Heaven Help Us (1985)

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

Director:

Michael Dinner

Writer:

Charles Purpura

Stars:

Donald Sutherland, John Heard, Andrew McCarthy

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Sixteen-year-old Michael Dunn arrives at St. Basil's Catholic Boys School in Brooklyn circa 1965. There, he befriends all of the misfits in his class as they collide with the repressive faculty and discover the opposite sex as they come of age.

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Plot Keywords:

catholic school | preparatory school | dating | school library | underage smoking | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 February 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Catholic Boys

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Silver Screen Partners

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Goofs

Though set in 1965, a 1967 Pontiac is visible on the street outside the schoolyard.

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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 ...
[...]

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Connections

References A Hard Day's Night (1964)

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Soundtracks

"My Girl"
Performed by The Temptations

User Reviews

Funny, touching, and underrated

While I can't comment on the accuracy in which the "Catholic School for Boys" is depicted in this movie, having once been a teenage boy, I can attest to having known (or been) a kid who is represented by nearly every character in the movie. I identified most with Andrew McCarthy's character, but saw a little of myself in many of the other kids.

The movie is at times funny, touching, and intense. I believe it has been largely forgotten and was ignored even in its initial run. It is vastly underrated, and if you happen across it in the TV Guide or in the older titles at the video store, it is worth two hours of your life. Recommended.