What's the Matter with Helen? (1971)
Average Rating: 5.1/10
Reviews Counted: 6
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 4
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 1
liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 323
Movie Info
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
Jun 30, 1971 Wide
Cast
-
Debbie Reynolds
Adelle -
Shelley Winters
Helen -
Dennis Weaver
Lincoln Palmer -
Agnes Moorehead
Sister Alma Evangelist -
Michael MacLiammoir
Hamilton Starr -
Samee Lee Jones
Winona Palmer -
Minta Durfee Arbuckle
Old Lady -
Peter Brocco
Old Man -
Timothy Carey
Tramp -
Paulie Clark
Mrs. Plumb -
James Dobson
Cab Driver -
Molly Dodd
Mrs. Rigg -
Pamelyn Ferdin
Kiddy M.C. -
Helene Heigh
Widow -
Robbi Morgan
Rosalie Greenbaum -
Logan Ramsey
Detective West -
Peggy Rea
Mrs. Schultz -
-
Debbie van den Houten
Sue Anne Schultz -
Yvette Vickers
Mrs. Barker -
Helene Winston
Mrs. Greenbaum -
Gary Combs
Matt Hill -
Bill Fritz
Musician -
Douglas Deane
Fanatical Man -
Swen Swenson
Gigolo -
Harry Stanton
Malcolm Hays
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All Critics (10) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (4) | DVD (1)
The same thing that's wrong with Helen, is what's wrong with this pic%u2014it's too loony to be taken either seriously or humorously.
The layers of pastiche that fuel What's the Matter with Helen? multiply like Shelly Winters's titular character's fat white rabbits.
An unseemly vibe of failed comedic horror, or - depending on your point of view - successfully bad high camp, with an inordinate number of incongruous dance numbers.
Bizarre cultish thriller from the underrated Curtis Harrington.
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Movie: ID: 770672533 Title: What's the Matter with Helen? Release Date: 1971-06-30 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 1 Status: 1
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