Mrs Henderson Presents (2005)

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers:

David Rose (idea)
Kathy Rose (idea)

Release Date:

25 November 2005 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Nudity - Variety - High Society

Plot:

Laura Henderson buys an old London theater and opens it up as the Windmill, a performance hall which goes down in history for, among other things, its all-nude revues.

Plot Keywords:

The Blitz | Nudity | Blitz | Grave | Bombing

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 24 nominations

Cast

Judi Dench	...	Mrs. Laura Henderson
Bob Hoskins	...	Vivian Van Damm
Will Young	...	Bertie
Christopher Guest	...	Lord Cromer
Kelly Reilly	...	Maureen
Thelma Barlow	...	Lady Conway
Anna Brewster	...	Doris
Rosalind Halstead	...	Frances
Sarah Solemani	...	Vera
Natalia Tena	...	Peggy
Thomas Allen	...	Eric Woodburn (as Sir Thomas Allen)
Richard Syms	...	Ambrose
Ralph Nossek	...	Leslie Pearkes
Camille O'Sullivan	...	Jane
Doraly Rosen	...	Maggie

Also Known As:

Mrs Henderson Presents (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for nudity and brief language.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS (US prints) | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Finland:K-7 | Canada:14A (Alberta/Nova Scotia) | Portugal:M/12 | France:U | USA:R | Australia:M | Ireland:15A | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Spain:T | UK:12A | Netherlands:MG6 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:(Banned) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Sweden:7 | Brazil:14 | Norway:7 | Argentina:13 | Singapore:M18 | Germany:6 | Canada:G (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Chester Terrace, Regent's Park, London, England, UK

Company:

BBC Films

Trivia:

Many of the scenes from the war were taken from real-life documentaries by Humphrey Jennings.

Quotes:

Lady Conway: You obviously require a battle plan. My second husband, the general, always advocated attacking from the rear, which, although it did nothing to enhance our marriage, did bring him some success on the field.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Comedy Connections: Dinnerladies (#4.2)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Goody Goody

A winner

A lovely movie. The idea that a movie about a strip joint could be so classy and funny seems absurd. Yet here is a loving portrayal of London's Windmill Theatre whose motto "We never closed" (or, as some wags used to say, "We never clothed")sustained them through World War Two and at least into the 60s. Judy Dench seems to have shed her Dameness for a a high old time as a very glamorous, and slightly camp, septuagenarian. Bob Hoskins (also producer) is very restrained yet determined as her adversarial business partner. And Christopher Guest puts in a surprise appearance as the Lord Chamberlin befuddled at having to grant a license to such a licentious business enterprise. It is he that comes up with the idea that nudes absolutely still on stage are "art". The depiction of the London Blitz is romantic and at one moment tragically graphic. A must for Denchophiles, Anglophiles, nude lovers, showbiz types, and anyone who likes a good yarn well told.