Two middle-aged women move to Hollywood, California after their sons are convicted of a notorious murder and open a dance school for children eager to tap their way to stardom.
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Title: What's the Matter with Helen? (1971)
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Nominated for
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Debbie Reynolds | ... | Adelle Bruckner aka Adelle Stuart | |
| Shelley Winters | ... | Helen Hill aka Helen Martin | |
| Dennis Weaver | ... | Linc Palmer | |
| Micheál MacLiammóir | ... | Hamilton Starr (as Micheal Mac Liammóir) | |
| Agnes Moorehead | ... | Sister Alma | |
 |
Helene Winston | ... | Mrs. Greenbaum |
| Peggy Rea | ... | Mrs. Schultz | |
| Logan Ramsey | ... | Detective Sgt. West | |
|
|
Paulle Clark | ... | Mrs. Plumb |
| Yvette Vickers | ... | Mrs. Barker | |
| Molly Dodd | ... | Mrs. Rigg | |
|
|
Samee Lee Jones | ... | Winona Palmer (as Sammee Lee Jones) |
| Robbi Morgan | ... | Rosalie Greenbaum | |
| Timothy Carey | ... | The Tramp | |
|
|
Swen Swenson | ... | The Gigolo |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Set in the 30s, Helen and Adelle are two women whose sons commit a gruesome murder. After their conviction, they move to Hollywood change their names and open a dance school for girls. Adelle is looking for a good life and when one of the parents of her students who is wealthy takes a liking to her she thinks she's got it made. Helen thinks that someone who blames them for what their sons did is stalking them. But Adelle thinks it's all in her mind. Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com
Taglines:
Helen just buried another friend! See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
13 April 1972 (Mexico) See more »Also Known As:
The Best of Friends See more »Filming Locations:
General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USACompany Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Music by Charles Crozat Converse and lyrics by Joseph M. Scriven
Performed by Agnes Moorehead
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Did You Know?
Trivia
According to Debbie Reynolds, Shelley Winters' psychiatrist advised her not to portray a woman having a nervous breakdown because, at the time, she was having a real-life nervous breakdown. "She's the kind of actress who becomes the part she's playing..." said Reynolds, "so all through the film she drove all of us insane!" See more »Goofs
The film is set in 1934. Yet, in the NYC dance studio, there is clearly sheet music on the piano from the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film Top Hat (1935). See more »Soundtracks
What a Friend We Have in JesusMusic by Charles Crozat Converse and lyrics by Joseph M. Scriven
Performed by Agnes Moorehead
See more »
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Slick, colorful Gothic horror tale features the veteran leading ladies in top form. Debbie Reynolds perfects that 1930's platinum blonde/Jean Harlow image, and Shelley Winters gives what is possibly her all-time best performance as the maniacal Helen. The film was directed by cult favorite Curtis Harrington, and was written by Henry Farrell author of the novel on which the classic film WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? was based. Farrell has concocted an equally effective mixture of horror and hollywood here. Harrington's next venture into the macabre was the similarly Gothic and atmospheric WHO SLEW AUNTIE ROO?, also featuring the inimitable Shelley Winters in the titular role.