This film is part of Free
Didums Diddles the P'liceman
A budding mini-suffragette is determined to turn a local policeman into the butt of her jokes.
Overview
The knee-slapping mini-minx in this film doesn't much care about votes for women. All she has taken from the women's suffrage movement is that policemen are fair game. At this time the Women's Social and Political Union was advocating "deeds not words" in the cause of women' suffrage, with even the prime minister not safe from physical attack. Such events were perfect fuel for the budding British film industry to ignore the serious issues and turn the lot into a slapstick chase comedy.
The Clarendon Film Company turned out at least a dozen Didums comedies presided over by the studio's house director Wilfred Noy between 1910 and 1912, all following the same 'naughty little child' template.
Related
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.
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.