MISBEHAVIOUR
UK, 2020, 106 minutes, Colour.
Keira Knightly, Jesse Buckley, Gugu Mbatha Raw, Rhys Ifans, Keeley Hawes, Greg Kinnear, Lesley Manville, Phyllis Logan, John Heffernan, Loreece Harrison, Suki Waterhouse, Justin Salinger.
Directed by Philip Lowthorpe.
Once upon a time, there was a very popular pageant, Miss World. Most people took it for granted that their country should have its own Miss… And, she would have the opportunity for the worldwide competition. But, in the last half-century, the world has had to rethink (gradually) about how appropriate it is to have young women paraded, especially for the male gaze, and to be judged on how they looked (swimsuits and measurements).
Misbehaviour is set 50 years ago and is a record of the first challenge to the competition, and the beginning of Women’s Liberation activities in the United Kingdom. Things have certainly changed over the decades, and, of course, there has been the #Me Too movement, often grim reminders of sexual harassment and abuse..
In 1970, the organisers of the pageant, Eric and Julia Morley (played here by Rhys Ifans and Keeley Hawes) have set up the occasion for a London theatre, negotiating, successfully, for Bob Hope to be the compere (as he had 10 years earlier). However, there is a group of women who meet, opposed to the pageant, with plans and strategies to disrupt the event, buying tickets rather than simply placarding outside but able to disturb from within.
Misbehaviour is based on actual events and characters – with, the principal characters themselves, appearing at the end of the film, older women 50 years on, making some comments on what it happened, and what their lives have been subsequently.
At the centre is a history teacher, Sally, who wants a place at the University and is subjected to all-male boards, who does get a place but finds at tutorials the professor as well as other students, male, talk over her, criticise her research subjects… She is played earnestly and strongly by Keira Knightley.
When she sees a young woman spraying graffiti on posters, she warns her that the police are pursuing. The young woman, Jo. is played, vigorously by Jessie Buckley. Sally is invited to some of the discussions, does not immediately identify with the ragtag group, but is persuaded to join the protest.
It is a surprise to see Greg Kinnear playing Bob Hope, and a jolt to the memory with his innuendo jokes. Lesley Manville plays his long-suffering wife, Dolores.
So, much of the action takes place at the pageant itself, some taking the audience behind the scenes, especially the negotiations by Eric Morley to have not just Miss South Africa but Miss Africa South, a black competitor with some conversation about apartheid. There is also Miss Granada (Gugu Mbatha Raw), also a black contestant who is proud of her selection.
Protest, police, arrests, Sally having a conversation with Miss Granada, the women getting out of jail and their sense of achievement. And information follows about women’s liberation marches which soon followed.
An entertaining cast, some vigourous dialogue, but a reminder of how attitudes towards the place of women in society have been (too gradually for many) during the last half-century.
1. The title? Play on words? Women’s liberation? Miss World and competitions? Male behaviour? Female behaviour?
2. UK, 1970? The London settings? Homes and flats, meeting places, streets and neighbourhoods, the Princess Theatre and interiors? Hotels? The musical score?
3. The Miss World competition, popularity, beauty pageant, the emphasis on physical beauty, on poise and intelligence? From around the world? Race issues? Granada? South
Africa – and Africa South?
4. The change of consciousness by 1970? The popularity of the pageant, staging in the theatre, televised, the world audience? The beginnings of criticism by women? Women’s liberation and its development, the 1970 pageant and protest, leading to demonstrations?
5. The situation as seen from Sally’s point of view? Her ambitions, study, history? At school, success, applications, marriage, her daughter? Depending on her mother? With the men for the interview, the interviewers and their reactions, questions, her studies, career? Her being called back? Eventually getting the position? The scenes of the tutorials, the students, the professor, her thesis topic, women, his suggesting that that it be made broader? Her exasperation at having a seat at the male table?
6. The interactions with Jo Robinson? The graffiti, Sally warning her, the chase, pursuit? The invitation to the meetings? Jo and her anti-bourgeois stances? Feminist? The group of friends? The meetings, Sally going, preparing leaflets, placards? The focus on Miss World?
7. Eric Morley, founding Miss World, his plans, the London setting, the theatre, the continued support of his wife and discussions with her? His observation of the girls on parade, his emphasis on swimsuits and measurements, other reactions? The decision to invite Bob Hope? The phone calls, anxious, his acceptance? The setting up of the theatre, the equipment, plans for the staging?
8. Bob Hope, his reputation, comedian, his age, long marriage to Dolores, her tolerance, his continued innuendo? Previously judging Miss World and his bringing her home? His going to Vietnam, taking Miss World with him, the response of the troops? Bob Hope and his wife coming to London, the accommodation, her observation, tolerance?
9. The girls arriving, the range of countries, the issue of South Africa and apartheid, Morley and his request for a black girl? Her arrival, the story of her background, the warnings from the government, her love for her parents? The discussions with Miss Granada, her situation, race issues?
10. Sally and the group, their interactions, Jo and her snide remarks, Sally cooperating more and more? Sally at home, her mother dressing up her daughter with lipstick and make up, the twirls like the competition? Sally’s reaction? The home arrangement, Gareth and the relationship, home duties, cooking, his being apprehensive about police and the protests at Miss World? Sally’s mother and her old-fashioned views, reminiscing about her own bringing up?
11. The girls, the preparation, make up, costumes, the talk amongst themselves? Arriving at the theatre, the bus, the protests?
12. Sally’s recommendation that the protesters buy tickets, going to the theatre, Jo and the problem about Sally’s ticket, resolution?
13. Bob Hope, the warning about protests, his not understanding? Eric Morley and his apprehension? The starting of the televising, the British commentator in his booth and his style of comment?
14. The girls, the parade, symbolic of their backgrounds, evening dress, bathing suits? Eric backstage, following the girls and the proceedings? The girls and their discussions, the hopes of the American girl? The popularity of Miss Sweden? The scene where Miss Granada went into the theatre by herself? The scenes with Miss Africa south and the transformation from her ordinary life and work?
15. Sally and co not applauding, the enthusiasm of the audience? Bob Hope and his sexist jokes?
16. Sally standing up, the beginning of the protest, the shouts, the other women joining in, movement, the authorities, Bob Hope off the stage? His being shot? Dolores watching and rather amused?
17. Sally’s mother watching, the cutting off of the television broadcast, the pursuit of the girls, their being arrested? Taken to the police station? The ceremony resuming? Bob Hope, his comic writer, the cue cards – and then his disappearing?
18. Sally, the chance encounter with Miss Granada, the discussions, raising the issues? Miss Granada and her surprise win? Miss Africa South coming second?
19. The women released from prison, Sally and her mother, Gareth, their daughter? Jo and the revelation that she was pregnant?
20. The final interviews with the actual women, Sally, Jo, Miss Africa South, Miss Granada – and the information as to what had happened to them during the 50 years.
21. The film highlighting half a century of women’s liberation, its continued advancement, the effects, and what still has to be achieved?
