Heaven Help Us (1985)

Director:

Michael Dinner

Writer:

Charles Purpura (writer)

Release Date:

8 February 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

If God had wanted them to be angels, He would have given them wings!

Plot:

A new transfer student to St. Basil's Boys' Prep School tries to fit in while romantically pursuing a troubled young girl.

Plot Keywords:

Catholic School | Papal Visit | Coney Island New York City | 1960s | Brother Sister Relationship

Cast

Donald Sutherland	...	Brother Thadeus
John Heard	...	Brother Timothy
Andrew McCarthy	...	Michael Dunn
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Danni
Kevin Dillon	...	Rooney
Malcolm Danare	...	Caesar
Jennifer Dundas	...	Boo (as Jennie Dundas)
Kate Reid	...	Grandma
Wallace Shawn	...	Father Abruzzi
Jay Patterson	...	Brother Constance
George Anders	...	Brother Augustus
Dana Barron	...	Janine
John Eric Bentley	...	First Man (as John Bentley)
Imogene Bliss	...	Cook
Philip Bosco	...	Brother Paul

Also Known As:

Catholic Boys

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:M | UK:PG | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

When the studio decided to produce this film, it was tough to track down the writer. He was in Tibet and they had to wait for him to return before they started working on the film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Though set in 1965, virtually every school bus in the film was manufactured in the late-1970s and early-1980s. Most of them were built on truck cowls that didn't exist at the time, and contained features such as amber flashing lights next to the red ones above the windshield, which didn't exist in New York State until 1973.

Quotes:

Social Worker: [the police and social welfare people have arrived to close the store, arrest Danni's father and put her in foster care... a crowd outside has gathered] We'll make arrangements with your mother to have the inventory accounted for.
Michael Dunn: [rushing in] They made this happen, didn't they?
Danni: [crying] Nobody made this happen.
[Dunn embraces her]
Danni: I just don't want you to be sad... 'cause I'm not. Promise?
Michael Dunn: [fighting tears] No.
Social Worker: We have to go.
Michael Dunn: [running up to car Danni has just been loaded in] Well, hey listen, I'm glad I got to dance with you
[...]

Movie Connections:

Features Gunga Din (1939)

Soundtrack:

Shotgun

Amen and Hallelujah....

A real favorite from the 1980s, during the slew of 80s films that took place in the 60s (see Stand By Me, Porkys, Mischief, etc.) Perennial movie nice guy back then Andy McCarthy enrolls at a tough-as-nails Catholic school in 1965. Apparently his parents have just died, and he and his sister move in with their religion-toting grandmother who envisions McCarthy as, if not the Pope, a future priest. But Catholic school or not, your usual assortment of wily teen boys occupy the place. You have the chronic masturbator Geoffrey's, tag-along Dempsey, frumpy nerd Danare, and malcontent Dillon, who hilariously refers to everyone as a "faggot". A forgotten performer would be the strong supporting turn from Jay Patterson as a hot-headed teacher. Before reform by the Catholic church in the 70s, guys like Patterson existed, usually in the form of nuns. He takes their "ruler-to-hand" approach many steps further. The boys deal with them, plus their hormones, various school activities, and spending time at their favorite hang-out. This is where a slight but sweet romance develops between McCarthy and Masterson. She's such a downtrodden personality---with an appropriate speech about "meloncholia"---that the romance lacks punch. Throw in a slight theft from "Risky Business" involving the demise of a father's car, and you have an enjoyable comedy that sustains itself from start to finish. Purpura's script and Michael Dinner's fluid direction aid a fun story with a monster pay-off involving McCarthy and Patterson. Nice Brooklyn period atmosphere and music make this a must-find for obscure 80s comedy.