The Last of the Blonde Bombshells

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11/14/2020 This is a flashback movie to a time and place that was WWII London. The protagonist, now a grandmother, is first seen enduring her deceased husband's funeral. A dreary opening it most assuredly is not. She has led a rather safe, staid and boring life of mother and housewife since the war, in contrast to when as a teenager she was the lead tenor saxophonist in an all-girl dance band (why? because all the male musicians were gone to war). She was "the youngest, the sweetest, and the most talented of the Blonde Bombshells", avers Betty the bandleader. After her husband's death, she turns to busking with a young male guitarist, to the chagrin of her stuffy children who look askance at their mother's musical adventuring as beneath the dignity of an elderly gentlewoman. I invite you see what mother Judi Dench's response is to her children. Just you wait and see! She chances to meet up with the drummer from the Bombshell band, and the two of them begin to hunt down their wartime colleagues in an effort to reunite the band. So, it is back and forth between the present and past, with sidekick granddaughter Joanna's character being central to the story's progress. Joanna is the only one who truly "gets" her grandmother, is completely in awe of her, encourages her grandmother's bold enterprises, and has a bond with her grandmum even stronger than with her own mother and uncle, who have grown up to be more like their "responsible" (read, boring) father. I don't want to spoil this movie for you with any further scenarizing. In short, this is an absolutely delightfully effervescent piece of comic historical fiction theatre that is full of good spirits, nostalgia for a very real period in British and world history, and overflowing with heart-warming emotion. It absolutely bears repeat viewing to the point of quotability, so pithy is the script. Do yourself a favor and acquaint yourself with this splendid length of celluloid that is one of Dame Judi's most memorable contributions to motion picture culture. Period. Is that enough of a rave? See more 08/02/2015 Judi Dench is remarkable as always, but this movie fell a little flat due to relying on the music a bit too much and not telling enough story. It didn't feel like a realistic picture of aged singers or stars of that time. My Mom grew up in that time in London, and I remember her singing some of the songs in this movie! See more 08/19/2012 Dame Judi Dench is so wonderful in everything she does. This was a delightful movie. The 50-year-flash-backs were handled exceptionally well. The current year story-line was not interfered with, and was very enjoyable. Nice movie! See more 02/07/2011 It is a piece of brilliance ! See more 01/05/2011 The movie was average but as usual, Judi Dench was fabulous! See more 12/29/2010 not what it could have been...you could see the ending coming from about minute two...lacked the laughs one would expect...tries too hard...still, has its charms See more Read all reviews

The Last of the Blonde Bombshells

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