Iron Jawed Angels - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Astrocloud · 02-25-2004, 09:31 PM

This is a non-fiction movie on the sufferage movement in the early 20th century. It's pretty cool because the acting is topnotch and it gives me a much needed insight into this period of American History.

It stars Hillary Swank as Alice Paul who breaks from the ranks of the mainstream sufferage movement. Eventually she is thrown into prison and goes on a hunger strike. She was ordered to be force fed by none other than the president himself.

Quote:

IRON JAWED ANGELS recounts for a contemporary audience a key chapter in U.S. history: in this case, the struggle of suffragists who fought for the passage of the 19th Amendment. Focusing on the two defiant women, Alice Paul (Hilary Swank) and Lucy Burns (Frances O'Connor), the film shows how these activists broke from the mainstream women's-rights movement and created a more radical wing, daring to push the boundaries of political protest to secure women's voting rights in 1920. Breathing life into the relationships between Paul, Burns and others, the movie makes the women feel like complete characters instead of one-dimensional figures from a distant past.

Although the protagonists have different personalities and backgrounds - Alice is a Quaker and Lucy an Irish Brooklynite - they are united in their fierce devotion to women's suffrage. In a country dominated by chauvinism, this is no easy fight, as the women and their volunteers clash with older, conservative activists, particularly Carrie Chapman Catt (Angelica Huston). They also battle public opinion in a tumultuous time of war, not to mention the most powerful men in the country, including President Woodrow Wilson (Bob Gunton). Along the way, sacrifices are made: Alice gives up a chance for love, and colleague Inez Mulholland (Julia Ormond) gives up her life.

The women are thrown in jail, with an ensuing hunger strike making headline news. The women's resistance to being force-fed earns them the nickname "The Iron Jawed Angels." However, it is truly their wills that are made of iron, and their courage inspires a nation and changes it forever.

Oh yeah, there is a bit of romance in the movie between Alice Paul and a newspaper editor/political cartoonist Ben Weisman.... Funny that HBO's synapsis says nothing of this. [edit] Maybe because it's fictionalized?

I don't know perhaps its just because I love historical dramas but this movie gets two big thumbs up from me.

More photos and a video trailer here:

http://www.hbo.com/films/ironjawedangels/video/

Hrothgar · 02-26-2004, 10:29 PM

It's on it seems like every hour on HBO. So far I've been able to avoid it.

mystmarimatt · 02-27-2004, 02:49 PM

I love Historical Dramas. But this just sounds like one of those things...If HBO hadn't made it, Lifetime or Oxygen would have.

Bill O'Rights · 02-27-2004, 02:59 PM

I keep catching the last 1/2 hour or 45 minutes of it. It seems interesting, and I'd like to catch it, from the beginning, sometime.

PulpMind · 02-27-2004, 11:02 PM

the trailer for that looks really impressive... I going to make an effort to watch that (despite no hbo)

ShaniFaye · 11-20-2004, 05:08 PM

I just got done watching it.....I can honestly say its one of the best non fiction movies I've ever seen.

Astrocloud there was no Ben (in fact Alice Paul never married) AND Emily (the wife of the senator) didnt exist either from what I've been able to find out.

If the masturbation scene wasnt in it I would reccommend that EVERY teenage girl see this.

Interesting note....Hilary Swank wasnt even registered to vote when she made this movie

02-26-2004, 10:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Hrothgar He's My Girl Location: The Champagne Douche	It's on it seems like every hour on HBO. So far I've been able to avoid it. __________________ The fortunes of war favored Hrothgar.

02-27-2004, 02:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
mystmarimatt Omnipotent Ruler Of The Tiny Universe In My Mind Location: Oreegawn	I love Historical Dramas. But this just sounds like one of those things...If HBO hadn't made it, Lifetime or Oxygen would have. __________________ Words of Wisdom: If you could really get to know someone and know that they weren't lying to you, then you would know the world was real. Because you could agree on things, you could compare notes. That must be why people get married or make Art. So they'll be able to really know something and not go insane.

02-27-2004, 02:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	I keep catching the last 1/2 hour or 45 minutes of it. It seems interesting, and I'd like to catch it, from the beginning, sometime. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

11-20-2004, 05:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	I just got done watching it.....I can honestly say its one of the best non fiction movies I've ever seen. Astrocloud there was no Ben (in fact Alice Paul never married) AND Emily (the wife of the senator) didnt exist either from what I've been able to find out. If the masturbation scene wasnt in it I would reccommend that EVERY teenage girl see this. Interesting note....Hilary Swank wasnt even registered to vote when she made this movie __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

02-27-2004, 11:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
PulpMind Addict Location: Portland	the trailer for that looks really impressive... I going to make an effort to watch that (despite no hbo)