Peterloo Movie: A Review

I have been fascinated by the tragedy of Peterloo - and its consequences - for as long as I can remember. Next year is the bicentenary of this landmark event for our democracy, which has seemingly never been covered by the movie industry before, so Mike Leigh's new film is very timely. I was not disappointed. 

The action begins four years earlier on the bloody field of Waterloo. Joseph, a young soldier, survives the battle, and begins the long journey home to his family in Manchester. His mum is Nellie (Maxine Peake), who is fighting to keep her loved ones fed during a time of great hardship for the town's workers.

Some of the notable events in the years preceding Peterloo are telescoped with the action in order to provide the necessary historical context. Discontent was growing in the town, which expressed itself in political meetings, and the ill-fated march of the Blanketeers in 1817. Even women had their own societies dedicated to campaigning for parliamentary reform. The speeches of Leigh's characters capture the authentic ring of Manchester's political meetings - and some of the real firebrands of the day - as reported by the authorities' many spies.

Oliver the Spy (Stephen Wight) makes an enjoyable cameo appearance, although actually his identity was compromised in the aftermath of the ill-fated Pentrich Rising two years earlier. 

The meeting at St Peter's Field on 16 August 1819 was organized to hear a speech by Henry 'Orator' Hunt. Rory Kinnear nicely captures Hunt's mixture of bombast and self-importance (and his dedication to reform). Samuel Bamford (played by Neil Bell), who was initially impressed by Hunt, gradually became extremely disenchanted by his attitude. (Surely Bamford is far too well-dressed in the movie? He looks very prosperous).

The main events leading up to the massacre, and the horrifying violence of the day itself, are meticulously covered - right down to the incidents when Hunt helps a fainting woman into his coach, and Hunt is hit on the head by one of Joseph Nadin's thugs after being arrested. A pity that the Cheshire Yeomanry's part in the day was omitted, but perhaps this would have over-complicated the action. 

One seeming inaccuracy which struck me afterwards was the section in the film where Nelly shares out some chunks of bread with another family. Now Nellie's family is depicted as being extremely poor, so they were most unlikely to have been able to afford bread. The Corn Laws (one of the issues which the Peterloo crowd were protesting about) had artificially inflated the price of bread to benefit farmers and landowners. Contemporary accounts of working-class families in this decade in Manchester usually mention that they lived primarily on oatmeal and potatoes. But as gruel and potatoes are not very easy to carry, perhaps the bread was a special treat for the family's 'grand day out'. 

Where this film really hits the nail on the head is Leigh's uncompromising depiction of the enormity of the class divide. The revolting gluttony of the Prince Regent (Tim McInnenry - who was clearly enjoying himself) and the Manchester magistrates' comfortable lifestyle is starkly contrasted with the bare, comfortless homes of the working classes.  

In our age of austerity, and a hopelessly divided Britain, the story of Peterloo has never been more topical. Do go and see the movie. 

Ireland and Independence: Part I

The question of Ireland’s independence was to cause much bloodshed in the closing decades of the eighteenth century and beyond. 

The Irish Parliament was controlled by England until 1782, when the Rockingham administration granted Irish legislative independence following pressure from the ‘Patriots,’ headed by Henry Grattan and the Volunteer movement.

In theory, Grattan’s new parliament was independent of Westminster. Ireland now had its own House of Lords and House of Commons. Dublin Castle was its administrative centre. But for all practical purposes, Ireland remained subject to English rule and political influence. Ireland’s Lord Lieutenant and Lord Chancellor owed their places to the British prime minister’s patronage.

Now the ordinary people of Ireland endured massive economic and political disadvantages and deep religious divisions. The Protestant ruling class or ‘ascendancy’ owned virtually all the land, and hogged every key position in the army, navy, the law, commission of the peace, etc. Roman Catholics – the vast majority of the population – were excluded from the Irish parliament, and the franchise.

William Pitt wished to give some relief to disadvantaged Roman Catholics. But he was hamstrung by ultra-Tories in his own party, and George III’s belief that granting Catholic emancipation would violate his coronation oath.

During the 1788 Regency crisis caused by George III’s illness, Grattan’s parliament seized the initiative and asked the Prince of Wales to become Regent of Ireland, with unlimited powers.

This caused great tension between the two governments. The furious Tories realized that a Regent in Ireland with unlimited privileges could create as many peers as he liked, and tip the balance of power in parliament. ‘Prinny’ was thought to favour their opponents, the Whigs. A constitutional crisis was averted when the King recovered in early 1789.

But this abortive attempt by Ireland to assert its independence strengthened the hand of those, like Pitt, who wanted a Union of the two kingdoms. And Irish nationalists were now convinced that real independence must be fought for – but would they choose peaceful means, or rebellion?

Images:

The Bank of Ireland, Dublin, formerly the old Parliament House. Gallery of Engravings, Vol. II, (Fisher, Son & Co., c.1845).

Satirical print, 1789. The Prince of Wales (left) rises from his chair to receive the six Commissioners from Ireland, who are depicted as headless asses. Courtesy Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-31022.

The Royal Engagement

A couple of days ago, the nation was treated to the exciting news of Prince William's engagement to Kate Middleton. Things were done very differently when Prince George, son of George III, got engaged to Princess Caroline of Brunswick. The Prince was pressured into the marriage. His father wanted him to provide an heir to the throne, and the young prince was deep in debt. Prince George did not meet his royal bride until three days before the wedding; he had only seen a flattering portrait of her.
Princess Caroline of Brunswick arrived at Gravesend to begin her new life in England on Saturday 4 April 1795 and disembarked on one of the royal yachts the next day.
The lady the prince sent to accompany his new bride was his mistress, Lady Jersey. She brought some new clothes for Princess Caroline: 'a white satin gown, and very elegant turban cap of satin, trimmed with crape, and ornamented with white feathers' (New Annual Register, 1795). The clothes did not flatter the princess's somewhat florid complexion. When the prince, resplendent in his hussar uniform, went to St James's Palace to meet his future wife, he 'appeared extremely agitated'. Things did not bode well for the royal nuptials...
Image: Fashionable full dress with turban adorned with white feathers, Lady's Monthly Museum, November 1798.