The Help (2011)

An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African American maids' point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.

Director:

Tate Taylor

Writers:

Tate Taylor (screenplay), Kathryn Stockett (novel)

Stars:

Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer

Top Rated Movies #235 | Won 1 Oscar. Another 80 wins & 117 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emma Stone	...	Skeeter Phelan
Viola Davis	...	Aibileen Clark
Bryce Dallas Howard	...	Hilly Holbrook
Octavia Spencer	...	Minny Jackson
Jessica Chastain	...	Celia Foote
Ahna O'Reilly	...	Elizabeth Leefolt
Allison Janney	...	Charlotte Phelan
Anna Camp	...	Jolene French
Eleanor Henry	...	Mae Mobley
Emma Henry	...	Mae Mobley
Chris Lowell	...	Stuart Whitworth
Cicely Tyson	...	Constantine Jefferson
Mike Vogel	...	Johnny Foote
Sissy Spacek	...	Missus Walters
Brian Kerwin	...	Robert Phelan

Storyline

Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, Skeeter (Stone) is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends' lives -- and a Mississippi town -- upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen (Davis), Skeeter's best friend's housekeeper, is the first to open up -- to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter's life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories -- and as it turns out, they have a lot to say. Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges, but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly -- and unwillingly -- caught up in the changing times.

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Plot Keywords:

maid | 1960s | writer | jackson mississippi | black servant | 

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Taglines:

Change begins with a whisper.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material

Details

Official Sites:

Dreamworks [United States] Official site [France]

Country:

USA India United Arab Emirates

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 August 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Help

Filming Locations:

Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,044,590, 14 August 2011, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$169,708,112

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$216,639,112

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks, Reliance Entertainment, Participant Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

146 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Viola Davis's Best Actress Oscar nominated performance was the only one in the category in a Best Picture nominee that year.

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Goofs

As Johnny and Celia are walking at the fund raiser the microphone boom or camera hit the ceiling fan chain and send it swinging right in front of the couple.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Aibileen Clark: I was born 1911, Chicksaw County, Piedmont Plantation.
Woman: And did you know as a girl growing up that one day you'd be a maid?
Aibileen Clark: Yes ma'am, I did.
Woman: And you knew that because...
Aibileen Clark: My mama was a maid. My grandmama was a house slave.
Woman: [whispering as she writes down] "house slave..." Did you ever dream of being something else?
Aibileen Clark: [nods yes]
Woman: What does it feel like to raise a white child when your own child's at home being looked after by somebody else?

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Connections

Referenced in The Graham Norton Show: Diane Keaton/Jessica Chastain/Kevin Bacon/Michael Fassbender/Gorillaz (2017)

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Soundtracks

Hallelujah I Love Her So
Written by Ray Charles
Performed by Ray Charles
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp./Rhino Entertainment Company
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

A Film to Remember

I took our 12 year old daughter to see this movie and we both loved it. She was not thrilled when I told her we were going to see a film that told a story from the civil rights era but when we left she said she loved it because of the women's courage, their humor and the power of their friendships. We had never seen most of the actors which was refreshing and the acting by the entire cast made it easy to get totally involved. I laughed out loud and shed quite a few tears in The Help, and will remember it and recommend it to my friends. It was wonderful to see so many scenes in which the actors related to each other so perfectly. Even the vilest characters showed moments of conflict within themselves as they played out poor behavior that had long been inbred in them. I am especially grateful to the team who provided a film that told an engaging story about human relationships with important lessons for my daughter. That is a rare occurrence in today's movies.