Movie #1938 ........................."Mrs. America" (hulu)

Movie #1938 "Mrs. America" (Hulu)  9 episodes, 1 hour each -- I really enjoyed this, but I'm not an expert on  how factual this was --- esp. with the Tom Snyder interview (which I have a feeling was doctored a bit, just by what is being written on line)  But it was so absorbing of a show --- I just sat and took it all in --- I forgot that Rose Byrne had an accent and she was now Gloria Steinem, and Margo was a great Bella, and right down the line, such believable acting --- when emmy nominations come out, a few will come from here, I'm sure.  The lead and the lynchpin to this whole show is Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly , the woman who sought to take down the ERA movement state by state.  I can't say enough about her portrayal ---- her relentlessness  to stop at nothing until she achieves, and she's willing to wait and wait and wait for her move --- kind of like a huntress or some kind of animal ready to pounce, waiting for her chance --- Gloria (Rose Byrne) was such a symbol of the sexual revolution, the  "pretty one" who could melt anyone's heart until she gets screwed on the democratic national convention floor by Mondale and others.  Shirley (Uzo Aduba) the brave one who wanted to push for a black female president candidate, when others told her it was not the time (too soon! well, we are still waiting!) ---- Margo as Bella, with the hats and outlandish wardrobe, pushing pushing pushing and always the pragmatist when it comes to politics while others had their heads in the clouds.  I want to do one shout out to Sarah Paulson who inhabited the character of Alice McCray --- a Phyllis follower, until she saw what the outcome of the anti-ERA movement  was for women all over the country and  she finally stood up to her mentor.  There wasn't an inspirational,  optimistic ending --- because we all know the ERA hasn't passed ...........yet.  But the  way the story unfolds, we see baby steps that we gain appreciation for, that balances the crushing defeats that we see, as well.  But for  those   pro ERA, there's a crushing defeat  (albeit, little in the vast scheme of things) at the end that we can smile about --- so I guess the show is as optimistic as it can get.  I know the story isn't finished, but it does seem to come to an end after episode 9 ---but  it would be interesting to follow these people a bit further. However,  it doesn't have to --- this was an amazing show in and of itself,  and I loved it.  One more thing -- Episode 8 is just titled "Houston" , but it  really should be titled "Alice",  because that's what it is concerned with .  Alice, ever the homemaker who comes up with the idea to get to the men of the senate by baking bread, gets a bit tipsy in this one at the convention in Houston , and we in the audience follow her thought process as she goes from one convention room to another --- It is almost done as a soliloquy but without words from Sarah Paulson  at all.  And if there's one emmy I would give besides to Cate Blanchett, it would be to Sarah Paulson.  She does such a slam bang job in this miniseries!  I would give this miniseries a 4.5 out  of 5.


"MRS. AMERICA"    2020    9 episodes, each 1 hour in length

Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly leads an unexpected fight against the Equal Rights Amendment movement during the 1970s.

Creator:

 Dahvi Waller

Stars:

 Cate Blanchett (phyllis) , Rose Byrne, (Gloria)  Uzo Aduba (Shirley), Margo Martindale (Bella) , Elizabeth Banks (jill) , Tracey Ullman (Bettey), Sarah Paulson (Alice McCray)

Season 1:  episode 1 (Phyllis), episode 2 (Gloria), episode 3(Shirley), episode 4 (Betty ), Episode  5 (Phyllis & Fred, Brenda & Marc), Episode 6 (Jill), Episode 7 (Bella), Episode 8 (Houston) and Episode 9 (Reagan)