What's the Matter with Helen? (1971)



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Synopsis:
Though it bears more than passing resemblance to his macabre hits Hush ... Hush, Sweet Charlotte and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, this lesser-known outing from screenwriter Henry Farrell takes a more satirical turn, skewering the eccentricities of the Hollywood studio system. The story opens during the advent of talking pictures, where a school for would-be child stars is opened by voice coach Helen Hill (Shelley Winters) and dance instructor Adelle Bruckner (Debbie Reynolds). Haunted by a dark secret -- each of the women's sons was convicted of murder -- Hill and Bruckner are pursued by a cloaked interloper whose incessant snooping leads to a fatal altercation. Suspicion builds between the two until the expected climax, where it is revealed that one of the two women is even more lethal than her homicidal son. Though the film's absurdist tone is a harsh about-face from the deadly deadpan camp of Farrell's Gothic 1960s thrillers, the period flavor is a nice touch, and accomplished director Curtis Harrington frequently achieves the right balance of horror and humor.

~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

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Full Cast & Crew

Theatrical Release
1/1/1971
Director Credit
John Sebastian Director
Cast Credit
Timothy Carey Tramp
Douglas Deane Fanatical Man
Helene Heigh Widow
Peggy Rea Mrs. Schultz
Debbie van den Houten Sue Anne Schultz
Minta Durfee Arbuckle Old Lady
Vicki Schreck
Gary Combs Matt Hill
Robbi Morgan Rosalie Greenbaum
Swen Swenson Gigolo
Harry Stanton Malcolm Hays
Helene Winston Mrs. Greenbaum
Pamelyn Ferdin Kiddy M.C.
James Dobson Cab Driver
Bill Fritz Musician
Yvette Vickers Mrs. Barker
Paulle Clark Mrs. Plumb
Peter Brocco Old Man
Logan Ramsey Detective West
Debbie Reynolds Adelle
Shelley Winters Helen
Dennis Weaver Lincoln Palmer
Agnes Moorehead Sister Alma, Evangelist
Michael MacLiammoir Hamilton Starr
Samee Lee Jones Winona Palmer
Production Credits Credit
Edward Feldman Producer
George Edwards Producer
Art Department Credit
Jerry Wunderlich Set Designer
Eugène Lourié Art Director
Film Camera Credit
Lucien Ballard Cinematographer
Production Management Credit
Claude Binyon, Jr. first Assistant Director
Wardrobe Hair Makeup Credit
Morton Haack Costume Designer
William J. Tuttle Makeup



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