- Actors: Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Christopher Guest, Will Young, Kelly Reilly
- Directors: Stephen Frears
- Writers: David Rose, Kathy Rose, Martin Sherman, Sheila van Damm
- Producers: Bob Hoskins, Cameron McCracken, David Aukin
- Format: NTSC
- Studio: Alliance Films
- Release Date: May 9 2006
- Run Time: 103 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000ESSSTI
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #14,158 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
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Product Description
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The blitz-bombing of London in World War II provides the serious backdrop for the uplifting entertainment of Mrs. Henderson Presents, a delightful British comedy anchored by the flawless performances of Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins. After losing a son in World War I, and becoming a widow in 1937, the wealthy and respectable Mrs. Henderson (Dench) decides that the best way to support soldiers going off to battle is to give them a wartime send-off they'll never forget. Thus, she buys and renovates the Windmill Theater in London's Soho district, hires Mr. Vivian Van Damm (Hoskins) as the impresario of an all-day musical variety show called "Revudeville," and secures permission from the censorious Lord Cromer (Christopher Guest) to include naked women in the stage show – on the condition that the ladies remain still onstage to qualify as "art," like nude portraits in a gallery, with the "foliage" of their "midlands" discreetly obscured. "Revudeville" is an instant hit, British propriety remains tastefully intact, and as The Windmill's fortunes rise, fall, and rise again, Mrs. Henderson Presents develops an emotional depth and good-natured nobility that's perfectly matched to the comedy of tweaking British manners. Working from an eloquently witty, fact-based screenplay by Martin Sherman, director Stephen Frears (High Fidelity) brings out the best in a well-chosen cast, and Andrew Dunn's cinematography (enhanced by judicious use of digital effects to show the London blitz in progress) casts a warm, inviting glow over this winning tale of show-biz tenacity in the best and worst of times. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description Academy Award winner1 Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love) received her fifth Oscar® nomination for her saucy, hilarious performance in Mrs. Henderson Presents. Laura Henderson (Dench) may be a widow in London but she is certainly not going to spend the rest of her days playing bridge. In a time when England is brought to its knees by war, she brings a nation to its feet in applause—with a live show featuring nude girls. Dench and Academy Award nominee Bob Hoskins have won critics’ hearts in this stylish gem that Joe Morgenstern from The Wall Street Journal calls "one of the wittiest comedies to come our way in a very long time!" "Two hours of relentless, heart-pounding pleasure." - Rex Reed, The New York Observer
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
movie order,
This review is from: Mrs. Henderson Presents (Widescreen) (DVD)
Excellent service, received shipment, well-packaged, fast and courteous, This movie is hard to find and was pleased to be able to purchase thru amazon
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
"I'm bored with widowhood.",
By
This review is from: Mrs. Henderson Presents (Widescreen) (DVD)
This true story is set in 1930s London, where wealthy Laura Henderson (Judi Dench) has just been widowed and is at a loss as to how to fill her time. On a lark, she buys a broken-down music hall in the West End and hires Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) to run the revue. He's every bit as stubborn and opinionated as she is, and the two make an uneasy team at first. To boost sagging ticket sales, Mrs. Henderson suggests they use use nude models in tableaux. The theatre becomes a big hit, especially with the young soldiers during wartime. Mrs. Henderson and Van Damm come to trust and respect each other after sharing their deepest secrets.This movie is absolutely charming, thanks to the wonderful Judy Dench and Bob Hoskins. Dench is always such a pleasure to watch; she simply owns the screen. Her character is snobbish, rigid, and quite loveable. Hoskins is the perfect match for her. He's just as outrageously snobbish as she is, and their scenes together are the best in the movie. There's lots of 30s and 40s music in the music hall numbers and lots of nudes. It's a touching, sweet little film, and knowing it really happened makes it even better.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
"You really are Jewish",
By
This review is from: Mrs. Henderson Presents (Widescreen) (DVD)
It is between world wars in London. Laura Henderson (Judi Dench) is recently widowed. Now she must look for something to do with her time and money. Having exhausted all the conventional outlets, she ventures in to the world of theater. She purchased the dilapidated "Windmill" theater. To make a go of it she employs the well know Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) to run things. Vivian demands a free hand and is many time at odds with Laura. To save the faltering enterprise they come up with a nude tableau presentation.Mrs. Henderson is overbearing and not as much a bigot as snot. Early on she accuses Van Damm of being Jewish. To playact his entourage he is forced to disrobe. When Mr. Henderson walks in and takes a long look "You really are Jewish". The film is loosely based on real events yet adjusted for today's audience. You will notice many of the standard scenarios and clich's with a touch of "chorus line" or maybe 42 nd street. The real value is not just the fine acting but their personal interaction of the characters as the all learn (usually too late) more of each other as time goes by. As facades are stripped away, there is a lot more depth of character than meets the eye.
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