Acclaimed director Stephen Frears’ first collaboration with Judi Dench tells the eccentric true story of London’s exotic revue venue the Windmill Theatre.
70-year-old widow Laura Henderson opened the Windmill in the late 1930s, but with competition increasing, she decided to feature nude young women in her show. The Lord Chamberlain allowed it, provided that the women remained static, like statues. Along with manager Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins), she transformed the theatre into a success during the war years. Frears’ film is a tongue-in-cheek portrait of British eccentricity, with a stellar turn from Judi Dench.
