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Suffragettes on Film
"You have to make more noise than anybody else!," cried Suffragette pioneer Emmeline Pankhurst. But how to make more noise in silent film?
"Make more Noise!" was the rallying cry of Emmeline Pankhurst to the campaigners for women's votes. The suffragettes' strategy was simple but clever - the idea was to stand up at every public meeting or gathering and cry "votes for women!". But how do you make more noise in silent film? In an age when the moving image was beginning to really matter, the suffragettes had to make sure that they were not just heard, but seen. The newsreels were noticeably more neutral in their reporting than the print media. So newsreel cameramen were invited to all the big demonstrations and given privileged vantage points, while banners and placards were carefully placed for the cameras. The first ever representation of a suffragette in a British film was in 1899, in a comedy where a pair of gossipy old women (played by men in drag) are the object of male ridicule. By 1913, the outrageous satire Milling the Militants again uses a suffragette as a stock comic character, but to more ambiguous effect. It was the licence allowed by comedy that freed film's female characters, like the delightfully modern Tilly girls, to make one hell of a noise.
Miss Davison's Funeral Miss Davison's Funeral
Non-Fiction 1913 2 mins Silent Location: Bloomsbury
The funeral procession of suffragette Emily Davison - fatally injured at the Epsom Derby - passes through London to her final resting place in Morpeth.
Suffragette Derby of 1913 Suffragette Derby of 1913
Non-Fiction 1913 5 mins Silent Location: Epsom
A momentous act of self sacrifice is caught on camera - Emily Davison is trampled by the King's horse at the 1913 Epsom Derby.
Suffragettes Again Suffragettes Again
Non-Fiction 1913 1 mins Silent
Incendiary images from Plymouth, at the sharp end of the campaign for women's votes.
Milling the Militants; A Comical Absurdity Milling the Militants; A Comical Absurdity
Comedy 1913 7 mins Silent
Left with the kids while his wife campaigns for women's votes, an aggrieved husband dreams of punishing all suffragettes.
Meet the Suffragettes: The Original Media-Disruptors Meet the Suffragettes: The Original Media-Disruptors
Short documentary 2015 10 mins
BFI's silent film curator, Bryony Dixon, explores the BFI National Archive's holdings around women's suffrage.
Palace Pandemonium Palace Pandemonium
Non-Fiction 1914 1 mins Silent Location: Buckingham Palace
The campaign for women's suffrage steps up as Emmeline Pankhurst is arrested at the gates of Buckingham Palace.
Demonstration of Suffragettes Demonstration of Suffragettes
Non-Fiction 1910 3 mins Silent Location: London
An early view of Emily Wilding Davison in the multitudes of women in a mass demonstration organised by the Women’s Social and Political Union on 18 June 1910
Suffragette Pageant Suffragette Pageant
Non-Fiction 1911 1 mins Silent Location: London
History's 'most famous women' - and 66,000 mere mortals - rally to the Suffragette cause in a magnificent pageant and Coronation procession.
Suffragette Riots at Westminster Suffragette Riots at Westminster
Non-Fiction 1910 1 mins Silent Location: Westminster
Panic on the streets of London: a women's suffrage protest breaks into violence.
Scenes outside the House of Commons Scenes outside the House of Commons
Non-Fiction 1913 1 mins Silent Location: Westminster
The fight for women's suffrage momentarily falters on a gloomy day in January 1913.
Didums Diddles the P'liceman Didums Diddles the P'liceman
Comedy 1912 6 mins Silent
A budding mini-suffragette is determined to turn a local policeman into the butt of her jokes.
"Law Abiding" Suffragists "Law Abiding" Suffragists
Non-Fiction 1913 1 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
Three cheers for women's right to vote! Thousands of 'peaceful, law-abiding Suffragists' - and their hat-waving supporters - converge on Hyde Park.
Mass Meeting of Suffragettes Mass Meeting of Suffragettes
Non-Fiction 1910 1 mins Silent Location: Trafalgar Square
Votes for Women protesters swamp Trafalgar Square, brandishing placards and petitions.
Finding His Counterpart Finding His Counterpart
Comedy 1914 9 mins Silent
A comedy clot takes up phrenology and tries to find his ideal partner by feeling the bumps on women's heads, only to end up as a cannibal's dinner.
Womens March through London Womens March through London
Non-Fiction 1915 1 mins Silent Location: London
Suffragettes advance from Bow to Baker Street, jostling with the London traffic on their way to the Portman Rooms.
Bolton Election Result Bolton Election Result
Non-Fiction 1912 1 mins Silent Location: Bolton
Women's Suffrage campaigners make their mark in a key by-election
St Leonards Outrage St Leonards Outrage
Non-Fiction 1913 1 mins Silent Location: St Leonards
Militant suffragettes torch Levetleigh, St Leonards, former home of Arthur Du Cros, Conservative MP for Hastings and Rye.
Women's Rights Women's Rights
Comedy 1899 2 mins Silent
A cruel joke at the expense of the women's movement is at the heart of this early film comedy
Howway the Lasses Howway the Lasses
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1977 1 mins Location: Northumberland
This jaunty hand-drawn animation charts the history of womens revolutionary road to freedom in the North East - from Stone Age sister to suffragette of the twentieth century.
Wife the Weaker Vessel Wife the Weaker Vessel
Comedy 1915 10 mins Silent
A henpecked husband plots revenge on his boastful bachelor friend by marrying him to a seemingly meek girl who turns out to be anything but.
The Suffragette Election The Suffragette Election
Non-Fiction 1912 1 mins Silent Location: London
Trusted, tried and true? A Labour MP takes a principled stand on women's right to vote
Tilly and the Fire Engines Tilly and the Fire Engines
Comedy 1911 2 mins Silent
Mischievous sisters Tilly and Sally borrow a fire engine and take it for a joy ride in this spirited film comedy.
Will There Be Women MPs? Will There Be Women MPs?
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent Location: London
The leading organisation fighting for women's suffrage changes tack, as Christabel and Emmeline Pankhurst launch the Women's Party.
Scenes from Suffragette Demonstration at Newcastle Scenes from Suffragette Demonstration at Newcastle
Non-Fiction 1910 1 mins Silent Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Supporters of the Women's Social and Political Union campaign in the North East.
Women's March through London Women's March through London
Non-Fiction 1915 1 mins Silent Location: Buckingham Palace
"Three cheers to our gallant soldiers", proclaim suffragette marchers as they rally to show their willingness to help the war effort.
Tilly's Party Tilly's Party
Comedy 1911 7 mins Silent
Irrepressible sister act Tilly and Sally throw a party - of sorts - in this chaotic comedy caper.
Trafalgar Square Riot Trafalgar Square Riot
Non-Fiction 1913 1 mins Silent Location: Trafalgar Square
A suffragette demonstration led by Sylvia Pankhurst ends in chaos as police prevent a march on Downing Street.