This Stephen Frears directed film is based on a true story of the history of the revival of the Windmill theatre in London during the 1930's and 40's and it's nude revues, which didn't mean anything at all to me before I saw it but certainly does now. It's genre I would say is a comedy/drama with a strong vaudeville music element, but it is not a musical.

Judy Dench plays Mrs Henderson, a lady of high social standing and independent monetary means who has lived a life restrained by the conventions of Edwardian/Victorian morals. When she finds herself a widow in her late 60's she grieves for the husband she has lost and also resents the position in society which convention dictates she should take up, namely charitable good works. She finds life as a wealthy dowager dull and she soon seeks out a new challenge when she buys the rundown Windmill theatre upon a whim because she claims her husband would have approved but mostly because she wants fun and excitement in her life again. She is at that stage in life where she no longer cares what others think, and takes pleasure at shocking her contemporaries. It is refreshing to have a central character as a strong older woman who gets the best lines.

Bob Hoskins plays Vivian Van Damm her hired theatre manager who shrewdly draws the crowds back initially with fully clothed vaudeville style revues. I have always associated him with cockney lovable rogue characters but this film quite changed my opinion of him. His character is a serious, humourless man who is thoroughly efficient and professional in his position of stage manager, all he has to overcome is Mrs Henderson's constant interfering. The chemistry between these two characters is what gives the film its spark and its best chuckles, they are complete opposites and annoy each other yet both need each other. This role is notable because it also features Mr Hoskins first full frontal nude scene (I say 'first' because you never know), which is needless to say comical but all done in the best possible taste.

Other notables include Will Young in his acting debut, which includes a fair bit of singing and also a brief flash of nudity - blink and you will miss it (no pun intended!). I'm not a Will Young fan, but he amiably plays Bertie stage act who is discreetly 'otherwise inclined' although I think it's fair to say that this role is not a challenging one. Will Young's fans of course will not be disappointed as he gets to sing a good portion of the songs. Thelma Barlow who has been playing dizzy old ladies for some time (most infamously as Mavis Riley in Coronation street) also pops up as Mrs Henderson's friend who is an upper class jolly eccentric, you guessed it, dizzy old lady - but in her defence, she is perfect. Christopher Guest, quite unlike any other role I've seen him in ('This is Spinal Tap' and 'Mighty Wind'), plays the pompous Lord Chamberlain of London who Mrs Henderson manages to sweet talk into allowing the nude revues by the masterstroke of leading him to believe it is his idea that it will be aesthetically 'artistic' if the ladies do not move on his stage. Also Kelly Reilly (who has been most recently in 'Pride and Prejudice'), who plays Maureen the only one of the showgirls whose character is developed off stage.

And so the Windmill becomes notable for the first British nude revue show, with its still tableau's accompanied by twee musical arrangements which have been taken from the actual original sheet music for authenticity. Although the first audience is the gentry society the main audience is soon that of the service men as the war begins, and the 'Windmill' becomes a symbol of defiance with it's 'We Never Close' motto during the Blitz.

This film succeeds because it celebrates two things we British are historically very proud of, stoicism during the Blitz and the eccentricity of our upper classes. And yes, at times I did feel the plot was manipulating this, but it was done so well I didn't mind. Although there are a couple of sombre subplots they stay in their place and ultimately this is a feel good film with many a chuckle along the way.

A certificate 12a, this means it is up to parents whether they allow a child younger than 12 to view but children older than this should be fine. I would advise there is obviously a lot of nudity, much of it distorted with use of gauze but some not - although there are no actual sexual scenes. There are some sexual slang words (courtesy of Mrs Henderson herself!). Other than that, I wouldn't personally be happy with a child under twelve watching mostly due to the adult themed storyline.

This is a film only review as I saw it at the cinema, on an afternoon showing where 90% of the audience were OAP's - and they laughed the loudest I have heard any cinema audience laugh in a long while.