WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HELEN?

US, 1971, 92 minutes, Colour.
Shelley Winters, Debbie Reynolds, Dennis Weaver, Michael Mc Leammoir, Agnes Moorehead.
Directed by Curtis Harrington.

What's the Matter With Helen? is an excellent example of its genre. Written and directed by Curtis Harrington who wrote and/or directed films like whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Games, Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? This film is very effective in its sets, costumes, music and its re-creation of the U.S. and the Hollywood of the '30's. Well worth seeing. The horror aspects are also effectively done, as well as raising questions. Debbie Reynolds has been praised for her performance, both in acting and dancing. Shelley Winters gives another different performance as the troubled Helen. Michael Mc Leammoir hams suspiciously and Agnes Moorehead is a sinister lady-preacher. Although gory in moments, successful entertainment.

1. Was this just another horror show for midnight sessions or was it something more? If so, why?

2. The film was well received by critics. Why? Why was it a successful film?

3. The film relied heavily on the re-creation of the '30's style - how successful was this? How did it add to the film? How did it add a sense of realism to the proceedings (rather than an exploitive murder show)?

4. Comment on the effect of the credit backgrounds - the authentic newsreel into which the main characters were worked: the jigsaw effect.

5. The film evoked memories of the Loeb trial, the atmosphere of the depression and violence. Did this explain the boys' crime and the crowd's hostility?

6. What were your first impressions of Helen and Adele? Did you like them? What they suffered in the trial, their relationship to their sons - did this explain why the boys murdered a middle-aged woman (a hate figure?)?

7. How did Adele depend on Helen (or did she - did Adele do all the leading and the making of decisions)?

8. What kind of woman was Helen - placid, religious, out-of-touch?

9. How was the sense of menace created - the phone calls, threats, mysterious figures? Was this well, or over-done for the film?

10. How were their lives transformed by the Californian experience? What happened to Adele - her work, dancing, show, love for Linc. (and her fear of discovery)? What happened to Helen - co-operating, happy? But when did Helen begin to disintegrate - what hints did the film offer? How much was she influenced by Sister Alma’s broadcasts? Why did she pet the rabbits?

11. The importance of the flashbacks to the death of Helen's husband? Did she really kill him? Her breakdown at the concert and imagining Elly Bannon? What was the matter with Helen?

12. The visit of the insurance man and his death and burial-its effect on them both?

13. Helen's longing for forgiveness - the significance of the visit to Sister's Alma's tabernacle (and the satire on this kind of hysteria religion and money). Why did Helen feel dammed? was this the final blow?

14. Was Helen too possessive and jealous of Adele - and Adele too insensitive or self-preoccupied to notice Helen's feelings?

15. How shocking was Helen's killing of the rabbits and her madness? How shocking her killing of Adele? How sad was this - what were your feelings? How did Linc's sorrow ring true here?

16. Apart from the theme, the film was rich in dialogue, costumes. music, style - the nostalgia and parody of the '30's worked into the plot. the mothers, the precocious child Shirley Temples and Mae West’s, Hamilton Starr (and her effectiveness as comic relief and a menacing red herring), the millionaire atmosphere of Link, the tango at the restaurant?

17. The impact of the ending? How worthwhile a film was this?