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, Richard E. Grant

Won 2 Oscars. Another 23 wins & 47 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meryl Streep	...	Margaret Thatcher
Jim Broadbent	...	Denis Thatcher
Susan Brown	...	June - Housekeeper
Alice da Cunha	...	Cleaner
Phoebe Waller-Bridge	...	Susie - Margaret's Secretary
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 premiership. 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 Margaret's life forever.

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Plot Keywords:

politics | 10 downing street london | old woman | old age | conservative party | 

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Taglines:

Never compromise

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was not welcome in some areas where Thatcher was very unpopular. The town cinema in Barnsley refused to show it. In Chesterfield, a group opposed to the movie picketed outside the cinema.

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Goofs

In the closing scene, when 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

Denis Thatcher: You'll be fine on your own, love. You always have been.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Iron Lady Garden: Fucklands War (2012)

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Soundtracks

Casta Diva
(From "Norma")
(Vincenzo Bellini)
Performed by Maria Callas with Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala (as La Scala Milan Orchestra and Chorus)
Conducted by Tullio Serafin
Licensed courtesy of EMI Records Ltd

User Reviews

Disrespectful throughout

This film should have been about the greatness and defining moments of one of the United Kingdom's greatest Prime Ministers but instead focus' on her declining senility in later life! What a waste on a subject that could had made for a brilliant and inspiring film.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [UK]

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 2012 (UK)

Also Known As:

La dame de fer

Filming Locations:

Wimbledon Film and Television Studios, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$220,409, 1 January 2012

Gross USA:

$30,017,992

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$115,890,699

Company Credits

Production Co:

DJ Films, Pathé, Film4

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1