The Dench Factor

Each year we do our best to select a programme of films that we hope will be enjoyed by as many people in the village as possible, but with certain exceptions - The History Boys and Elizabeth: The Golden Age - we can never tell what will bring in the punters.  However as we looked back over the attandence figures for our screenings - our treasurer keeps a careful note of members and non-members attending each film - it was possible to discern one factor that most of them shared.  Notes on a Scandal, Mrs Henderson Presents and Casino Royale all drew substantial audiences, and the common factor was that they all starred Judi Dench.

We obviously cannot schedule a full programme of Ms Dench's cinematic work, so instead I've decided to institute a new rating system in order to give our piunters a chance to assess the merits of each film in relation to Judi Dench: I shall call it the Dench Factor.

There will be various categories, depending on the involvement (or not) of Ms Dench as follows:

Dench Factor 5: JD in a starring role.
Dench Factor 4: JD in a co-starring role.
Dench Factor 3: leading actor/actress appeared in a film with JD
Dench Factor 2: supporting actor/actress appeared in a film with JD
Dench Factor 1: actor/actress appeared in a film with someone who had appeared in a film with JD

On this basis Notes on a Scandal and Mrs Henderson Presents both merit a rating of Dench Factor 5 (my system does not offer any guarantee on the quality of the film, but you can forgive Stephen Frears for Mrs Henderson Presents when you see The Queen or Tamara Drewe).  In the same way Casino Royale earns a Dench Factor 2, and Elizabeth: The Golden Age is Dench Factor 3.  Sadly Up In The Air is only Dench Factor 1 (George Clooney starred with Cate Blanchett in The Good German, and CB starred with JD in Notes on a Scandal), but for some reason it seems to be generating a good deal of interest. 

I may need to rework my system to allow for the Clooney Effect.