Is A Thousand Blows Based on a True Story?

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In the 1880s, nestled in London’s East End, the gritty reality of bare-knuckle boxing unfolds in the gripping film, A Thousand Blows. It’s not a sight for the faint-hearted.

In the freshly released six-episode show, actors Stephen Graham, Malachi Kirby, and Erin Doherty give outstanding portrayals of Sugar Goodson, Hezekiah Moscow, and Mary Carr respectively. These characters, set in East London, are all strong personalities.

However, when the narratives intertwine, it’s then that the genuine enchantment of the series, crafted by Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight, truly unfolds. According to the summary: “As Hezekiah gains wealth and recognition through boxing, he captures the interest of Mary Carr, the notorious Queen of the Forty Elephants. She proceeds to leverage his skills for the expansion of her illicit activities.

Simultaneously, Sugar Goodson, who proclaims himself as the menacing ruler of the East End boxing realm, decides to dismantle Hezekiah. This is because Hezekiah’s aspirations to fight in the West End challenge everything Goodson has constructed. The result is a struggle between the traditional and the modern worlds.

A significant aspect of this show revolves around the Forty Elephants, an infamous, female-led gang who once held power in London. As stated by Hannah Walters, the show’s lead actor and executive producer, it refrains from romanticizing or glamorizing this historical period.

Essentially, they’re merely surviving, it’s a way to achieve something greater. They don’t reside in opulent homes or lead extravagant lives; instead, they’re simply making their way through life.

However, does the series “A Thousand Blows” draw from real-life events? Discover the background that influenced the creation of this gripping drama on Disney Plus.

Is A Thousand Blows based on a true story?

The official summary for A Thousand Blows suggests that the series draws inspiration from real-life accounts, focusing on a set of characters struggling to survive amidst the harsh conditions of the East End of London during the 1880s.

Just like many historical dramas, it incorporates imagined scenarios and occurrences. However, when it comes to the characters portrayed in A Thousand Blows, many of them bear a striking resemblance to their actual counterparts from reality.

To illustrate, characters such as Sugar Goodson (portrayed by Stephen Graham), Mary Carr (played by Erin Doherty), and Hezekiah Moscow (acted by Malachi Kirby) are all loosely based on actual boxers and the famed Queen of the Forty Elephants.

I hadn’t encountered these stories before, making their exploration and sharing feel incredibly rewarding. It was a remarkable personal journey for me, and now, to present this work to others, is equally special. The entire process has been a beautiful experience that I am proud to be a part of.

According to Doherty, the story of the Forty Elephants has never been portrayed on screen before, and creator Steven Knight has long desired to bring this tale to life.

Later on, Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters presented me with a captivating concept: a true account of Hezekiah Moscow, a Jamaican boxer who relocated to London with his friend with the aim of transforming into a lion tamer. This tale, set in 1880s London, seemed like an excellent chance to narrate this inspiring story of struggle and success, and I thought it would be fascinating to intertwine it with the narrative of the Forty Elephants, thereby creating a compelling blend of history and triumph.

Regarding its origin, it was Stephen Graham and his wife Hannah Walters who initially encountered Hezekiah Moscow. Specifically, Hannah received a photo of the boxer that sparked their interest.

In our investigation, we discovered that the Forty Elephants and the Goodson brothers were recurring themes. This led us to contemplate how compelling it would be to interweave these elements into a cohesive narrative and universe. So, that’s what we decided to do.

I must add that accompanying the photograph was not just a single image, but two captivating narratives about Sugar and Treacle – those renowned boxing siblings who greatly influenced my character, Graham, as well as Nelson-Joyce’s.

Was Hezekiah Moscow a real person?

Yes, Hezekiah Moscow was a real person.

While the character depicted in A Thousand Blows is loosely based on a real person, it’s worth noting that historical records indicate that Hezekiah wasn’t just a boxer as portrayed; rather, he was a lion tamer and entertainer at the East London Aquarium in 1884.

It seems that during that period, Hezekiah was accused of mistreating four bears under his supervision by the RSPCA for cruelty, indicating that he had a career not only as a performer but also as a boxer.

In relation to his boxing career, it’s been verified that Hezekiah often fought using the alias “Ching Ghook” or “Ching Hook.” The potentially racist connotations of this nickname may have been an acknowledgment of his multiracial background, specifically his Jamaican and Chinese heritage, as suggested in A Thousand Blows.

Regrettably, there isn’t a lot of information available on Hezekiah, yet his tale mirrors the experiences of many individuals from Africa and the Caribbean during that period.

Occasionally, there are moments when we’re privy to a lot of information about him, but then there are huge mysteries that leave us clueless. He vanishes without a trace.

From what we’ve learned, it appears that he got married, which gives us occasional glimpses of his life through news reports. For instance, we read about conflicts in the media, but after a while, there’s no more information. This seems to be a characteristic of Black British history: brief, vivid snapshots of events rather than a continuous narrative.

In simpler terms, “Initially we encounter these individuals, we gain a basic understanding of their character, and then there’s a pause. This is where drama becomes extraordinarily potent, as it has the ability to creatively bridge those gaps. Although we may never learn much more about Hezekiah, drama can offer something unique.

Were the Forty Elephants real?

Yes, the Forty Elephants were a real criminal gang.

In the show, the timeline has been slightly adjusted to align events for a more cohesive storyline. In truth, Queen Mary Carr, who leads the Forty Elephants gang, was born in 1862, but the series, set in the 1880s, depicts her as its leader.

This woman is someone we’re familiar with. If she had followed the societal norms, working as a domestic servant until her mid-20s, getting married, having children, and keeping quiet, we wouldn’t know about her accomplishments. Instead, she chose to break those norms, which is why we know about her remarkable story.” – Olusoga stated.

Regarding the origin of the Forty Elephants, Hallie Rubenhold, a historical consultant for the show, stated in a press kit for A Thousand Blows: “There’s much speculation about their true origins.

It’s been proposed that they might have existed since the 18th century, but our knowledge of them begins with their first mention in print during the 1870s. Mary Carr is recognized as the queen of this group, often referred to as the Forty Elephants, although they were also known as the Forty Thieves at times.

The name “The Forty Elephants” originated from a pub known as the Elephant and Castle in Lambeth. Since the pub was located there, the entire area eventually took on this same name. Over time, a group of female thieves emerged and became known as “The Forty Elephants.” Many of these women were either married or connected to families involved in male criminal gangs, which were already known as “the Elephants.” This female gang could be seen as an extension or the female arm of those male groups. The term ‘family values’ is often used, but it’s important to remember that family connections can also extend to criminal activity, as many of these women had ties to criminal families.

Rubenhold pointed out an intriguing aspect of the Forty Elephants: unlike many male gangs, they primarily relied on cunning rather than violence to achieve their goals. These women were skilled pickpockets and shoplifters, employing various distraction tactics. They also used their femininity as a means to gain access to what they desired.

Here’s an example of a different phrasing: “For instance, one member of the group might divert the attention of a shopkeeper or passerby, while another, dressed in a garment with spacious pockets, would surreptitiously slip items into their voluminous pockets. Society often had preconceived notions about women, assuming they were more trustworthy and demure.

Usually, the stores wouldn’t realize they had been victims of a robbery, known as ‘a hoist’ or ‘a heist,’ until later because two seemingly innocent women had entered and then exited with various jewelry pieces, fur items, gloves, and other trinkets. These women were exceptionally clever in executing these thefts, which made them quite unique.

Rubenhold further points out: “The Forty Elephants frequently formed relationships with people, allowing them to approach men closely and extort them regularly. Additionally, they often secured positions as domestic help in affluent homes.

“They uncovered secrets within those households and used them to extort the residents, showing remarkable cunning. They were also highly territorial and would respond aggressively to any intrusion on their territory. Although they didn’t employ violence during their illicit activities, they could become quite aggressive when provoked.

We are aware that the character Alice Diamond, portrayed by Darci Shaw, draws inspiration from the actual woman who eventually took over as Queen of the Forty Elephants after Mary.

In the story, we first encounter Alice as she’s finding it difficult to fit in with the group. However, as we continue reading, we don’t know where her journey will take her. Author Brian McDonald mentions that Alice was the one who “guided the Elephants to their most notorious exploits.

Nevertheless, while Hannah Walters acknowledges that the series highlights her character’s sharp intellect and swift decision-making, she also points out that it does not glorify the activities of the Forty Elephants.

She continued: “At that time, there were few job prospects for working-class women. In essence, their choices were limited to either a brothel or an institution like a workhouse.

For these women, they opted for an unconventional course. In fact, it’s truly uplifting that they made this choice and regularly faced the danger of imprisonment or execution. It was a challenging period. They simply chose to be resilient and stand up against the establishment, and there’s something admirable about such defiance.

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2025-02-21 19:08