Mrs. Henderson Presents

We bought this movie at the recommendation of a Londonwalks tour guide(neat outfit, highly recommend, btw) , after she happened to mention it during a walking tour that included Picadilly Circus. Her story intrigued us, so I ordered it when we got back. What a fantastic movie! Judi Dench plays to perfection , Bob Hoskins is easily her equal, and I knew nothing of Will Young, but looked him up after the movie and will be buying some of his CDs. Speaking of which, I have already ordered and received the fabulous soundtrack for this movie. Soundtrack is ten thumbs up, as well. Basic premise of the movie is that, a few years before WWII, giddy, bored, upper crust widow Dench buys a theatre on a whim, and hires Hoskins to manage it. When attendance goes south, she surprises society by incorporating nudity in her show, her ostensible reason being that Paris has the Moulin Rouge, and a stellar world city like London ought to have the same. Her real reason, of course, is surprisingly far more personal, and she is far less giddy than she lets on. Be forewarned that there is a lot of nudity in this movie, but it is very tastefully done, since it is done in the same conventions as the era. My movie rule of thumb is, "would I watch this with my 73 year old dad?" Not only would I watch it with them, I've been begging my folks to watch it. They would love it. The nudity is incidental, yet integral to the story. There's not really much plot to the movie, but it moves along at a good pace, there's a few tearjerking moments, the art, choreography, singing, dance, and costumes are A+, and if nothing else, it's worth it to watch Dame Judy Dench charm, rather than chew, her way through the part. She gets lovelier the older she gets, and she just lights up the screen in this period piece. Oh, why can't all movies be this surprisingly good?

I’ve watched this several times now. Each time I see something new. Layered performances. From silly to introspective to poignant, it’s both entertaining and thought-provoking.

This is a movie based on a true story in Britain during the late 1930s. Mrs. Henderson, a rich recently widowed elderly British woman. She is not the type to spend her last days watching the Dust Bunnies gather. As a personal interest she purchases and remodels an old theater. After a successful run of a production public interest dwindles, as it always does. To recapture the public's interest and avoid the liquidation of her business she had to invent a new production with fresh ideas, thus nudity in burlesque. (As you probably know Burlesque did not start out with nude dancers or acts.) In the 1930s nudity in a public venue except for brothels was strictly taboo. In order for her to circumvent the censorship of that period she had to incorporate nudity in her productions as an art form. During World War II everything changed especially in Britain. During an air raid you could be jailed, if you survived, for leaving a light on and a window shade open. Large Public gatherings were forbidden to prevent mass causalities, which would overwhelm the much-stressed out public services. The public gave up everything but the bare minimum to support the troops and the war effort. That is when the motivating factor behind her business changed to entertaining the troops, as most entertainment venues did during that time. Try viewing her as the British version of a female Bob Hope. If you're expecting a movie with a hundred thousand dollar screenplay and hundreds of millions spent to produce the movie, this is not it. Or expecting a movie which will keep you cross legged on the edge of you seat, to keep from peeing your pants, again this is not that movie. But if you would like to view a good British movie depicting a true story during a horrible period in our history, then you will be entertained.

I have always loved British comedies especially those containing/featuring a Lady Bracknell (from Oscar Wild's "Importance of being Ernest") type of woman. "Mrs. Henderson Presents" is such a comedy. Judi Dench plays, of course, the "Lady Bracknell" type character and she plays her most delightfully. I'm sure Dame Judi could play this kind of role almost blindfolded. Fortunately for us the audience, she does not just go through the motions of playing this character. Her Mrs. Henderson is very funny and (surprise) also very warm. She splendidly plays a woman that, at first, seems to be just an "upper crust" bitty who seemly is unaware of the common-man's foibles. Nevertheless we learn that her character has known grief (her 21 year old son died in World War One) and that she is far more aware and sensitive to a lot more than most people would think. Dench gives a "well seasoned" and a great performance! Her love interest (she is very recently widowed) and "sparing partner" is Vivian Van Damm, played superbly by Bob Hoskins. It's like having two irretrievable forces butting heads. I loved it. The aforesaid leads are very strong and very well seasoned and they are at the height of their powers delivering wonderful performances! The movie is a delightful and humorous story about an older well-off dowager needing more in life than just luncheon with the girls and charity work so she buys and renovates a closed theater to put on staged musicals which eventually have to include the use of some stage nudity to heighten the appeal and to draw in the masses which, of course, it does. While "the play/musical is the thing" we, the audience, are never allowed to lose sight of the fact that England was at war and that London was being bombed on a regular basis. The cinematography (with its use of vintage/archival films showing the bombing of London) is marvelous. The good, bad and the rather ugly is shown. The film is also filled with some terrific British Character Actors--Christopher Guest, as Lord Cromer and Will Young, are particularly good. All in all, this film offered me a delightful and pleasant 103 minutes of viewing. As in "The Full Monty" the British really know how to make the mere suggestion of someone "taking it all off" very funny indeed.

All fact-based comparisons aside, Dame Judi Dench is absolutely brilliant as Mrs Henderson. I couldn't help but think that her portrayal of a free-thinking new widow approaching her 8th decade of life is a perfect role model for the philosophy of the Red Hat Society. From their website the RHS "supports and encourages women to pursue fun, friendship, freedom, fulfillment of lifelong dreams and fitness." For political reasons the RHS may not embrace the content of the film, but they'd find no argument with Mrs Henderson's quick observations and expressive outlook on life. "Are you American? (Yes) Strange people, lovely manners." Bob Hoskins is Dame Judi's talented equal in the movie. His portrayal of Vivian Van Damm carries the weight necessary to match Dame Judi's character. The film works for a wide audience because it is a combination drama, war movie, comedy, and musical containing both female and male nudity, all of which work beautifully together. Unfortunately the moviehouse trailer, and possibly the movie's name, failed to open the movie to the audience it truly deserves. "Life My Way" or "Who Give's a Fiddler's F..., There I said It" would have opened people's mind to the personal appeal of the movie. This is one truly enjoyable period piece. If you need an excuse, buy the film for any family retiree you know who still has a memory connection to the last world war. Slip it in the player then sit and watch the movie with them. I dare you not to enjoy it.

Love Kelly Reily and had heard that this a good movie to watch

Ever since seeing its theatrical trailer, I wanted to see "Mrs. Henderson Presents." It's the true story of a very well-connected and very wealthy British widow who decides to buy a West End theater in the late 1930s. That theater became the legendary Windmill, which never closed during the blitz. Unfortunately, the film had a fairly brief run in our local art house, which has poor sound quality. Luckily, DVDs provide a permanent second chance at viewing this--and other--fine films. This film is well scripted, excellently acted, and sumptuously produced.The story is deeply satisfying and deeply moving--with enough laughter to leaven it. Indeed, it's one of the relatively few films worth a second viewing. Dame Judi Dench, who plays Mrs. Henderson, was justly nominated for the Oscar for her performance, and Bob Hoskins (who produced the film) should have gotten such a nomination as well.

Humorous, but sad are words that come to mid as I reflect on the movie. Judi Dench is wonderful in a role that gives her an opportunity to show her comedic side as well as her sympathetic and sad side. The women who portrayed the showgirls that performed in Mrs. Henderson's show are well cast and displayed their charms quite well, but not gratuitously. Bob Hoskins is excellent as the experienced and worldly showman who is the guiding force behind Mrs. Henderson's success. The movie does a great job at conveyeing the ambience during WWii in London while showing the indominable spirit and sense of humor of people while surviving the merciless bombing of the German Luftwaffe. The movie gives an excellent, but somewhat subtle anti-war message.