Stand Up and Be Counted


Stand Up and Be Counted is a 1972 American comedy film directed by Jackie Cooper and starring Jacqueline Bisset and Stella Stevens. It features the recording of "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy.

Plot

Shelia is sent, by her Editor, to her home town, Boulder, Colorado, to write about Women's Liberation, because she is a Woman; and, he assumes that "Women's Libbers won't talk to men".
Shelia's Mother, Mabel, and her Sister, Karen, are very involved in The Women's Liberation Movement.
Karen organizes meetings, arranging for Dr. Joyce Brothers to speak to a diverse group of Housewives; Lesbians; Hookers; and, different Ethnicities.
This inspires Housewife Hilary and Trophy Wife Yvonne and others to change; tired of being treated as Sex Objects, by their Husbands; and, as Second-class citizens.
The women decide to "Stand Up and Be Counted", staging protests to garner media attention, including disrupting a Playboy Spokesman, Michael Ansara, at a Press Conference.
Whether The Men in The Women's lives will accept or even understand these changes; or, feel that they can afford to, in the face of The 1970's Recessions is another question.
But, Lou says they "can try".

Cast

Reception

Anne Bennett, writing for Big Mama Rag, in 1973, wrote that, "The storyline is stereotypically simple..." And, "it's clumsiness" is at times "embarrassing" or even "degrading". But, concluded, "you will leave feeling excited".,
The New York Times review, July 20, 1972, said, "'Stand Up and Be Counted' erratically skips between comedy and serious causes with somewhat less than impressive impact either way."
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