If you get chance to see a movie in the next couple of weeks, you have to go see 'Mrs Henderson Presents.
A fantastic film, based on true events in 1937, it has drama, it has comedy, its has a naked bottoms, its made by BBC films, and stars Dame Judy Dench, Bob Hoskins and Will Young in his first film role, very well put together.
Set in pre-World War II London, MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS tells the remarkable true life story of one of England's most prominent and eccentric society figures, LAURA HENDERSON (Dench), who founded the historic Windmill Theatre. Driven by a desire to win back the dwindling music hall audiences who had been lured away by the advent of 'talking pictures', this charming lady and veritable force of nature was aided by her equally formidable and tenacious theatre manager, VIVIAN VAN DAMM (Hoskins), as she set about her task with the kind of vigour and determination which belied her advanced years.
The wonderfully argumentative pair were complete opposites, but their extraordinary partnership proved fruitful when Mrs Henderson's influence in Society enabled her to take advantage of a legal loophole which permitted the theatre to show entirely nude models on stage - provided they didn't move a muscle. From here it was an easy step to the 'nude revue', a musical extravaganza which became a roaring success and cemented the Windmill Theatre's legendary reputation and place in history.
Taking a humorous and moving behind-the-scenes look at this forgotten world and playing against the background of the impending outbreak of war, MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS provides an uplifting and evocative tale likely to live long in the memory of audiences everywhere.
