Plot
Laura Henderson buys an old London theater and opens it up as the Windmill, a performance hall which goes down in history for, among other things, its all-nude revues.
Release Year: 2005
Rating: 7.0/10 (9,904 voted)
Critic's Score: 71/100
Director:
Stephen Frears
Stars: Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Christopher Guest
Storyline Recently widowed well-to-do Laura Henderson is at a bit of a loose end in inter-war London. On a whim she buys the derelict Windmill theatre in the West End and persuades impresario Vivian Van Damm to run it, despite the fact the two don't seem to get on at all. Although their idea of a non-stop revue is at first a success, other theatres copy it and disaster looms. Laura suggests they put nudes in the show, but Van Damm points out that the Lord Chamberlain, who licenses live shows in Britain, is likely to have something to say about this. Luckily Mrs Henderson is friends with him.
Writers: Martin Sherman, David Rose
Cast: Judi Dench
-
Mrs. Laura Henderson
Bob Hoskins
-
Vivian Van Damm
Will Young
-
Bertie
Christopher Guest
-
Lord Cromer
Kelly Reilly
-
Maureen
Thelma Barlow
-
Lady Conway
Anna Brewster
-
Doris
Rosalind Halstead
-
Frances
Sarah Solemani
-
Vera
Natalia Tena
-
Peggy
Thomas Allen
-
Eric Woodburn
(as Sir Thomas Allen)
Richard Syms
-
Ambrose
Ralph Nossek
-
Leslie Pearkes
Camille O'Sullivan
-
Jane
Doraly Rosen
-
Maggie
Taglines:
Nudity - Variety - High Society
Release Date: 25 November 2005
Filming Locations: Chester Terrace, Regent's Park, London, England, UK
Box Office Details
Budget: $20,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: £752,394
(UK)
(27 November 2005)
(354 Screens)
Gross: $11,034,436
(USA)
(28 May 2006)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The person in the bear costume who danced on stage actually was Judi Dench.
Goofs:
Factual errors:
Vivian van Damm is portrayed as being in his mid-60s during the bombings. In reality he was only in his late 40s.
Quotes: Laura Henderson:
France is just full of naked women covered in bananas and, I dare say, making everyone else go bananas as well.
User Review
The Best little movie you'll never hear of!
Rating: 10/10
Long time viewer of IMDb.com but first time poster. I just HAD to post
after that negative listing I saw because I couldn't disagree more! I
found the movie hilarious and touching. The history of the Windmill
Theatre is extraordinary! I come from a theater background and
currently work in production for television and film... and I just
loved this movie. From the script, to the costuming, the acting, music
and imagery... beautiful. My only complaint would be to the Weinsteins
- where is the PR??? Dench and Hoskins are amazing! Oscar contenders
for sure! I know it won't be released wide until January and I do hope
it picks up speed because there's no good reason NOT to see this movie
- there's humor, nudity, history, a little romance, a little
violence... it has something for everyone!
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