What's the Matter with Helen? [Blu-ray]

Director: Curtis Harrington Curtis Harrington

Overview

When two women move to Hollywood to set up a school for talented children, their pasts follow them. Both women's sons were murderers, and just when the women seem to have adjusted to their new lives and left the past behind, strange things begin happening to them.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/21/2017
UPC:	0826663174090
Original Release:	1971
Rating:	R
Source:	Shout Factory
Region Code:	A
Language:	English
Time:	1:41:00
Sales rank:	39,924

Special Features

Theatrical Trailer; Radio Spot; Still Gallery

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Debbie Reynolds	Adelle
Shelley Winters	Helen
Dennis Weaver	Lincoln Palmer
Agnes Moorehead	Sister Alma
Michael MacLiammoir	Hamilton Starr
Samee Lee Jones	Winona Palmer
Robbi Morgan	Rosalie Greenbaum
Helen Winston	Mrs. Greenbaum
Mollie Dodd	Mrs. Rigg
Peggy Rea	Mrs. Schultz
Yvette Vickers	Mrs. Barker
Paulle Clark	Mrs. Plumb
Pamelyn Ferdin	Kiddy MC
Debbie Van Den Houten	Sue Anne Schultz
Tammy Lee	Charlene Barker
Teresa De Rose	Donna Plumb
Swen Swenson	Gigolo
Timothy Carey	Tramp
Harry Stanton	Malcolm Hays
James Dobson	Cab Driver
Logan Ramsey	Det. West
Peggy Lloyd Patten	Ellie Banner
Gary Combs	Matt Hill
Sadie Delfino	Midget Lady
Annette Davis	Spinster
Bill Fritz	Musician
Helene Heigh	Widow
Peter Brocco	Old Man
Minta Durfee Arbuckle	Old Lady
Peggy Walton	Young Girl
Douglas Deane	Fanatical Man
Sharon Hisamoto	Dance School Student
Stacy Hollow	Dance School Student
Marcia Garcia	Dance School Student
Bambi Meyers	Dance School Student,Dance School Student
Vicki Schreck	Dance School Student
Keri Shuttleton	Dance School Student
Sian Winship	Dance School Student
Shawn Steinmann	Dance School Student
Madelon Tupper	Dance School Student

Technical Credits

Henry Farrall

Curtis Harrington	Director
Henry Farrall	Screenwriter
Edward S. Feldman	Executive Producer
George Edwards	Producer

Editorial Reviews

What's the Matter with Helen? is schlock, but it's good schlock. Coming near the tail-end of the "grand old dame" ghoulfest that began with What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Helen can't compare to that particular twisted masterpiece of the macabre, but it's dandy fun -- the kind of movie that popcorn and rainy nights were made for. Helen is ridiculous, of course, but director Curtis Harrington realizes this, and so he plays it for big effects. He's unashamed to bring out manipulative tricks that everyone has seen before, but he likes them so much that most viewers will too, even if they groan afterward. Harrington probably should have let Debbie Reynolds in on the joke, for she plays her scenes entirely too seriously -- something that is not a problem with co-star Shelley Winters. The supporting cast is fine, with Agnes Moorehead a tremendous amount of fun, and Harrington also has a good time playing around with period touches. The result is far from a great movie, but still an enjoyable mixture of chills and laughs, even if some of the laughs are more at the film than with it.