Votes for Women
“The feature that has the support of every suffrage organization in the country.”
Synopsis
Named by historian Kevin Brownlow as “the first important suffrage film”, this melodrama follows suffragist May Fillmore in her fight to sway Senator Herman, whose vote could pass a key reform bill. After exposing him and his fiancée Jane Wadsworth to the dire living conditions of a motherless tenement family—unsanitary housing, child labor, and workplace exploitation—Jane turns against her negligent fiancé and joins the suffrage cause. Ultimately, both Herman and Jane’s father are persuaded to support reform, and the film ends with the characters proudly taking part in a suffrage parade. (Note: This silent narrative film is distinct from Edison’s Votes for Women (1913), a Kinetophone short that recorded real suffragist leaders delivering speeches.)
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Edgena De Lespine
Jane Wadsworth
Gertrude Robinson
Sue Balfour
Pearl Egan
Gladys Egan
Charles Herman
Edward P. Sullivan
J.W. Backus
Jane Addams
Self
Frances Maule Bjorkman
Self
Florence Maule Cooley
Self
Mary Ware Dennett
Self
Harriet Laidlaw
Self
Inez Millholland
Self
Harriet May Mills
Self
Mrs. L.H. Ozedam
Self
Anna Howard Shaw
Self
Mary Beard
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 25, 1912
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Hal Reid
- Screenplay & Story
- Harriet Laidlaw, Mary Ware Dennett, Frances Maule Bjorkman
- Original Title
- Votes for Women
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- No Language
- Runtime
- 20m
- Production Studios
- Reliance Film Company
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Hal Reid
Harriet Laidlaw, Mary Ware Dennett, Frances Maule Bjorkman
Department Leadership Roster
Harriet Laidlaw
Writer
Mary Ware Dennett
Writer
Hal Reid
Director
Frances Maule Bjorkman
Writer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Votes for Women.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Votes for Women
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Votes for Women about?
Named by historian Kevin Brownlow as “the first important suffrage film”, this melodrama follows suffragist May Fillmore in her fight to sway Senator Herman, whose vote could pass a key reform bill. After exposing him and his fiancée Jane Wadsworth to the dire living conditions of a motherless tenement family—unsanitary housing, child labor, and workplace exploitation—Jane turns against her negligent fiancé and joins the suffrage cause. Ultimately, both Herman and Jane’s father are persuaded to support reform, and the film ends with the characters proudly taking part in a suffrage parade. (Note: This silent narrative film is distinct from Edison’s Votes for Women (1913), a Kinetophone short that recorded real suffragist leaders delivering speeches.)
Who directed Votes for Women?
Votes for Women was directed by Hal Reid.
Who stars in Votes for Women?
The principal cast of Votes for Women includes Edgena De Lespine, Gertrude Robinson, Sue Balfour, Pearl Egan, Gladys Egan.
When was Votes for Women released and how long is it?
Votes for Women was released in 1912 with a total runtime of 20m.