Poster for What's the Matter With Helen?

What's the Matter With Helen?

1971, Mystery & thriller, 1h 41m

11 Reviews 250+ Ratings

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What's the Matter With Helen? Photos

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Movie Info

After their sons are convicted of homicide in a highly publicized trial, Midwesterners Adelle (Debbie Reynolds) and Helen (Shelley Winters) begin receiving threatening phone calls and decide to begin their lives anew in Hollywood, Calif. They open a dance school for young girls, and, while the business succeeds, their troubles continue. Helen becomes dangerously neurotic and increasingly clings to Adelle, who longs to marry the wealthy parent (Dennis Weaver) of one of her students.
  • Rating:
    R (Some Violence/Bloody Images)
  • Genre:
    Mystery & thriller
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Curtis Harrington
  • Producer:
    George Edwards
  • Writer:
    Henry Farrell
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
  • Sound Mix:
    Mono

Cast & Crew

Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds
Adelle Bruckner
Shelley Winters
Shelley Winters
Helen Hill
Dennis Weaver
Dennis Weaver
Lincoln Palmer
Micheál MacLiammóir
Micheál MacLiammóir
Hamilton Starr
Agnes Moorehead
Agnes Moorehead
Sister Alma
Helene Winston
Helene Winston
Mrs. Greenbaum
Peggy Rea
Peggy Rea
Mrs. Schultz
Curtis Harrington
Curtis Harrington
Director
Henry Farrell
Henry Farrell
Writer
George Edwards
George Edwards
Producer
Edward S. Feldman
Edward S. Feldman
Executive Producer
James C. Pratt
James C. Pratt
Associate Producer
Matty Malneck
Matty Malneck
Original Music
David Raksin
David Raksin
Original Music
Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer
Non-Original Music
Lucien Ballard
Lucien Ballard
Cinematographer
William Reynolds
William Reynolds
Film Editing
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Critic Reviews for What's the Matter With Helen?

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (5)
Full Review… Tom Milne Financial Times Full Review… Nigel Andrews Sight & Sound Full Review… Eric Henderson Slant Magazine Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Full Review… Dilys Powell Sunday Times (UK) Full Review… Richard R. Harmetz Los Angeles Free Press Full Review… Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Full Review… Tony Mastroianni Cleveland Press Full Review… Scott Weinberg Apollo Guide Full Review… Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Full Review… Christopher Null Filmcritic.com
View All Critic Reviews (11)

Audience Reviews for What's the Matter With Helen?

  • Mar 21, 2014
    Not exactly what I expected. The thriller element was not well presented, not exactly a drama either. I enjoy the dance, sure, but that's all there is. The psycho biddy element was down played. However, I liked the twist at the end.
    Super Reviewer
  • Apr 03, 2011
    Starts out strong, drags in the middle and ends strong. I don't particularly like the DVD cover, which gives away the ending a bit, but it's not altogether uninteresting. I felt that the tap-dancing scenes with the kids should have either been cut in half or cut out altogether as they had really nothing to do with what was going on. There's too much lag time in the middle with no tension build-up. However, the everything around that works well. If only the middle part had been as good as the rest.
    Tim S Super Reviewer
  • Jan 03, 2009
    More a drama with suspense elements than a horror film. Debbie looks like a million and Shelley gives a good performance in the beginning until she starts biting off large pieces of the scenery towards the end. Enjoyable overall.
    jay n Super Reviewer
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