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Mrs. Henderson Presents

Mrs Henderson Presents
Mrs. Henderson Presents poster.jpg
Directed by Stephen Frears
Produced by Norma Heyman
Bob Hoskins
Written by Martin Sherman
Starring Judi Dench
Bob Hoskins
Kelly Reilly
Will Young
Christopher Guest
Music by George Fenton
Cinematography Andrew Dunn
Edited by Lucia Zucchetti
Production
company
Distributed by Pathé
The Weinstein Company
Release date
  • 25 November 2005 (2005-11-25)
Running time
103 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Budget $20 million
Box office $27,876,417

Mrs Henderson Presents is a 2005 British biographical film written by American playwright Martin Sherman and directed by Stephen Frears. It stars Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Kelly Reilly, and Pop Idol winner Will Young in his acting debut.

The film tells the true story of Laura Henderson, an eccentric British socialite who invested her money to create the Windmill Theatre in London during World War II.

The film is based on the true story of the Windmill Theatre in London. Eccentric 70-year-old widow Mrs Laura Henderson purchases it as a post-widowhood hobby and appoints autocratic manager Vivian Van Damm. In 1937, they start a continuous variety revue called "Revudeville", but after other theatres in London copy this innovation, they begin losing money. Mrs Henderson suggests they add female nudity, similar to the Moulin Rouge in Paris, which is unprecedented in the United Kingdom. The Lord Chamberlain (Rowland Baring, 2nd Earl of Cromer) reluctantly allows this under the condition that the nude performers remain immobile, so the performances can be considered art, the equivalent of nude statues in museums.

Because the theatre's auditorium is below street level it is relatively safe during the bombing of London, and performances continue. The performers bravely go on with the show even during frightening bombing raids, and the posed nude girls resume their poses, after ducking, as the whole theatre is shaken and the scene flats all round them sway when a bomb lands close by.


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