Mrs Henderson Presents
- Director: Stephen Frears
- Writer: David Rose; Kathy Rose
- Producer: David Aukin; Laurie Borg
CGiii Comment
A delightful little film with a crisp script that takes you on a nostalgic journey.
Dench is untouchable. Hoskins tries. The story is a touching testament to a time gone by.
Frears has proven himself at the biopic - here, he lets the story carry on uninhibited with its almost theatrical appearance - which is suitable for the piece.
In places, it is deliciously camp and as entertaining as theatre is meant to be.
Quite charming.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Recently widowed well-to-do Laura Henderson 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 persuades impresario Vivian Van Damm to run it, despite the fact the two don't seem to get on at all. Although their idea of a non-stop revue is at first a success, other theatres copy it and disaster looms. Laura suggests they put nudes in the show, but Van Damm points out that the Lord Chamberlain, who licenses live shows in Britain, is likely to have something to say about this. Luckily Mrs Henderson is friends with him.
Cast & Characters
Judi Dench as Mrs. Laura Henderson;
Bob Hoskins as Vivian Van Damm;
Will Young as Bertie;
Christopher Guest as Lord Cromer;
Kelly Reilly as Maureen;
Thelma Barlow as Lady Conway;
Anna Brewster as Doris;
Rosalind Halstead as Frances;
Sarah Solemani as Vera;
Natalia Tena as Peggy;
Thomas Allen as Eric Woodburn;
Richard Syms as Ambrose;
Ralph Nossek as Leslie Pearkes;
Camille O'Sullivan as Jane;
Doraly Rosen as Maggie