Mrs. Henderson Presents

[MissQueenie]

I just came home from seeing "Mrs. Henderson Presents" -- I had never even heard of it before tonight -- but it is absolutely superb. Judi Dench gives a truly moving performance, and her chemistry with Bob Hoskins is remarkable. The film's design is flawless, the story is moving without being overblown and funny without being ridiculous...and the music was delightful. They really don't make films like this anymore and I was extremely impressed. I cried a few times, laughed at least twice as often, and got to see a lot of beautiful nekkid ladies. Please go see this film -- it gives us the very best of our favorite era.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I saw it at a pre-release screening a couple of weeks ago and heartily agree! A very well-done film, highly entertaining and doing justice to the period in which it's set. I loved it.

 

[jake_fink]

I've been looking forward to this film for a while. I'm glad to hear I won't be disappointed.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

... and got to see a lot of beautiful nekkid ladies.

Never a bad thing, that.

 

[MissQueenie]

Heh, no indeed

 

[scotrace]

Thanks for the headsup

Hadn't heard of this one - looks like a hoot.

 

[Lincsong]

Interesting

 

[Professor]

I absolutely love this film! -Dave

"Mrs. Henderson Presents" tells the story of the Windmill Theatre's founding by Laura Henderson (Judi Dench), whose husband left her a widow in the 1930's. She came home from India with some money and nothing to do. "I'm bored with widowhood," she told a friend. "I have to smile at people. In India, there was always someone to look down on." One day, she saw the abandoned theatre on Great Windmill Street and decided to buy the old barn and put on a show.

As her impresario, she hired Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins). They presented a variety programme. Her inspiration was a "non-stop revue" all day and evening. The theatre was a hit until it was widely copied and began to lose money, and then she had an inspiration. "Let's have naked girls -- don't you think?" she asked Vivian. Their decision to include nudity saved the theater, and when war came Mrs. Henderson refused to close her doors, because the theater was below street level and therefore somewhat safe, and it was important for troop morale. When her son died in the first war, she told people, she found a French postcard among his possessions, and thought it likely he had never seen a real nude woman. She was determined to spare the new generation of British heroes this depressing fate.

"We never closed" became the war cry of the Windmill. All during the Blitz, theatres, restaurants and pubs closed, but never the Windmill. Director Stephen Frears, working from a screenplay by Martin Sherman, tells this story through the relationship of Mrs. Henderson and Van Damm, both high-spirited and stubborn. Van Damm may have been running a nude show, but his discipline was strict and his standards high -- higher, one might suspect, in this movie than in life. Although they became fast friends, the owner and her manager maintained a British reserve, and it was some years before Mrs. Henderson learned there was a Mrs. Van Damm.

Other key roles in the story are played by Maureen (Kelly Reilly), a Windmill girl who Mrs. Henderson approves of for her "British nipples," and Lord Cromer (Christopher Guest), the Lord Chamberlain, who one suspects approves of them, too. Mrs. Henderson has a droll luncheon audience with Cromer where they debate exactly what she proposes to reveal in her revue. "Will you show the foliage?" he asks. "Try the brie," she suggests. He tries the cheese, finds it agreeable, and returns to "the somewhat sordid topic of the pudendum." Why are men always so concerned, Mrs. Henderson wonders, about "the Midlands"?

Dench and Hoskins bring ineffable personal styles to roles that could have been potted show biz. One touch is just right: Van Damm is always natty in dress and grooming. Impresarios in that era glowed with prosperity, no matter how shaky their finances. Mrs. Henderson is in the tradition of British ladies whose age, bearing and accent set the stage for the occasional shocking word; watch the Lord Chamberlain as she suggests a synonym for pudendum.

[YOUTUBE]<object width="980" height="765"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ARs0uaNBg9o&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ARs0uaNBg9o&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="980" height="765"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Annichen]

Oh yes, a beautiful movie.
The scenes on the roof, wonderful.
One of the few modern films from that era that I like, usually I get pissy about bad hair,stupid make-up and bad choice of actors etc.,this one did good I think :eusa_clap

 

[WH1]

My wife and I enjoyed this movie last night. A true joy, liked Dame Judi as always and Bob Hoskins is great as is his wardrobe and Kelly Reilly is both a grand actress and gorgeous both clothed and sans clothing.

Best line...."You're American, strange people, lovely manners.":eusa_clap lol

We also watched "A Good Woman" with Helen Hunt, Tom Wilkinson, and Scarlett Johansson. Another very enjoyable adaptation of Oscar Wilde, somehow we missed this one when it first came out. Tom Wilkinson is really a great actor and I enjoyed him in this one particularly. I forsee a trip to Italy in the future.

 

[LizzieMaine]

We ran this picture for three weeks when it came out -- a real crowd pleaser, and one of the few long-run films I never got tired of.

My choice for best line: "Why Mr. Van Damm! You really *are* Jewish!" Brought down the house every night.

 

[Miss Scarlet]

It is a fantastic film and again one I never get bored of watching. I have to say I enjoy the bit when Bob Hoskins puts Judy Dench on top of the filing cabinet and she can't get down.

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"I also Love Dame Judi in "Tea with Mussolini"

[YOUTUBE]Wv2ueIQMFdw[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Professor]

"I also Love Dame Judi in "Tea with Mussolini"

I just love Judi Dench! I'll watch anything she's in.

 

[Haversack]

The Professor wrote: "I just love Judi Dench! I'll watch anything she's in."

Then allow me to recommend to you the 1968 film of Shakespeare's _A Midsummer Night's Dream_. Dame Judi plays Titania in nothing but green paint and a strategically placed leaf. As lagniappe, it also features Helen Mirren, Diana Rigg, Ian Holm, and David Warner.

The soundtrack of MHP is also very good. I particularly like the O'Brien Sisters singing "Babies of the Blitz".

Haversack.

 

[Good Ol' Days]

I'm not a big fan of having too much singing in movies, but this film was quite good! It was worth seeing it, for sure.

 

[Bugsy]

I just came home from seeing "Mrs. Henderson Presents" -- I had never even heard of it before tonight -- but it is absolutely superb. Judi Dench gives a truly moving performance, and her chemistry with Bob Hoskins is remarkable. The film's design is flawless, the story is moving without being overblown and funny without being ridiculous...and the music was delightful. They really don't make films like this anymore and I was extremely impressed. I cried a few times, laughed at least twice as often, and got to see a lot of beautiful nekkid ladies. Please go see this film -- it gives us the very best of our favorite era.

I enjoyed it so much, I bought the DVD when it was released!!

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"Oh Goodness! was it 5 years go I saw it at the "Piccadilly Cinema?, ....I suppose it must be!"

http://www.piccadillycinemas.com/