''Comrades'' is a 1986 British historical drama film directed by Bill Douglas and starring an

ensemble cast In a dramatic production, an ensemble cast is one that comprises many principal actors and performers who are typically assigned roughly equal amounts of screen time.Random House: ensemble acting Linked 2013-07-17 Structure In contrast to the po ...

including

Robin Soans Robin Soans (born 20 June 1946) is a British actor, and a playwright specialising in verbatim and documentary plays. These plays include ''Across the Divide'' (2007); ''A State Affair'' (2000) which looked at life on a Bradford estate, produced ...

, Phil Davis, Keith Allen,

Robert Stephens Sir Robert Graham Stephens (14 July 193112 November 1995) was an English actor in the early years of Britain's Royal National Theatre. Early life Stephens was born in Shirehampton, Bristol, in 1931, the eldest of three children of shipyard ...

Vanessa Redgrave Dame Vanessa Redgrave (born 30 January 1937) is an English actress. In her career spanning over six decades, she has garnered List of awards and nominations received by Vanessa Redgrave, numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony A ...

and

James Fox James William Fox (born William Fox; 19 May 1939) is an English actor known for his work in film and television. Fox's career began in the 1960s through roles in films such as '' The Servant'' and ''Performance''. He is also known for his role ...

. Through the pictures of a travelling lanternist, it depicts the story of the

Tolpuddle Martyrs The Tolpuddle Martyrs were six agricultural labourers from the village of Tolpuddle in Dorset, England, who were arrested and tried in 1834 for swearing a secret oath as members of a friendly society. Led by George Loveless, the group had ...

, who were arrested and transported to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

in 1834 for trying to improve their conditions by forming an early form of trade union.BFI Screenonline: ''Comrades (1986)''
Retrieved 2012-11-07 It was Bill Douglas's last film.

Cast

In credits order: *

as George Loveless, leader of the Tolpuddle Martyrs *

William Gaminara William Gaminara (born 1956) is a British actor, screenwriter and playwright, probably best known for playing pathologist Professor Leo Dalton on the television series ''Silent Witness'', from 2002 to 2013. His plays include ''According to Hoyle' ...

as James Loveless, George Loveless's younger brother * Stephen Bateman as Old (Tom) Standfield * Philip Davis as Young (John) Standfield, Old Standfield's son * Jeremy Flynn as James Brine * Keith Allen as James Hammett *

Alex Norton Alex Norton is a Scottish actor. He is known for his roles as DCI Matt Burke in the STV detective drama series ''Taggart'', Eric Baird in BBC Two sitcom '' Two Doors Down'', DCS Wallace in '' Extremely Dangerous'', Gerard Findlay in '' Waterlo ...

as Lanternist, Sergeant Bell, Diorama Showman, Laughing Cavalier, Wollaston, Ranger, Tramp, Sea Captain, McCallum, Silhouettist, and Mad Photographer * Michael Clark as Sailor *

John Lee John Lee may refer to: Academia * John Lee (astronomer) (1783–1866), president of the Royal Astronomical Society * John Lee (university principal) (1779–1859), University of Edinburgh principal * John Lee (pathologist) (born 1961), Engli ...

as Juggler *

Arthur Dignam Arthur Dignam (9 September 1939 – 9 May 2020) was an Australian actor. Early life Dignam was born on Lord Howe Island. He attended Newington College in Sydney as a boarder in 1955 and 1956 and then the University of Sydney. Career He was be ...

as Fop, Hammett's master in New South Wales *

as William Norfolk, (fictitious) Governor of New South Wales * John Hargreaves as Convict *

Michael Hordern Sir Michael Murray Hordern (3 October 19112 May 1995) was an English actor. He is best known for his Shakespearean roles, especially King Lear. He often appeared in film, rising from a bit part actor to leading roles; by the time of his death ...

as Mr Pitt, campaigner for the Martyrs' freedom *

Freddie Jones Frederick Charles Jones''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916-2005.''; at ancestry.com (12 September 1927 – 9 July 2019) was an English actor who had an extensive career in television, theatre and cinema productions for ...

as Vicar of Tolpuddle *

Murray Melvin Murray Melvin (10 August 1932 – 14 April 2023) was an English actor. A member of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop company, he originated the part of Geoffrey in Shelagh Delaney's play '' A Taste of Honey'', reprising the role in Tony Richa ...

as Frampton's Clerk *

as Mrs Violet Carlyle, owner of a New South Wales sheep station *

as James Frampton, Squire of Tolpuddle *

Barbara Windsor Dame Barbara Windsor (born Barbara Ann Deeks; 6 August 193710 December 2020) was an English actress, known for her roles in the Carry On (franchise), ''Carry On'' films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders''.

as Mrs Wetham, owner of a Dorchester print shop *

Imelda Staunton Dame Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton (born 9 January 1956) is an English actress and singer. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Staunton began her career in repertory theatre in 1976 and appeared in various theatre pr ...

as Betsy Loveless, wife of George Loveless * Katy Behean as Sarah Loveless, wife of James Loveless * Amber Wilkinson as Hetty Loveless, daughter of George Loveless * Patricia Healey as Mrs Brine, mother of James Brine * Shane Downe as Joseph Brine, younger brother of James Brine *

Sandra Voe Sandra Voe (born 6 October 1936) is a Scottish actress of film, television, and theatre. Career Television and films Voe began her on screen career in 1966, appearing in an episode of ''Dr. Finlay's Casebook''. She has also appeared in '' ...

as Diana Standfield, wife of Old Standfield, mother of Young Standfield * Valerie Whittington as Elvi Standfield, daughter of Old Standfield, younger sister of Young Standfield * Harriet Doyle as Charity Standfield, daughter of Old Tom Standfield, younger sister of Young Standfield * Patrick Field as John Hammett, brother of James Hammett, the village carpenter * Heather Page as Bridget Hammett, wife of John Hammett *

Joanna David Joanna David (born Joanna Elizabeth Hacking; 17 January 1947) is an English people, English actress, best known for her television work. Early life and education David was born in Lancaster, Lancashire, Lancaster, England, daughter of Major Jo ...

as Mrs Frampton * Trevor Ainsley as Gentlemen Farmer #1 *

Malcolm Terris Malcolm Hope Terris (11 January 1941 – 6 June 2020) was an English actor. He acted in many television programmes, including possibly his best-known role as Matt Headley in ''When the Boat Comes In'', a popular 1970s series. His film career ...

as Gentlemen Farmer #2 * Dave Atkins as Frampton's Foreman *

Alex McCrindle Alex McCrindle (3 August 1911 – 20 April 1990) was a Scottish actor. He was best known for his role as General Jan Dodonna in ''Star Wars''. Biography McCrindle was born in Glasgow. He began his acting career in 1937 starring in minor role ...

as Jailor *

Shane Briant Shane Briant (17 August 1946 – 26 May 2021) was an English actor and novelist. Briant studied law at Trinity College Dublin but became a professional actor playing the lead in ''Hamlet'' at the Eblana Theatre, Dublin. Briant is best known fo ...

as Official in New South Wales *

Lynette Curran Lynette Curran is an Australian actress known for many roles in Australian television series and films, including the soap opera '' Bellbird'', and the films '' Country Town'' (1971) and ''Bliss'' (1985). Career Theatre She started acting ...

as Prostitute in New South Wales * Symon Parsonage as Charlie, a teenage convict *

Anna Volska Anna Volska (born 1 December 1944 in Milanówek, Poland) is an Australian stage and television actress. She arrived in Australia when she was young and has acted from a young age. Early life Anna Volska moved from Poland to Australia with h ...

as Woman in White at Auction

Production

The film had a very long and troubled production. Although Bill Douglas had the screenplay ready in 1980, it took six years to complete it, due to problems of filming in England and Australia, Douglas's perfectionism, and conflicts with his first producer,

Ismail Merchant Ismail Merchant (born Ismail Noor Muhammad Abdul Rahman; 25 December 1936 – 24 May 2005) was an Indian film producer. He worked for many years in collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions which included film director (and Merchant's longt ...

. Parts of the film were shot in the ghost town of

Tyneham Tyneham is a ghost town, ghost village abandoned in 1943 and former civil parish, now in the parish of Steeple with Tyneham, in the Dorset (district), Dorset district, in the south of Dorset, England, near Lulworth on the Isle of Purbeck. In 2001 ...

in south

Dorset Dorset ( ; Archaism, archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north and the north-east, Hampshire to the east, t ...

which was taken over by the military during WWII for use as a training area and is still part of a large military range.

Release

The film was first shown at the Southampton Film Festival in February 1986. It was also shown at the

London Film Festival The BFI London Film Festival is an annual film festival held in London, England, in collaboration with the British Film Institute. Founded in 1957, the festival runs for two weeks every October. In 2016, the British Film Institute, BFI estim ...

in 1986, and entered into the

37th Berlin International Film Festival The 37th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 20 February to 3 March 1987. The Golden Bear was awarded to the Soviet film ''The Theme, Tema'', directed by Gleb Panfilov. The retrospective was in honour of Armenian-American fi ...

in February 1987. In August 1987 it was released in British cinemas. After a short run in cinemas, followed by a VHS release in 1989, the film was largely forgotten. However, 20 years later Bill Douglas's small but significant production was reappraised, and in 2009 the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

released a restored version of ''Comrades'' on DVD, followed in early 2012 by a three-disc dual format DVD and Blu-ray box set.

Reception

The film has been described as "a moving, magical poem of human dignity, decency and hope". Sheila Rowbotham praised the film as a "poetic and painterly work which was also a vigorous challenge to

Thatcherism Thatcherism is a form of British conservative ideology named after Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher that relates to not just her political platform and particular policies but also her personal character a ...

" and complimented Gale Tattersall's cinematography, while also identifying various flaws deriving "from the grandeur of Douglas's cinematic ambition".

References

External links

*
''Comrades''
at the

* *
400 Blows, 18 October 2005: ''Simon Relph on Bill Douglas''
Retrieved 2012-11-07
400 Blows, 26 July 2005: ''Phil Davis on Bill Douglas''
Retrieved 2012-11-07 {{Sutherland Trophy 1986 films 1980s historical drama films Films directed by Bill Douglas British historical drama films Films set in 1834 Films set in Dorset Films set in colonial Australia Films set in New South Wales Drama films based on actual events Films about the labor movement 1986 drama films 1987 drama films 1987 films 1980s English-language films 1980s British films English-language historical drama films