugh Bonneville	...	Sir Hugh Carleton Greene
Georgie Glen	...	Norah Buckland
Timothy Davies	...	Rev. Basil Buckland
Paul Westwood	...	Paul Whitehouse
Drew Webb	...	Richard Whitehouse
Jeremy Legat	...	Christopher Whitehouse
Ron Cook	...	Lord Charlie Hill
William Beck	...	David Turner
Nicholas Woodeson	...	Harman Grisewood
Nicholas Le Prevost	...	Ken
Emily Hamilton	...	Miss Tate
Hilary Maclean	...	Brenda
Stewart Wright	...	Malcolm

Storyline

In the early 1960s, Mrs. Mary Whitehouse, a middle-aged school teacher, begins a campaign against what she sees as filth and smut on BBC television and radio. She and a friend start knocking on doors, circulating petitions and organizing rallies. Her nemesis during this time is Sir Hugh Carleton Greene, Director General of the BBC. He thinks she is just an old busybody who has no artistic taste and doesn't represent the mainstream of British society. Throughout his tenure, which lasted several years, he refused to see her or respond to her correspondence. She continued to campaign at what she viewed as unacceptable programming until her death in 2001.

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Plot Keywords:

campaign | 1960s | morality | public morality | husband wife relationship | 

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 May 2008 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wall to Wall Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The footage of Doctor Who, seen on a television screen and used to depict the violence of the series, is edited to suggest that the scene takes place at the end of the episode. In fact the scene in question takes place around halfway through Doctor Who: The Tomb of the Cybermen: Episode 4. This clip is followed by part of the opening sequence, showing the title and Patrick Troughton's face.

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Goofs

Mary is seen walking from her home to the woods where she walks past (and fails to notice) two young men having sex. She walks past a church which is clearly the Church of St James in Shere, Surrey. Mary Whitehouse lived in Shropshire.

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Quotes

David Turner: I've just had a spot of bother in Birmingham - I was ganged-up on by a group of schoolgirls and that demented housewife.
Sir Hugh Carleton Greene: Ah yes, of course. Now what *is* her name? No, don't tell me. Well you know what they say, old chap? Writing well is the best revenge.
[he turns to walk away]
Sir Hugh Carleton Greene: Though garrotting your enemy with cheesewire runs a close second.

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Crazy Credits

Opening titles: "The story you are about to see really took place... only with less swearing and more nudity".

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Connections

References Top of the Pops (1964)

User Reviews

Engaging, well made TV drama about a misguided but principled woman

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Early sixties Britain is still a fairly innocent place and Mary Whitehouse (Julie Walters), a suburban local art teacher and church-goer, lives a dainty little English existence in her quiet, dainty little Midlands village. But she becomes outraged by what she sees as declining standards on British TV, with more regular, casual bad language, sex talk and violence. The film portrays her real life crusade to 'clean up TV', bringing her into conflict with Hugh Greene (Hugh Bonneville) the new Programmes Commissioner at the BBC, who's moving with the times more and showing programmes more suited to the changing social attitudes.

It's interesting to note what a puritanical society we used to be not really so long ago, especially when we comment on the Americans and their prudish standards they still have on mainstream TV. Maybe it's the age I've been raised in but I've always been one for freedom of expression and mature adults being allowed to see what they want, so Mary Whitehouse was never a character that was going to agree with me. But even if you think her campaigns were misguided, you have to admire her determination and conviction of her will, which this very well made TV drama has portrayed.

The main thing that drives it is two superb lead performances. In the title role, Walters gives it her all as the quaint English lady with an unwavering moral compass who is forced to come to terms with society's changing ideals, attitudes, morals and beliefs while leading her campaign and similarly Bonneville is also great as the arrogant TV chief who bites off more than he can chew with the little guy.

Both the characters are very well written too, along with the script, which really gets you involved with the story, which is engaging and enthralling but refreshingly humorous, too, although in a manner risqué enough, ironically, to get Mrs Whitehouse up in arms about. ****