What does a recent widow of a certain age do for amusement in the England of the 1930s? She buys a theater. And what kind of entertainment does this widow decide to give to the London public? The type that they didn't get in other venues.
That is the premise of this film directed by Stephen Frears that clearly shows it was a vehicle tailor made for a great dame of the English stage and cinema, Judi Dench, who clearly dominates with her presence all we see in this formulaic picture based on a real story.
The Windmill Theater in London never closed its doors during the worst of the bombing it suffered. It must have been quite a feat for the real Mrs. Henderson and her manager, Vivian Van Damm, to keep presenting day after day the kind of variety shows the public loved. The skits at the Windmill showed a lot of naked skin by the way of the beautiful young women whose job was to stand in the background and have their bodies shown in an artistic way in order to avoid the censure of the office of Lord Chamberlain.
Mrs. Henderson had the good fortune of engaging a manager of the caliber of Vivian Van Damm. He was the genius behind all the revues that played at the Windmill because his vision and knowing well what the public wanted to see. Later on, as England entered the war, the theater became a refuge for the young men that were in the city on leave before going, or returning to the front lines.
Judi Dench portrays Laura Henderson with her accustomed style in a fun, although predictable performance. She has some good moments. Bob Hoskins, playing Mr. Van Damm is also good playing opposite of Ms. Dench. Thelma Barlow appears as Mrs. Henderson's friend and confidant as the delicious Lady Conway and Christopher Guest is perfect as the Lord Chamberlain.
Stephen Frears direction doesn't bring anything to the film that has a feeling as something one has seen before. While the film doesn't break any new ground, it still is fun because of the great Judi Dench doing what she does best.
That is the premise of this film directed by Stephen Frears that clearly shows it was a vehicle tailor made for a great dame of the English stage and cinema, Judi Dench, who clearly dominates with her presence all we see in this formulaic picture based on a real story.
The Windmill Theater in London never closed its doors during the worst of the bombing it suffered. It must have been quite a feat for the real Mrs. Henderson and her manager, Vivian Van Damm, to keep presenting day after day the kind of variety shows the public loved. The skits at the Windmill showed a lot of naked skin by the way of the beautiful young women whose job was to stand in the background and have their bodies shown in an artistic way in order to avoid the censure of the office of Lord Chamberlain.
Mrs. Henderson had the good fortune of engaging a manager of the caliber of Vivian Van Damm. He was the genius behind all the revues that played at the Windmill because his vision and knowing well what the public wanted to see. Later on, as England entered the war, the theater became a refuge for the young men that were in the city on leave before going, or returning to the front lines.
Judi Dench portrays Laura Henderson with her accustomed style in a fun, although predictable performance. She has some good moments. Bob Hoskins, playing Mr. Van Damm is also good playing opposite of Ms. Dench. Thelma Barlow appears as Mrs. Henderson's friend and confidant as the delicious Lady Conway and Christopher Guest is perfect as the Lord Chamberlain.
Stephen Frears direction doesn't bring anything to the film that has a feeling as something one has seen before. While the film doesn't break any new ground, it still is fun because of the great Judi Dench doing what she does best.