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Mrs. Henderson Presents

Play trailer Poster for Mrs. Henderson Presents R 2006 1h 43m Comedy Drama Music Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
69% Tomatometer 143 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
With some money in her pocket after the death of her husband, Mrs. Laura Henderson (Judi Dench) buys a theater and hires the irascible theater manager Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) to run the business, despite bad blood between the two. Henderson has a hit on her hands when she decides to add beautiful nude women to the stage shows at her Windmill Theatre. Though they are touched by tragedy, Henderson and her company bravely keep the theater active during the 1940-'41 Blitz of London.
Mrs. Henderson Presents

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins shine in this warm, witty period piece.

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Critics Reviews

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Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Feb 11, 2006
3/5
Dench deserves better, and unfortunately it will probably be a long time before she gets another starring role in a movie custom-made for an actress her age. Go to Full Review Bruce Westbrook Houston Chronicle Feb 3, 2006
3/4
Though nudity will keep this from being a family film, for those who love the family of the theater, this postcard from its past is worth framing in your heart. Go to Full Review Michael Booth Denver Post Feb 3, 2006
3/4
The greatest pleasure of Mrs. Henderson Presents is watching two of the grandest British lions taking their talents for a long walk. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Jul 28, 2026
World War II homefront patriotism meets 'The Full Monty' in [this] warm British comic drama that plays in the space between cultural uptightness and quaint nudity. Go to Full Review Gary M. Kramer Out Magazine May 16, 2022
Judi Dench is hilarious and heartbreaking as the title character in Mrs. Henderson Presents. Her deadpan delivery wrings belly laughs out of gay screenwriter Martin Sherman’s zingers, and she jerks tears on cue too. Go to Full Review Chris McCoy Memphis Flyer Jan 8, 2020
Dench still has plenty of charisma and a wicked sense of comic timing, but you can't win an Oscar by just being funny, so the third act gives us serious speechifying and forced pathos, smothering what could have been a pleasant little vaudeville romp. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Marit Risto F @RT66247982 Dec 2, 2024 Quite charming Dench, and partly amusing story. But I prefer naked men. War is always perverse, and I find the end ridiculous. Hope for a better future! See more Bahad j @RT27093708 Jul 23, 2024 In my opinion, the movie uses very good camera and audio visual equipment and the crew members and the filmmakers have played their roles very well. I really liked it. See more May 24, 2022 Unique biographical focus as musical originality depicting theatrical legacy with dazzling pieces framing controversial objectification backed up by desired though only decently minimal depth from Judi Dench's meaningfully eccentric performance, sharing a witty dynamic with Bob Hoskin's dramatic best that functionally fulfills their starring vehicle deliverance. (B) See more steve d @RT35616104 Jun 27, 2020 besides the performances the film was fairly forgettable. See more Mar 24, 2018 An easy watch: it benefits greatly from Dench and Hoskins, and a fair amount of style that avoids the dreaded period-drama treatment. A nice sense of fun flows throughout, but it lacks the depth and drama to suffice as great cinema. See more Jul 3, 2016 Very good story of beauty, moving the convention, war, and relationships. A nice and beautiful package that seems probable even though this is in england. The girls are so lovely on top of it. See more Read all reviews
Mrs. Henderson Presents

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Cast & Crew

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Stephen Frears

Director

Judi Dench

Laura Henderson

Bob Hoskins

Vivian Van Damm

Will Young

Bertie

Kelly Reilly

Maureen

Thelma Barlow

Lady Conway

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Mrs. Henderson Presents

Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005) Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005) Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005) A scene from the film "Mrs. Henderson Presents." A scene from the film "Mrs. Henderson Presents." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis With some money in her pocket after the death of her husband, Mrs. Laura Henderson (Judi Dench) buys a theater and hires the irascible theater manager Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) to run the business, despite bad blood between the two. Henderson has a hit on her hands when she decides to add beautiful nude women to the stage shows at her Windmill Theatre. Though they are touched by tragedy, Henderson and her company bravely keep the theater active during the 1940-'41 Blitz of London.
Director
Stephen Frears
Producer
Norma Heyman, David Aukin
Screenwriter
Martin Sherman
Production Co
BBC, Future Films
Rating
R (Nudity|Brief Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 3, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.0M
Runtime
1h 43m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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