Mrs. Henderson Presents – In 1937 in England Robert Henderson died leaving his widow, Laura Henderson (Judi Dench), a fortune. Soon after proclaiming herself bored with widowhood, her friend informed her that she was now permitted to engage in charity to help the poor as well as spend her money on herself. Mrs Henderson purchased an old movie theatre, The Windmill, on the West End in London, had it renovated, and hired Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) to manage live stage productions. An innovative concept of continuous musical revue initially set The Windmill apart from other attractions during the Depression, but soon others copied the plan. Deliberately courting controversy, Mrs Henderson suggested naked chorines on the stage, eventually settling, after negotiating with her friend the Lord Chamberlain, for artistic tableaux of women in puris naturalibus or as Milton expressed it “in naked beauty more adorned.”

World War II and the blitz failed to close The Windmill; its shows were especially popular among the young men leaving as soldiers. In defense of her theatre she revealed that her son Alec, only 21, had died in the previous world war, very possibly never having laid eyes on an unclothed female in the flesh (she found a French postcard in his room after his death), and her mission was to make such a joyous vision available to this war’s soldiers before they entered battle. Her relationship with Van Damm, who referred to her as “selfish and eccentric,” was complex, part business arrangement and part unstated love affair – a platonic marriage of irritation and mutual admiration. Based on actual people and events, Mrs Henderson left The Windmill to Vivian Van Damm in her will in 1944. 

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2007 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

Patrick Ivers can be reached via e-mail at .