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

Andrea Riseborough and Sally Hawkins were both in Never Let Me Go, also released in 2010, however they didn't share any scenes.

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Goofs

A Mk1 Cortina comes off the production line, but in an interior shot, the two women are sitting in a MK2 cortina GT.

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Quotes

Rita O'Grady: Bollocks. I'm sorry, but it is. Three hours we've been sat here. That's what matters to the girls? How you're qualified to talk about that, I do not know.
Rita O'Grady: [she pulls out threads of leather] Have a look at this. There. You put them together, go on!
Ford executive: Ford property, I believe?
Rita O'Grady: Oh stop it! We have to pick all these different pieces and work out how they go together. Cause there ain't no template is there? We have to take them all and sow them one by one into the finished article. That is not unskilled ...
[...]

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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

Tiger
Written by Brian Auger (as Auger, Brian Albert Gordon) / Sutton, Roger J
Performed by Brian Auger
Published by Universal / Dick James Music Ltd
Licensed courtesy of Fresh Fruit, a division of MiG Music

User Reviews

superb

Made in Dagenham hit the screen and shows that a not-exceedingly-mega- budget film can be the best of the year.

The factually based story of how the Dagenham women brought Ford to a standstill makes for surprising film material.But it works .The film is authentic to the late 60s down to the tea cups and kitchen cabinets , the clothes and make up.

Miranda Richardson as Barbara Castle steals the film,Bob Hoskins,Geraldine James are all excellent in their roles.

Stay in for the credits though, that part of it had me reaching for the tissues .

This is a film which will have you shaking with anger one minute and crying the next.Highly recommended.

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