Made in Dagenham (2010)

A dramatization of the 1968 strike at the Ford Dagenham car plant, where female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination.

Director:

Nigel Cole

Writer:

William Ivory

Stars:

Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, Andrea Riseborough

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 3 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sally Hawkins	...	Rita O'Grady
Andrea Riseborough	...	Brenda
Jaime Winstone	...	Sandra
Lorraine Stanley	...	Monica
Nicola Duffett	...	Eileen
Geraldine James	...	Connie
Bob Hoskins	...	Albert Passingham
Matthew Aubrey	...	Brian (as Matt Aubrey)
Daniel Mays	...	Eddie O'Grady
Roger Lloyd Pack	...	George (as Roger Lloyd-Pack)
Phil Cornwell	...	Dave
Karen Seacombe	...	Marge
Thomas Arnold	...	Martin
Sian Scott	...	Sharon O'Grady
Robbie Kay	...	Graham O'Grady

Storyline

In 1968, the Ford auto factory in Dagenham was one of the largest single private employers in the United Kingdom. In addition to the thousands of male employees, there are also 187 underpaid women machinists who primarily assemble the car seat upholstery in poor working conditions. Dissatisfied, the women, represented by the shop steward and Rita O'Grady, work with union rep Albert Passingham for a better deal. However, Rita learns that there is a larger issue in this dispute considering that women are paid an appalling fraction of the men's wages for the same work across the board on the sole basis of their sex. Refusing to tolerate this inequality any longer, O'Grady leads a strike by her fellow machinists for equal pay for equal work. What follows would test the patience of all involved in a grinding labour and political struggle that ultimately would advance the cause of women's rights around the world.

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Plot Keywords:

automobile manufacturing | f rated | ford of britain | ford motor company | whitehall | 

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Taglines:

Dagenham, England, 1968. An ordinary woman fights for equal pay and achieves something extraordinary.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Nigel Cole leapt at the chance of making a film in his native Britain after a frustrating stint in America making A Lot Like Love (2005) and $5 a Day (2008), neither of which met with his expectations.

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Goofs

The Union chiefs announce their loyalty to the Communist Party yet communists were banned from holding office in the TGWU at that time.

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Quotes

Eddie O'Grady: Christ, I like a drink, but I ain't out on the beer every night or screwin' other women, or... 'Ere, I've never once raised me hand to you. Ever. Or the kids.
Rita O'Grady: Christ.
Eddie O'Grady: What? Why are you looking like that?
Rita O'Grady: Right. You're a saint now, is that what you're tellin' me, Eddie? You're a bleedin' saint? 'Cause you give us an even break?
Eddie O'Grady: What are you saying?
Rita O'Grady: That is as it should be. Jesus, Eddie! What do you think this strike's all been about, eh? Oh yeah. Actually you're right. You don't go on the drink, do ...

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Crazy Credits

Captions in the closing credits: "Two years later in May 1970 the Equal Pay Act became law. Similar legislation quickly followed in most industrial countries across the world. Ford Motor Company Limited went on to effect changes in its employment practices and is now used as an example of a good practice employer."

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Connections

Referenced in The Graham Norton Show: Denzel Washington/Gemma Arterton/Peter Capaldi/George Ezra (2014)

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Soundtracks

All Or Nothing
Written by Steve Marriott (as Marriott) / Ronnie Lane (as Lane)
Performed by Small Faces
Published by Aviation Music Limited Courtesy of The Decca Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Operations Ltd

User Reviews

A Recreation Of A Major Step To Equality

A fine recreation of the major historic step for equal pay for women. Dramatic but with plenty of laughs in the workplace and the biased tradition of different levels politics. Also a glimpse at the class differences in modern 1968 England and the soundtrack instantly took me back to when I was 20. This should be mandatory watching for management till they really understand it. Also mandatory watching for the rest of us to remind us that fighting for a cause is difficult but can succeed. Very well written and acted, I see a lot of movies and most need more spend on shortcomings in the story/script and less on overpaid actors, I really could not find fault in "Made In Dagenham".

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 September 2010 (UK)

Also Known As:

Made in Dagenham

Filming Locations:

Dagenham, Essex, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$7,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$37,563, 21 November 2010

Gross USA:

$1,095,369

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,629,471

Company Credits

Production Co:

Audley Films, BBC Films, BMS Finance

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White (television footage)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1