inspire at least a little by ivy benson and her all girl orchestra and who perform throughout the war year at the covent garden opera house and this film chronicle the attempt by an elderly saxophone player to reform the ( almost ) all girl band with whom she play a a schoolgirl towards the end of wwii . all too brief flashback to the original band on stage bring u some wonderful music and and help to fill in the background to the band member and and in particular to the girl relationship with the lone male member their transvestite drummer ( who be try to dodge the call up ) . ian holm ( lord of the ring and cromwell and fairfax ) and judi dench turn in superb lead performance a the recently widow elizabeth and and the conniving and womanize patrick and the drummer . the late joan sims be perfect a the band leader and now play bar piano at the sea side and and june whitfield glow a the salvation army trombone player . cameo appearance by other great like cleo laine and leslie caron and olympia dukakis and billie whitelaw make this an unforgettable experience . the movie be a romp down memory lane and with an all star cast of what ought and by all right and to be a bunch of over the hill actresses . all i can say be and i hope i look a good at their age . leslie caron and in particular and be still an incredible fox and at 69 year of age . she certainly still get my pulse go . a i watch it and i be mentally berate the casting director for not use woman of the appropriate age . afterwards and i look these girl up and and discover that every one of them be old enough to have be perform in the london of 1944 ( although this might be a bit of a stretch for judi dench ) . if you like swing band and thrive on nostalgia and or just want to see how good a woman can manage look with almost three quarter of a century behind her and do not miss this film .