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Mrs. Henderson Presents, 2005

Mrs. Henderson Presents

English

UK

Rating:7.1
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Profile of Mrs. Henderson Presents

Mrs. Henderson Presents can be described as feel good, exciting, and humorous. The plot revolves around wartime life, following your dreams, and showbiz. Its comic aspect comes from dry humor. Mrs. Henderson Presents's main genres are drama, comedy, and period. In approach, it is realistic. It is set, at least in part, in a theater. Mrs. Henderson Presents is located in London. It takes place in the 1930s. The movie has received attention for being an award winner.

Summary of Mrs. Henderson Presents

A British director with an astoundingly eclectic body of work, Stephen Frears (MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE, HIGH FIDELITY) has never made the same film twice. With MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS, Frears has taken several genres--including costume drama and the gently naughty Brit-com (à la THE FULL MONTY or CALENDAR GIRLS) and crafted a breezy but affecting entertainment that hides a surprising emotional heft in its third act. Based on the true story of London's Windmill Theater, the film stars Judi Dench as Laura Henderson, a widowed society woman in the 1930s who purchases the abandoned West End venue as a means to help her pass the time. She enlists experienced stage producer Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins, who also produced the film) to aid her in creating Paris-inspired vaudeville revues--which break taboos in the staid English society of the time by featuring artfully posed nude women amidst the musical shenanigans. The shows become wildly successful with soldiers during WWII, but the horror of the Blitz brings trauma to the intrepid stage troupe.

Dench and Hoskins give their usual fantastic performances, creating two characters who are comically reluctant to express their obvious affection for one another. They are supported by a charismatic cast--most notably Kelly Reilly, as their nude lead--who sing, dance, and doff their clothes with abandon, though the goings-on are always in the cleanest of fun. With beautifully staged musical numbers, a significant amount of bare flesh, and wit to spare, MRS. HENDERSON has something for any moviegoer and stands as yet another success for one of the world's most pleasantly idiosyncratic filmmakers.

Details

Language: English
Country: UK
Release date: 7 October 2005
Runtime: 103 min

Cast and Crew

Bob Hoskins as Vivian Van Damm in Mrs. Henderson Presents
Bob Hoskins

as Vivian Van Damm

Judi Dench as Mrs. Laura Henderson in Mrs. Henderson Presents
Judi Dench

as Mrs. Laura Henderson

Photos

Kelly Reilly in Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
Kelly Reilly in Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
Kelly Reilly and Judi Dench in Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
Kelly Reilly and Judi Dench in Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
Director Stephen Frears and Kelly Reilly on the set of Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
Director Stephen Frears and Kelly Reilly on the set of Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)

Clips

Mrs. Henderson Presents
Mrs. Henderson Presents: Official Trailer
Mrs. Henderson Presents
Mrs. Henderson Presents: Official Trailer
Mrs. Henderson Presents
Mrs. Henderson Presents: Official Trailer

Critics Reviews

Newsweek
A shameless crowd-pleaser.
Salon.com
This is a shimmery beaded curtain of a movie, a slight, charming picture that's almost all facade. But what a facade!

Users Reviews

Eh. This is fun, but drags a bit. Dench and Hoskins are delights, and the plot is rich and highly unique. But there are slow spots where I found my attention wandering quite a bit. It has a dry sort of English feel to it (as well it should) and that...
Likely to see
Not for me

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