IRON JAWED ANGELS (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television movie is about the American women's suffrage movement of the early 1900s, following activists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns. The program begins in Philadelphia in September 1912 as Carrie Chapman Catt of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) learns from colleague Harriet Blatch about Alice's return from suffragette-related work in England. En route to the meeting, Alice and Lucy discuss the points they hope to make with Carrie. Meanwhile, Reverend Anna Howard Shaw, president of NAWSA, gives a speech to the group's members. Afterward, Alice and Lucy sit down with Carrie and Anna to discuss the possibility of the passage of a constitutional amendment to aid the women's movement. Though Anna thinks the radical suffrage movement in England gives women a bad name, she allows Alice and Lucy to take over the NAWSA committee in Washington, D.C. She warns them against "hooligan tactics," causing Lucy to mock the elders on the train ride to D.C. Setting up shop in the nation's capital, Alice and Lucy find their chapter lacking in funds. Alice and Lucy try to organize some factory workers, eventually getting the assistance of brassy worker Ruza Wenclawska. As Alice and Lucy prepare for a parade march, Mabel Vernon joins their staff. Then, Ida Wells Barnett arrives at their offices, wondering why black women are expected to march in the back of the line. Alice backs down to Ida's demand to march with her peers. The next day, Doris Stevens stands on the sidewalk trying to recruit volunteers, eventually catching the eye of society matron Emily Leighton. Later, Alice, Lucy, and others attend a benefit to try to solicit donations. At the same benefit, Emily arrives with her husband, Senator Thomas Leighton. Lucy tries to recruit Emily but she claims to have no interest in politics.
Later, Alice meets Ben Weissman and Inez Millholland, espousing her views to the pair. Alice learns that Ben is an artist for the Washington Post. He invites her out for a lunch date but Alice is more interested in gaining his access to Post reporters. Later, Ben wonders why Alice is so interested in getting women the vote, thinking it hasn't done much good for black men. That night, Lucy finds Alice "talking" to Susan B. Anthony's old desk about the possibility of getting a suffrage amendment on the congressional floor. Then, at the suffrage parade, Ida steps in line with the white women before some men begin taunting them. As the women are pelted with detritus, a riot soon breaks out. Meanwhile, Woodrow Wilson arrives in Washington to little fanfare. Alice, Lucy, and the others are thrilled that their actions made front page news, but Carrie and Anna think the group went overboard. Alice retorts that they have the attention of President Wilson, but Carrie disagrees. However, the women are able to meet with the president, asking him whether he will address Congress on the merits of the suffrage issues. He claims to not yet be educated enough about the topic to discuss it. Alice tells Lucy that it is time they become "a thorn" in Wilson's side. Soon, Lucy is instructing group members on how to lobby congressmen. One night, Senator Leighton arrives home late, reporting to Emily that the suffrage amendment finally made it out of committee, but was voted down. Emily questions why it failed. Meanwhile, Carrie and Anna are upset when they hear about Alice's new, unauthorized fund-raising committee, thinking she is promoting propaganda in telling women not to vote for Wilson in the next election. Later, Alice pays a visit to Ben's studio, trying to talk him into helping her get an editorial published. When Alice storms away after seeing a family photo on his desk, Ben reveals that his wife Julia passed away four years earlier. Alice agrees to have dinner with him if he brings his editor. At Cameron House Headquarters, Emily arrives to make a donation and Alice puts her to work as a typist.
Later, Alice tells Emily that she "perpetuates the lie" by refusing to stand up to her oppressive husband. At dinner that night, Alice dines with Ben and his son, but not the newspaper editor that she requested. Returning home early, Alice and Lucy discuss their differing opinions on having babies. Lucy is tired of being alone. One day, Alice goes in front of NAWSA, where Carrie and Anna charge her with inappropriately using finances. Lucy convinces an upset Alice that they should split with NAWSA. Alice comes to agree with her friend, starting the National Woman's Party (NWP), a more politically independent organization than NAWSA. Soon, the NWP is lobbying hard at Wilson, while angering Carrie, a supporter of the president. Next, at Union Station in Washington D.C. in 1916, Alice sees Lucy and some others off to California. Inez tells Alice that she doesn't think she can go to California, but Alice convinces her otherwise. One Sunday, Ben visits Alice, offering to teach her how to drive, an offer she can't resist. Soon, the two are dancing -- despite Alice's Quaker upbringing -- and nearly kissing. Meanwhile, Senator Leighton reports to Emily that the NWP is traveling west on a speaking campaign urging voters to go against the Democrats who oppose the suffragist amendment. Furthermore, a newspaper article mentions that Emily is a supporter of the NWP, infuriating the senator. He tells her to withdraw her membership. While on the campaign, Inez starts spitting up blood, eventually dying from pernicious anemia. Despite the women's efforts, Wilson is reelected president. Alice blames herself for Inez's death and heads home to the family farm. Lucy tracks Alice down, wondering why she is spending her time canning fruit instead of working on the suffrage movement. Alice feels "lost," thinking that they haven't yet improved women's rights, but Lucy convinces her otherwise.
On January 10, 1917, Alice, Lucy, and the others hold signs in front of the White House addressing the president. Alice tells the press that the NWP will stand in front of the White House every day until women are given the right to vote. Carrie denounces the NWP's efforts. Wilson has to keep a smiling face, praying that the NWP will get tired of the cold weather and eventually leave. However, the suffragists suffer through wind, rain, and snow. One day, Alice learns that Ben has asked out fellow suffragist Doris. Lucy reports that he is still interested in Alice, but recognized that she wouldn't make time for him. Alice tells Lucy that she can't settle down and fall in love until their movement has triumphed. Meanwhile, the United States declares war on Germany and Kaiser Wilhelm. The NWP women debate whether they should suspend their picketing in order to support the war effort. Alice thinks that they could take a break in pushing Wilson, but Lucy disagrees. Alice concurs that a small group of non-mothers will picket during the war. Soon, public opinion is blasting the women for picketing a wartime president. Eventually, the police arrive and arrest Lucy, Ruza, Doris, and others. Alice learns that her cohorts were charged with "obstructing traffic." The defendants are found guilty and sentenced to sixty days in a workhouse or a ten dollar fine. They refuse the fine as they feel it would be admitting guilt, which also KOs Mabel's idea for a presidential pardon. Meanwhile, the "political prisoners" initially refuse to don prison garb. Lucy takes charge in jail, insisting that the women be given food as well as pen and paper in order to write, but they are refused, along with getting no counsel.
The next morning, Emily awakens to find that her husband has sent their children away. Senator Leighton is angry at Emily for attending the suffragist trials and thinks her unfit to have custody of her daughters. That night, Ben arrives at the house, bringing Alice dinner. Alice wonders how Ben can eat with Doris in jail. The next day, despite Lucy's wishes, Alice joins the picket line in front of the White House. The NWP's signs call the president "Kaiser Wilson" as Alice ceremonially burns his words. Again, a riot ensues and Alice and Emily are arrested. Emily refuses to accept the senator's legal help. In the work prison, Alice uses her boot to break a window in the muggy factory. She is sent to solitary confinement, where she refuses to eat her meals. Soon, the prison doctor is speaking with Alice, wondering why she refuses to eat. Alice discusses the tradition of refusing food until justice is granted. Eventually, Wilson has learned about Alice's hunger strike. Later, Alice is returned to the general prison population but she continues not eating. The other suffragists join the hunger strike. Alice is taken to a room where she is strapped to a chair and force-fed raw eggs via a tube. Meanwhile, one guard begins secretly passing notes amongst the suffragists. Senator Leighton soon comes to visit Emily, telling her he wants to take her home. He says he will speak with Wilson and get him to issue a pardon, but Emily insists she has done nothing illegal. Meanwhile, Carrie meets with Wilson who tells her to be a little more "patient" on getting women the right to vote. At the same time, Senator Leighton learns about Alice's plight, becoming concerned. Senator Leighton goes public about the women's abusive treatment. Alice and the others are soon released, after which Alice and Carrie reach a tentative truce. Due to the furor, Wilson is forced to go in front of Congress and argue for the suffragists' cause. On August 18, 1920, Alice and Lucy rejoice upon hearing that women have finally been awarded the right to vote. Graphics reveals that on August 26, 1920 the nineteenth amendment -- which gave women the right to vote -- became constitutional law.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: February 15, 2004 Sunday 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:03:10
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:83409
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; Women's suffrage; Politics
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 2004
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Paula Weinstein … Executive Producer
- Robin Forman … Executive Producer
- Len Amato … Executive Producer
- Lydia Dean Pilcher … Executive Producer
- Laura McCorkindale … Co-Producer
- Denise Pinckley … Co-Producer
- James Bigwood … Co-Producer
- Von Garnier, Katja … Director
- Sally Robinson … Writer
- Eugenia Bostwick Singer … Writer
- Raymond Singer … Writer
- Jennifer Friedes … Writer
- Reinhold Heil … Music by
- Johnny Klimek … Music by
- Hilary Swank … Cast, Alice Paul
- Frances O'Connor … Cast, Lucy Burns
- Julia Ormond … Cast, Inez Millholland
- Anjelica Huston … Cast, Carrie Chapman Catt
- Molly Parker … Cast, Emily Leighton
- Patrick Dempsey … Cast, Ben Weissman
- Laura Fraser … Cast, Doris Stevens
- Brooke Smith … Cast, Mabel Vernon
- Vera Farmiga … Cast, Ruza Wenclawska
- Lois Smith … Cast, Anna Howard Shaw
- Margo Martindale … Cast, Harriot Blatch
- Joseph Adams … Cast, Thomas Leighton
- Bob Gunton … Cast, Woodrow Wilson
- Adilah Barnes … Cast, Ida Wells Barnett
- Carrie Snodgress … Cast, Mrs. Paul
- Kristina Vensko … Cast, Young Jenny Leighton
- Lois Sanders … Cast, Nancy Barkin
- Candy Dennis … Cast, Ellen Wilson
- Vinny Genna … Cast, Fiorello La Guardia
- Dylan Chaikin … Cast, Michael Weissman
- Semen Hirzhner … Cast, Russian Mover
- Jeremy Nicholas … Cast, Russian Mover's Son
- Donna York Dunn … Cast, Woman on Street
- Steven Moore … Cast, Parade Heckler #1
- Amelia Zontini … Cast, Woman in Parade
- Paul D'Elia … Cast, Parade Heckler #2
- Michael Goodwin … Cast, Chief of Staff
- Sean Pratt … Cast, District Commissioner #1
- Keith Flippen … Cast, District Commissioner #2
- Dalton Gray … Cast, Parade Heckler #3
- Mason Flippo … Cast, Boy in Crowd
- Mikhail Ostapovich … Cast, Movie Patron
- David Sennett … Cast, Senator #1
- Bev Appleton … Cast, Senator #2
- Tim Smith … Cast, Statesman-like Senator
- Jerry Guarino … Cast, Cigar-smoking Senator
- Janie Prince … Cast, Hostess
- Faith Potts … Cast, "Second the Motion" Woman
- Jim Daab … Cast, Catt Interview Reporter
- Moss Levenson … Cast, Union Station Newsboy
- Timothy Williams … Cast, First Picket Reporter
- Rufus Wright … Cast, Confederate Veteran
- Jolene Carroll … Cast, Mrs. Lewis
- Michelle Jones … Cast, Katherine Cora
- Leonard Brisendine … Cast, Man in Crowd #1
- Michael O'Brien … Cast, Man in Crowd #2
- Kahil Doty … Cast, Man in Crowd #3
- James W. Hester … Cast, Picket Arrest Captain
- Jim Brady … Cast, Police Officer
- Sam Wells … Cast, District Attorney
- Dawn Westbrook … Cast, Hazel
- Sarah Roberts … Cast, Victoria
- Heather McCorkindale … Cast, Katherine
- Michelle Saunders … Cast, Paula
- Timothy Rice … Cast, Judge Mahoney
- Isa Thomas … Cast, Matron Herndon
- Tom Wiggin … Cast, Warden Whittaker
- Jarrod Russell … Cast, Guard
- Coby Batty … Cast, "Shut Up" Guard
- William Powell Blair … Cast, "In Hell" Guard
- Joe Inscoe … Cast, Leighton's Lawyer
- Robert Treveiler … Cast, Attorney O'Brien
- Antonio Moscatelli … Cast, Pscyh Ward Orderly
- Kollin Richey … Cast, Orderly
- Rick Warner … Cast, Dr. White
- Laurie Ashenfelder … Cast, Prison Singer
- Megen Garris … Cast, Prison Singer
- Tamara Hubbard … Cast, Prison Singer
- Gerry Jackson … Cast, Prison Singer
- Stephanie Kelley … Cast, Prison Singer
- Lisa N. Oberg … Cast, Prison Singer
- Brooke Spatz … Cast, Prison Singer
- Erin E. Thomas … Cast, Prison Singer
- Von Ronne, Shannon … Cast, Prison Singer
- Portia Reiners … Cast, 14-year-old Jenny Leighton
- Katie Bacon … Cast, 9-year-old Rebecca Leighton
- Trevor Gagnon … Cast, Francis
- Stan Kelly … Cast, Tennesse Speaker
- Michael Kennedy … Cast, Representative Gordon
- David Guertler … Cast, Representative Wells
- Jon Abel … Cast, Representative Graceson
- Ray Schreiner … Cast, Tennessee Representative Fleming
- Robin Pyle … Cast, Tennessee Page
- Glenn T. Crone … Cast, Tennessee Representative Turner
- Peter Berinato … Cast, Tennessee Representative Burn