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 | |
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Eleanor Henry | ... | Mae Mobley |
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Emma Henry | ... | Mae Mobley |
Chris Lowell | ... | Stuart Whitworth | |
Cicely Tyson | ... | Constantine Jefferson | |
Mike Vogel | ... | Johnny Foote | |
Sissy Spacek | ... | Missus Walters | |
Brian Kerwin | ... | Robert Phelan |
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. Written by Walt Disney Pictures
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.