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Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, William Young, Christopher Guest, Kelly Reilly ... see more see more... , Thelma Barlow , Toby Jones , Anna Brewster , Doraly Rosen , Rosalind Halstead , Natalia Tena , Sarah Solemani , Camille O'Sullivan , Elise Audeyev , Ralph Nossek , Richard Syms , Sir Thomas Allen , Will Young

A recently widowed eccentric with money to burn and no intentions of settling down enlists the aide of a showbiz professional to transform a run-down theater in Soho into London's most innovative ente... read more read more...rtainment hot spot in director Stephen Frears' cinematic account of the groundbreaking Windmill Theater. The year is 1937 and, despite having recently lost her husband, 69-year-old Laura Henderson (Judy Dench) remains as ambitious and vital as ever. Aghast at her friend Lady Conway's (Thelma Barlow) suggestion that she take up a mundane hobby such as diamond collecting to pass the time, Mrs. Henderson instead shocks her well-to-do social circle by purchasing the ramshackle Windmill Theater in the heart of downtown Soho. Unafraid to take a risk in the venture, yet lacking the experience needed to run the theater, Mrs. Henderson brings in showbiz veteran Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) to line up an opening act that will set the stage ablaze. When the ever-curious Mrs. Henderson's intrusive spying begins to impede on Mr. Van Damm's creative progress, the frustrated theater manager has her banished from rehearsals. Though Van Damm's innovative idea to stage an unending stream of entertainment dubbed "Revudeville" proves a wild and profitable success, the Windmill begins to suffer when other local theaters quickly follow suit. Now faced with the prospect of seeing her once-lucrative endeavor fall by the wayside due to the unoriginality of the copycats who surround her, Mrs. Henderson decides to show audiences something they've never seen before by making the Windmill the first theater to feature nude female entertainers live on-stage. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

64% liked it

49,348 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

137 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Stephen Frears

Release Date: February 3, 2006

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DVD Release Date: April 18, 2006

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Stats: 1,371 reviews

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Will Young at the Mts Henderson presents Mrs. Henderson Presents Judi Dench in Mrs. Henderson Presents Mrs. Henderson Presents Will Young Will Young Bob Hoskins & Judi Dench in Mrs. Henderson Presents Thelma Barlow Mrs. Henderson Presents Mrs. Henderson Presents
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Flixster Reviews (1,371)

  • Deano78
    February 27, 2011
    Deano78
    A great little English film with a great English casting line up. Including Kelly Reilly a very good actress on the rise, who will be well known to UK audiences in Above Suspicion, as the star of a West end show where the girls perform naked. Set during the 2nd world war, it show... read mores the quirky, eccentric and fighting spirit of the people at the time. The film whizzes by very quickly, with a great cast, lovely girls this was a quirky comedy/drama that was more entertaining than I expected.
  • FrizzDrop
    November 27, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    A valiant effort, Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins are a perfectly mismatched couple, plotting through their endeavor of the theatre with clarity, but what should have been more of a dramatic historical effort, came off as a campy, sex ploy, plot holed film. Still quite enjoyable though.
  • itsjustme2004
    October 5, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    Dame Judi Dench. If you like her, you will like this nice, slow moving drama.
  • paulsandberg
    August 26, 2010
    paulsandberg
    A nice historical effort that gives those consumate actors Dench and Hoskins a chance to show off their chops, Mrs. Henderson Presents tell the tale of an elderly upper class woman of means who, for reasons that are poignantly revealed later, decides to open a theatre for a vaudv... read moreille type musical review.

    Dench is a marvel in this role and her interplay with Hoskins is simply fun to watch.

    The film has some nice theatrical touches, and Frears keeps the reigns on the more maudilin aspects, walking the tightrope and managing to keep the script moving and for the most part upbeat, in spite of the underlying "secret" and the backdrop of the beginnings of WWII (this is a historical piece afterall).

    There are some wonderful funny moments, for example, when Dench complains to her old biddy girlfriend that Hoskins is not paying the proper attention to her, the biddy tells Dench that she has to formulate a battle plan. She then goes on to mention that her late husband, the general, liked to attack from the rear, which while being a sound military tactic didn't do much for their love life.....

    I found the secondary stories of the girls of the theatre a nice way of rounding the edges and giving the film more body, and enjoyed the speach by Dench in which she not only reveals why she bought the theatre to begin with, but thumbs her nose at the stiff British mores. We've sure come a long way since then in some respects, but perhaps have lost something along the way.
  • allan913
    October 26, 2007
    allan913
    What an enjoyable movie. Wickedly hilarious and magnificent. Judie Dench is outstanding. Bob Hoskins has never been better. They have delightful chemistry.
  • danperry17
    June 16, 2007
    danperry17
    A great little film! Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins feud so well, you'd think they were married in real life, and it's worth watching just for the scenes they do together. It tackles the question of nudity especially well, and thankfully, the movie-raters in Canada had the common sen... read morese to rate it PG despite the many, many breasts that are bared in the name of art.

    The only knock on it is that, while capturing a distinct historical moment fairly well, sometimes it is clear that the filmmaker, audience (and seemingly, the characters) know how the rest of the Second World War will unfold. Call it an undertone, I guess. It's a bit of a slow starter, but before you know it, Judi Dench has yet again reeled you in and shows that her Oscar nod was well-deserved. Watch this film.
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    January 4, 2007
    StarCrossedVoyager
    if they made it so you couldnt see anything of their nakedness then i would give it a 5!
  • binky013
    November 3, 2006
    binky013
    It is commendable that the folks involved in this were so excited about bringing this remarkable story to the screen, and, for historical purposes, it is well worth seeing. As far as the entertainment value goes, however, there is little beyond the historical value of the inform... read moreation that makes this stand out. The players are competent, and the sets and costumes are well done. Other than that, there's not much to get excited about here. Hoskins pretty much nails it when he dresses Dench down -- no pun intended -- for being a bored and monied member of the upper class who's out of touch with the real world.
  • flickfever
    July 19, 2006
    flickfever
    Most films that take place during World War II always seem to deal with the same themes: love, loss, tragedy and compassion. That gets old. Mrs. Henderson Presents deals with those themes but does so in a very fun and subtle way. Mrs. Henderson has recently lost her husband and i... read morenherits a great amount of money. Being rich already, she must find a way to occupy her time and her spare change. She decided to purchase and run a theatre. Well, WWII drags the entire country down to its knees and Mrs. Henderson must find a way to uplift its people. The sweetness of this movie is palpable and the performances by Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins are simply beautiful. The movie's lighthearted approach to the war theme is the right approach to take and make this film that much more effective and connective. NOTE: Male & female frontal nudity throughout. Not that I mind-- but you might.
  • fb1142797643
    April 4, 2010
    fb1142797643
    Judi Dench gives a sparkling lead performance, but this lesser known Stephen Frears film isn't much more than a period piece.

    The setting is London, during the World War II era. Dench plays the real-life title character, a wealthy widow who buys a derelict theater to give hersel... read moref something to do. She hires a manager (Bob Hoskins) to put together a stage show, and they launch one of those aww-how-cute, bickering relationships. When the show threatens to fail, Mrs. Henderson has the daring idea to add nude girls. She meets bureaucratic resistance from one Lord Cromer (Christopher Guest, surprisingly), but they reach a compromise: the gals can be nude if they remain motionless in the manner of a classy painting or sculpture. From there, the show becomes a great success, especially once England enters the war and young soldiers are looking for nightly entertainment.

    All of this works so far, and Frears manages the fine trick of blending witty songs into the action without dampening the story's momentum. But the focus is more on vintage hairstyles and costumes than character development, and the film eventually takes a jarring, abrupt turn from musical comedy into wartime drama. By the end, the sentiment has turned rather corny, and a climactic speech from Henderson is more likely to cause eyerolls than tears.

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Critic Reviews

Bruce Westbrook
February 3, 2006
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

Though nudity will keep this from being a family film, for those who love the family of the theater, this postcard from its past is worth framing in your heart. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
February 3, 2006
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

If you're attracted to movies whose charms involve recollecting simpler times, Mrs. Henderson will do nicely.

Michael Booth
February 3, 2006
Michael Booth, Denver Post

The greatest pleasure of Mrs. Henderson Presents is watching two of the grandest British lions taking their talents for a long walk. Full Review

Bill Muller
February 2, 2006
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic

A lively period piece elevated by a winning pair of leads. Full Review

Tom Long
January 13, 2006
Tom Long, Detroit News

It's a variety show of a film with something for everyone if nothing of great consequence. Full Review

Terry Lawson
January 13, 2006
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Perfectly enjoyable entertainment for anyone who can abide showbiz sentimentality. Full Review

Ty Burr
January 13, 2006
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Frears gives us a sweet, old-fashioned study of time and place and one unsinkable woman. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
January 12, 2006
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Humor and warmth abound. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
January 12, 2006
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

Me, I prefer my candy bittersweet. But purring Dench and sparring Hoskins are agreeable company.

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
January 12, 2006
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It's an amusing and well-meaning celebration of the stiff-upper-lips that got Britain through the Blitz. And the lead acting couldn't be more nimble. Full Review

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Mrs. Henderson Presents Trivia

  • In which movie does Judi Dench play a rich theatre owner who creates a nude revue?  Answer »
  • Which actor is in: Mrs Henderson Presents Ladies In Lavender Casino Royale Mrs Brown Shakespeare In Love Tea With Mussolini   Answer »
  • Who played Laura Henderson in 'Mrs Henderson Presents...'?  Answer »
  • Name the movie -: "Recently widowed Laura is at a bit of a loose end in inter-war London. On a whim she buys the derelict Windmill theatre in the West End, and puts on risque revues."  Answer »
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