Mrs. Henderson Presents (Widescreen Edition)

I have always loved British comedies especially those containing/featuring a Lady Bracknell (from Oscar Wild's "Importance of being Ernest") type of woman. "Mrs. Henderson Presents" is such a comedy. Judi Dench plays, of course, the "Lady Bracknell" type character and she plays her most delightfully. I'm sure Dame Judi could play this kind of role almost blindfolded. Fortunately for us the audience, she does not just go through the motions of playing this character. Her Mrs. Henderson is very funny and (surprise) also very warm. She splendidly plays a woman that, at first, seems to be just an "upper crust" bitty who seemly is unaware of the common-man's foibles. Nevertheless we learn that her character has known grief (her 21 year old son died in World War One) and that she is far more aware and sensitive to a lot more than most people would think. Dench gives a "well seasoned" and a great performance! Her love interest (she is very recently widowed) and "sparing partner" is Vivian Van Damm, played superbly by Bob Hoskins. It's like having two irretrievable forces butting heads. I loved it. The aforesaid leads are very strong and very well seasoned and they are at the height of their powers delivering wonderful performances!The movie is a delightful and humorous story about an older well-off dowager needing more in life than just luncheon with the girls and charity work so she buys and renovates a closed theater to put on staged musicals which eventually have to include the use of some stage nudity to heighten the appeal and to draw in the masses which, of course, it does. While "the play/musical is the thing" we, the audience, are never allowed to lose sight of the fact that England was at war and that London was being bombed on a regular basis.The cinematography (with its use of vintage/archival films showing the bombing of London) is marvelous. The good, bad and the rather ugly is shown. The film is also filled with some terrific British Character Actors--Christopher Guest, as Lord Cromer and Will Young, are particularly good.All in all, this film offered me a delightful and pleasant 103 minutes of viewing. As in "The Full Monty" the British really know how to make the mere suggestion of someone "taking it all off" very funny indeed.

Stellar performances as you'd expect!

We bought this movie at the recommendation of a Londonwalks tour guide(neat outfit, highly recommend, btw) , after she happened to mention it during a walking tour that included Picadilly Circus. Her story intrigued us, so I ordered it when we got back.What a fantastic movie! Judi Dench plays to perfection , Bob Hoskins is easily her equal, and I knew nothing of Will Young, but looked him up after the movie and will be buying some of his CDs. Speaking of which, I have already ordered and received the fabulous soundtrack for this movie. Soundtrack is ten thumbs up, as well.Basic premise of the movie is that, a few years before WWII, giddy, bored, upper crust widow Dench buys a theatre on a whim, and hires Hoskins to manage it. When attendance goes south, she surprises society by incorporating nudity in her show, her ostensible reason being that Paris has the Moulin Rouge, and a stellar world city like London ought to have the same. Her real reason, of course, is surprisingly far more personal, and she is far less giddy than she lets on.Be forewarned that there is a lot of nudity in this movie, but it is very tastefully done, since it is done in the same conventions as the era. My movie rule of thumb is, "would I watch this with my 73 year old dad?" Not only would I watch it with them, I've been begging my folks to watch it. They would love it. The nudity is incidental, yet integral to the story.There's not really much plot to the movie, but it moves along at a good pace, there's a few tearjerking moments, the art, choreography, singing, dance, and costumes are A+, and if nothing else, it's worth it to watch Dame Judy Dench charm, rather than chew, her way through the part. She gets lovelier the older she gets, and she just lights up the screen in this period piece.Oh, why can't all movies be this surprisingly good?

This is a movie based on a true story in Britain during the late 1930s. Mrs. Henderson, a rich recently widowed elderly British woman. She is not the type to spend her last days watching the Dust Bunnies gather. As a personal interest she purchases and remodels an old theater.After a successful run of a production public interest dwindles, as it always does. To recapture the public's interest and avoid the liquidation of her business she had to invent a new production with fresh ideas, thus nudity in burlesque. (As you probably know Burlesque did not start out with nude dancers or acts.)In the 1930s nudity in a public venue except for brothels was strictly taboo. In order for her to circumvent the censorship of that period she had to incorporate nudity in her productions as an art form.During World War II everything changed especially in Britain. During an air raid you could be jailed, if you survived, for leaving a light on and a window shade open. Large Public gatherings were forbidden to prevent mass causalities, which would overwhelm the much-stressed out public services. The public gave up everything but the bare minimum to support the troops and the war effort. That is when the motivating factor behind her business changed to entertaining the troops, as most entertainment venues did during that time. Try viewing her as the British version of a female Bob Hope.If you're expecting a movie with a hundred thousand dollar screenplay and hundreds of millions spent to produce the movie, this is not it. Or expecting a movie which will keep you cross legged on the edge of you seat, to keep from peeing your pants, again this is not that movie.But if you would like to view a good British movie depicting a true story during a horrible period in our history, then you will be entertained.

A wonderful performance of the leading actress.

Over 100 reviews in, and almost 75% of 5 stars it is hard to find anything original to say beyond another 5 stars from me.Stephen Frears' comments re his casting choices are interesting and the outcome is spectacular. His quest for authenticity resulted in some unusual selections such as Will Young (nationally famous, but an unknown to me) and dancers 'without the modern gym body', bold choices, but wise ones.Much easier to understand his selections for the principal roles, Judi Dench being in particularly sparky form and nominated for Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe awards for this part. Bob Hoskins her reliable foil, and Christopher Guest nicely understated in his performance as Lord Cromer.There are numerous musical numbers, which may make or destroy the film, according to your taste. I have no knowledge of how authentic the recreations may have been, but they worked for me although not usually my sort of thing.I only expected to half-like this, but am glad to say it is very good.

Mrs Henderson Presents is an amazing film which I have now come back to for the third time, and with just as much pleasure. Judi Dench is wonderfully funny as the larger-than-life Mrs Henderson who nevertheless remains very human and moving, ultimately. Right from the start you realise that the film operates on several levels, even though the surface is quite 'jolly' with much Carry On-style humour got in ... but at the same time there is a sense of life's harshness, both in Mrs Henderson's bereavement at the beginning, and the hardships of the Blitz. I think it has been a bit overlooked how deftly the film covers these things, and others, to present a wide-ranging picture of life in which the indomitable human spirit is shown as the key to getting through these events, even as characters are aware of the inescapable sadness of life as well. Meanwhile the banter between Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins continues in a priceless vein throughout - it is rare to see all these things so vividly captured in one film, with musical numbers on stage caught with an appealing lack of the slickness that can characterise the genre. It deserves to be as well-known as Cabaret - better-known, even!

I watched this programme on television some years ago, and was entranced from beginning to end. The performances of Judy Dench and Bob Hoskins were so mesmerising that the time simply flew past, and before I knew it, the film was ending. Finally I treated myself to the DVD, and was again transported out of this world and into another one.Fabulous, mesmerising, enchanting are just some of the reasons for owning this DVD.

As described and delivered promptly.

This was bought to replace a video which had worn out. I love this film and the actors are brilliant in it. Seeing Bob Hoskins naked was a bonus!!!! A great story and really well acted.