Mrs Henderson Presents
| Mrs Henderson Presents | |
|---|---|
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| 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 |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by |
Pathé The Weinstein Company |
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Release date
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Running time
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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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