What's the Matter with Helen? (1971)

R   |    |  Crime, Musical, Mystery

What's the Matter with Helen? (1971) Poster

Two middle-aged women move to Hollywood, California after their sons are convicted of a notorious murder and open a dance school for children eager to tap their way to stardom.

6.4/10
1,612
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  • Debbie Reynolds and Shelley Winters in What's the Matter with Helen? (1971)
  • Debbie Reynolds and Swen Swenson in What's the Matter with Helen? (1971)
  • Shelley Winters in What's the Matter with Helen? (1971)
  • Debbie Reynolds and Shelley Winters in What's the Matter with Helen? (1971)
  • Debbie Reynolds and Dennis Weaver in What's the Matter with Helen? (1971)
  • Shelley Winters in What's the Matter with Helen? (1971)

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Cast & Crew

Top Billed Cast

Director:

Curtis Harrington

Writer:

Henry Farrell
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Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
14 February 2007 | tonybolger
10
| Fine, eerie black comedy with a superb Reynolds turn.
A vastly underrated black comedy, the finest in a series of grand guignol movies to follow 'Baby Jane'. Reynolds and Winters are mothers of young convicted murderers (a nod to 'Compulsion') who run away to hide in Hollywood. They run a school for would-be movie tots, a bunch of hilariously untalented kids attended by awful stage moms. Debbie, in her blonde wig ('I'm a Harlow, you're more a Marion Davies' she tells Winters) leads the tots at their concert and wins a rich dad, Weaver. She also does a deliciously funny tango and, over all, gives an outstanding performance, unlike anything she'd done before. The atmosphere is a fine mix of comic and eerie. It looks wonderful with great period detail (30's). Lots of lovely swipes at Hollywood and the terrifying movie tot. Micheal MacLiammoir has a ball as the drama coach: 'Hamilton Starr', he purrs, 'two r's but prophetic nonetheless'. See it and love it.

Critic Reviews

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shelley Winters decided that after they came in from the rain, her Helen character should have a moment when she kissed Debbie Reynolds Adelle character on the lips. This unscripted moment was filmed but removed from the final print of the movie to avoid attaining an R-rating.

Quotes

Sister Alma: I offered you my blessing, but you refused it. Now move along.

Goofs

Mrs. Greenbaum squats to talk to Rosalie before the girl heads out on stage for her Mae West number. In the following shot, Mrs. Greenbaum is standing erect.

Soundtracks

Animal Crackers in My Soup
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Caesar, Ted Koehler & Ray Henderson
Performed by Samee Lee Jones

Storyline

Plot Summary

Genres

Crime | Musical | Mystery | Thriller

Details

Release Date:

13 April 1972

Language

English

Country of Origin

USA

Filming Locations

General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

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Congrats Debbie Reynolds - SAG Lifetime Achievement!

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