This film, made at a healthy £15000 budget, uses the voice of George Jacob Holyoake to explain in detail the origins and progress of the cooperative movement and the ghosts of the Rochdale pioneers to call the public to complete their work. The film considers the industrial conditions in Lancashire in the 1840s and the response of working class people to those conditions. Opposition to the movement by private traders is shown. There are moments of panic where there is a threatened run on the Pioneer's share capital which is solved by innovation. The film shows and lists the names of the pioneers and shows their (long suffering?) wives. It also pays tribute to Annie, the movement's 'unknown soldier'.
Worth a look for its historical and documentary value.
Worth a look for its historical and documentary value.
