Stand Up and Be Counted
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Jackie Cooper
Jacqueline Bisset
Stella Stevens
Steve Lawrence
Gary Lockwood
Lee Purcell
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Returning to the United States after living several years in London working for a fashion publication, journalist Sheila Hammond takes up an assignment for a national magazine to cover the effect of the Women's Liberation Movement on middle America. On the flight to her hometown of Denver, Sheila meets old boyfriend Eliot Travis, an airline pilot, and the two rekindle their interest in each other. At the airport, Sheila is greeted by her mother Mabel, who, growing incensed when a man makes a lewd remark about Sheila's looks, responds by shouting lascivious remarks at the man and chasing him through the baggage claim department. By way of explanation, Mabel later confides in her startled daughter that she has joined the Senior Women's Liberation group. At home, Sheila is further taken aback to learn that her younger sister Karen is the militant leader of another "Women's Lib" group and has decided to spare herself the restrictions of traditional courtship, marriage and parenthood by having the muscular football coach, Jerry Kamanski, impregnate her. After moving in with Eliot, Sheila continues research on her article by attending a feminist workshop led by Karen, urging women to come to terms with the things that make them unhappy at home. There Sheila meets Yvonne Kellerman, the spoiled wife of Lou, the manager of a lingerie factory, who, she admits, treats her only as a sex object; Hilary McBride, a formerly successful dress designer who is now an exhausted full-time mother of four and wife of selfish advertising executive Gary; Sadie, a spirited seamstress in Lou's factory and Gloria Seager, a very successful call girl. One of the workshops features a talk by family psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers, who validates the women's feelings of exploitation by the men in their lives. Soon Sheila finds herself stirred into political empathy when she discovers that instead of keeping his promise to share in half of the housework, Eliot has hired a maid to do his portion of the cleaning. The women's organizations come together to arrange a mass demonstration during which Yvonne burns her bra outside of Lou's factory while Mabel and the members of SWL threaten to disrobe to protest a speech given by a man from Playboy magazine, but are too timid when the man ridicules them. Over time there are several changes among the women's lives: Yvonne succeeds in having Lou learn to treat her with more consideration; Hilary takes the opportunity to resume her career, but Gary, who has lost his job, refuses her financial support and leaves for New York to take a new position; and Sheila, her article now complete, realizes that despite her love for Eliot, they will never share an equal partnership, so leaves him and settles on the East Coast. Nine months later, Sheila is delighted to learn that Karen has given birth to a spirited baby girl.
Director
Jackie Cooper
Cast
Jacqueline Bisset
Stella Stevens
Steve Lawrence
Gary Lockwood
Lee Purcell
Loretta Swit
Hector Elizondo
Anne Francine
Madlyn Rhue
Alex Wilson
Michael Ansara
Dr. Joyce Brothers
Jessica Rains
Meredith Baxter
Greg Mullavey
Nancy Walker
Edith Atwater
Jeff Donnell
Kathleen Freeman
Shelley Morrison
Isabel Sanford
Stephanie Edwards
Robert G. Palmer
Colleen Miller
Linda Cooper
Patti Walczuk
Carole Shelyne
Joseph Bernard
Bob Golden
Tom Stewart
Rebecca Baehler
Mark Benson
William Benson
Morgan Sterne
Vernon V. Porter
Joseph Perry
George Dunn
George Winters
Diane Deininger
Karen Halver
Gina Alvarado
Lavelle Roby
Linda Burton
Bee Tompkins
Leslie Summers
Julie Ann Johnson
Choo Choo Collens
Jo Jo Malone
Patti Marlowe
Angel Pine
Donna Garrett
Pepper Curtis
Mae Boss
Candy Caballero
James Brewer
Jackie Cooper
Rick Jury
Norman Alden
Claudia Thompson
Nancy J. Carlson
Betty Ann Mumey
Carolyn Pat Lasky
Lona B. Ingwerson
Virginia R. Seymore
Lorry Goldman
John Hegner
Lori Busk
Lavina Dawson
Tamara Terry
Meredith Jan Baer
Peter Halton
Mark Russell
Billie Bird
Gale Robbins
Jennifer Rhodes
Chanin Hale
Mabel Robinson
Janie Greenspan
Sandy Balson
Leigh Adams-bennett
Luanne Roberts
Marsha Metrinko
Irene Tsu
Ann H. Lynn
Crew
Dorothy Aldrin
Seth Banks
Ralph Black
Ray Burton
Bob Ellsworth
Max Frankel
M. J. Frankovich
Jack Haynes
Morrie Hoffman
James E. Holiday
Virginia Jones
William Kenney
Fred Koenekamp
Harold Kress
John Livesley
Leo Lotito
Moss Mabry
Maury Nemoy
William O'sullivan
Philip L. Parslow
Arthur Piantadosi
Charles Powell
Helen Reddy
Edward B. Reeves
Frank Regula
Ken Runyon
Carol Shapiro
Bernard Slade
Gene Stout
Edna Taylor
Richard Tyler
Lyle R. Wheeler
Ernie Wilkins
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Some reviews for this unviewed film referred to Stand Up and Be Counted as the first major Hollywood feature film to focus on the Women's Liberation Movement. The film marked the directorial debut of actor Jackie Cooper and the feature film debuts of singer Steve Lawrence and actress Meredith Baxter. According to Filmfacts, the mock dollar bills seen in the demonstration scenes featured the face of veteran actress Binnie Barnes who was married to producer M. J. Frankovich. Stand Up and Be Counted was shot on location in Denver.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1972
c Eastmancolor
rtg MPAA PG
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1972
