because of the prominence of the abolition movement in the 1830s 1860s and other american social movement of the day be not think of very much . if you be interested and read tyler book freedom ferment and which discuss the international peace movement and woman right and and other movement of equal interest in that period only these do not lead to civil war . the woman suffrage movement have begin in 1848 in upstate new york and but it really do not get the momentum that make it memorable until the 1870s . then susan b. anthony go on trial ( also in new york state ) for dare to try to vote in a national election . also victoria woodhull throw her hat into the ring ( unofficially ) for the presidency in 1872. later anthony and elizabeth cady stanton organize the woman movement and so that after they both die in the early 1900s it grow until it achieve suffrage by federal constitutional amendment in 1919. the shocking miss pilgrim be not the only film to tackle early woman suffrage . there be a bit about the movement in the character of miss massingale in the hallelujah trail and who keep confront ( and romance ) burt lancaster army colonel . but the shocking miss pilgrim be actually the only film from that look at the movement at a critical moment in it history . a little background be need here . in the early day of the woman suffrage movement and there be considerable debate regard ally the movement with other social movement of the day . however and anthony and stanton be convince by frederick douglas to work for abolition and because if slavery be abolish ( douglas argue ) woman servitude would have to follow soon after . but in the post civil war year and the relationship between douglas and the suffrage leadership sour . douglas and once the 13th and 14th and and 15th amendment get pass and be more concerned about african american ( read african american male ) consolidate and expand their gain . he start to curb joint effort with stanton and anthony on woman right and claim that it just be not the time ( although his previous argument have be to strike when the fire be hot . ) . anthony and stanton eventually over react . they never forgive the betrayal by douglas and and soon they manage to make the woman suffrage movement lily white ( and rather racist towards the former male slave who now theoretically could vote ) . a small african american woman suffrage movement push forward too and but it be fight antagonism by male african american and and racism by white woman who should have be their sister in arm . the lesson though be now burn into the head of the woman movement do not ally yourself with other cause . and and interestingly enough and this be the center for part of the plot of the shock miss pilgrim . betty grable try to keep her friend from ally themselves with another social movement which grow with woman suffrage prohibition . she be unable to do so . in the decade from 1870 1920 many woman suffrage figure and like carrie nation and be also outspoken supporter of prohibition . these woman ( like nation ) have home that have be wreck by alcoholic husband and so their stand and unity with prohibitionist make sense . but the bulk of the woman movement avoid this and because they do not want their political agenda taint by a rival one . the same situation happen in the english suffrage movement too and when mrs. pankhurst daughter split on ally with the british labor party and and the anti war movement . sylvia pankhurst remain united with labor leader and pacifist keir hardie and but her sister cristobel be clever enough to offer to support the war effort in return for asquith and lloyd george support for woman voting right . the shock miss pilgrim have several thing work for it . the two lead have a good story . dick haymes be actually well in this film a the hero who learn to respect work woman and than he be a the son in state fair . grable actually have a role in a musical that do not begin and end with her gorgeous leg and and moderately please sing voice it be her meaty musical role . the gershwin score be minor gershwin and but still enjoyable . like minor marx brother or minor van gogh etching and they be still good than most people best . the support character actor cast and lead by gene lockhart and allan joslyn and and elizabeth patterson manage to give a gentleness to the story and befit the setting in boston in the gilded age . it be a nice musical not great and but enjoyable .