Parents' Guide to Mrs. Henderson Presents

Movie R 2005 103 minutes
Mrs. Henderson Presents Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Maria Llull , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

An unexpectedly classy film. Not for kids.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

Newly widowed, wealthy Londoner Mrs. Henderson (Judi Dench) is dissatisfied with the lifestyle led by her fellow widow friends. On a whim, she buys a theatre, renovates it, and hires seasoned Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) to run the show. After the theatre opens to short-lived rave reviews, it starts losing money. Van Damm thinks it best to close but Mrs. Henderson laughs off the "defeat" and decides the best way to fill the house is to add nudity to the show. Nudity isn't allowed in the theatre, but they are able to find a loophole in the law that permits it if the models stay perfectly still. The show is a hit, especially with soldiers newly embroiled in World War II. The business partners are strong-willed and non-conventional and inevitably lock horns. But they build a strong sense of mutual respect in a partnership where both are able to get what they need.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS is an artfully and lovingly made film about human frailty and the joy of being fully alive. Mrs. Henderson seems frivolous at first, but by the end of the movie it's apparent that she's driven by love, most especially a mother's love for a son lost in World War I.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about nudity and why it's so taboo in many parts of the world. Families can alsp also talk about war and how it can change a person's perspective.

Movie Details

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