What's the Matter with Helen?/Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (Midnite Movies Double Feature)

 

 

Create your own review

MGM Midnite Movies delivers the goods again with this fantastic Shelley Winters double feature!

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HELEN? was directed by Curtis Harrington and released in 1971. The story concerns Adelle Bruckner (Debbie Reynolds) and Helen Hill (Shelley Winters), the mothers of two convicted murderers who soon become the targets of hate-crimes and prank phonecalls. Adelle decides to re-locate her kiddy's dance school to Hollywood, and invites Helen to come along as her pianist. Just when it seems that the past is just a painful memory, Helen's sanity slowly slips away.

Debbie looks gorgeous in the 1930's period setting, and Shelley makes the most out of her role; there is a certain campy charm about this little number, a horror film which has elements of musical-comedy and romance. The film was nominated for a Best Art Directed Academy Award.

WHOEVER SLEW AUNTIE ROO? was also directed by Curtis Harrington and was released in 1972. The story concerns Roo Forrest (Shelley Winters), a rich woman still grieving the death of her young daughter Katharine. Every Christmas, she hosts a party for 10 chosen children from the city's orphanage. This year, two unruly children have tagged along - Christopher (Mark Lester - OLIVER!) and his little sister Katy (Chloe Franks - A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC). Roo takes a shying to Katy, who bears a haunting resemblance to the dead Katharine. When Katy fails to appear when the children are due to go back to the orphanage, Christopher fears the worst.

Originally conceived as a horror-movie version of "Hansel and Gretel", ROO? is a charming film, shot entirely on location in England, and Shelley looks fabulous as the twisted "Auntie Mame"-esque character. The film also features Ralph Richardson as a medium and Judy Cornwell (TV's "Keeping Up Appearances") as Roo's sneaky maid.

The trailers for both films are also included. (Double-sided, single-layer disc).

Aaah, you just gotta love these MGM double feature discs. Regarding their DVD releases, MGM always leaves out a whole lot in terms of special features. All you usually get is a trailer and maybe a widescreen transfer, but these amazing double dipper discs resurrect films you never thought would see the light of day. "What's the Matter with Helen?" and "Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?" are excellent examples of two films that taken on their own would probably never show up on DVD. Or if they did, some seedy outfit looking to make a quick buck on a grainy, cropped release would peddle them. Yet here they are with gloriously clean transfers in all their wacky, over the top splendor. I can't say I've ever been a Shelley Winters fan, excepting her outrageously campy performance in "The Poseidon Adventure," but I must say I have a newfound respect for the aging thespian after watching these two knee slappers. What can I say? I love schlocky cinema, and "What's the Matter with Helen?" and "Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?" are prime examples of films so slathered in cheese that your cholesterol level will skyrocket within minutes of popping the disc into your player.

Of the two films, "What's the Matter with Helen" is by far the best. Shelley Winters and Debbie Reynolds play Helen Hill and Adelle Bruckner, two women who flee to California during the Depression to escape the media frenzy after their sons go to prison for murder. Fortunately, Helen knows how to play the piano and Adelle knows how to dance, so the two women open up a dance studio for the precocious offspring of Hollywood parents. Things start to go downhill when Helen begins breaking down psychologically because of her son's crimes. She worries that the threatening phone call the two women received back home, which served as one impetus to head west, is coming back to haunt the two. As Hill plumbs the depths of insanity, Adelle's fortunes are looking up. Her dance studio puts on a recital that is the talk of the town, and she's finally met a nice guy by the name of Lincoln Palmer (Dennis Weaver) who seems interested in a long-term relationship. Bruckner's success severely strains the already fragile bond between the two gals, leading to a truly memorable series of events culminating in a quite shocking-and endlessly humorous-conclusion. "What's the Matter with Helen?" gives you Shelley sticking her hand in a fan, lots of rabbits, Agnes Moorehead slumming as an Aimee Simple McPherson type preacher, and Reynolds hoofing it up in a series of tacky platinum blonde wigs.

"Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?" finds Shelley Winters hamming it up in a schlocky take on "Hansel and Gretel." The story unfolds in England during the 1920s, where an eccentric, wealthy old woman named Rosie Forrest (Winters) plays host to a select bunch of tots from the local orphanage during the Christmas holidays. A brother and sister, Christopher and Katy, who aren't invited to the shindig, trick their way into the house anyway at which point Forrest takes a real shine to Katy. Why? Turns out that Rosie's own daughter passed away in a tragic banister sliding accident years before. The old woman never recovered from the disaster, and spends most of her time attempting to contact her deceased child with the help of flaky spiritualist Mr. Benson (Ralph Richardson taking one on the chin for a paycheck) and her sinister butler. With the arrival of Katy, however, Rosie thinks she can return to the halcyon days of yesteryear by adopting the adorable tike. Christopher, sensing something horribly wrong with Forrest's disposition, throws a bunch of wrenches in the old woman's well-laid plans. Lot's of surprises in this story, as Winters eventually goes completely off her rocker when Katy and Christopher refuse to play ball.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in "What's the Matter with Helen?" is the wonderful Debbie Reynolds. Not only does she tear up the dance floor in several memorable scenes (ahem), her platinum blonde look suits her well in a sort of sleazy yet incredibly attractive way. I'm not sure what the film was trying to say exactly, but Reynolds and Winters have good chemistry together onscreen. Another surprise is the somewhat authentic looking 1930's attire and scenery, surprising because low budget sludge like this usually doesn't pay much attention to props. As for "Whoever Slew Auntie Roo," Winters takes center stage and holds onto it with both meaty hands. Even as a laughed at the ridiculous scenarios unfolding on the television, I couldn't help but notice that I actually felt sorry for Shelley's character even as she engaged in odious activities. I've seen so many low budget films that can't achieve any sort of dimension to their characters that to actually see one that does is shocking. Further reflection after the viewing experience led me to conclude that all the credit should go to the acting chops of Shelley Winters. Sure, she hams it up, but that she can ham it up and still convey other emotions is quite an accomplishment.

If you're worried about watching two films starring Shelley Winters, don't. To watch Shelley Winters here is to love Shelley Winters. Of course, if you don't like schlock you won't like anything about these two films no matter what I say. Again, kudos goes to MGM for releasing these two classics on one DVD with a great picture transfer. While neither film is particularly scary or graphically gory, they are entertaining in terms of hilarity and general kookiness. I am eternally grateful I stumbled over these two classics, and you might be too if you give them a chance. Enjoy!

As a fan of Debbie Reynolds as a child (via her t.v. show in 1969), my mother's interest was jarred when "What's The Matter With Helen?" was released in 1971. I knew of Shelley Winters, but only from her older films played on t.v.
So, me, at age 9, went with mom to see a double-feature. "Wait Until Dark", and "What's The Matter With Helen?". Seems "Helen" didn't play well in my area so the theater double billed it. "Wait Until Dark" was in my eyes a well-acted thriller that after watching the finale HAD to be seen in a theater to get the most impact.
"Helen" on the other hand started out as a black and white newsreel, that suddenly came to life in color. I asked mom if we were seeing the right film. As the film progressed, i came to realize why Shelley and Debbie were acting legends. Why the critics hated the film at the time puzzled me, but the climax of the film was first rate (scared me half to death for a 9 year old), and the subdued violence kept the film from being too exploitative, as the story was more important.
Like Harrington's comment on the publicity of the film, the poster killed the film's success, as the so-called surprise ending was revealed.
To the film buffs, "Helen" was nominated for an Academy Award for best Costume Design. As a time period film, the re-creation of the 1930's was dead-on. Tho I agree this film includes Shelley's best performance, who can deny that there were no stiff actors, as each character was fully explained, rare for a horror film.
"Whoever Slew Auntie Roo" was a film i didn't get to see in the theaters. It came and went to quickly at the local drive-in. I did finally see it on video, and tho Shelley's performance was over the top, the story had too many loose ends. Considering the publicity of the film, you would think Shelley was a child killer, when in fact, she is not. Troubled yes, killer, no. It's a well-acted film, and again, another time-piece setting, but you HAVE to like Shelley to enjoy this one.
I rate the dvd package 5 out of 5, only for the fact that the quality of the films are gorgeous, and hoping new fans will appreciate these films as much as i have.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 10 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Classics on a Classic Double Bill!!!
The wonderful WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HELEN is an overlooked movie in the WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE genre. Read more

Published on Jan 4 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars "WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HELEN"- WHERE DID MGM FIND THIS?
I haven't seen this SHOCKER since I was a kid. A truely terrifying character study about a dowdy religious woman who goes psycho. Read more

Published on Nov 26 2002 by Unlucky Frank

4.0 out of 5 stars WHO SLEW AUNTIE ROO?
WHO SLEW AUNTIE ROO IS A VERY ENJOYABLE MOVIE. IT IS DEFINETELY NOT A HORROR FILM. IT IS A TWISTED VARIATION ON THE HANSEL AND GRETEL FAIRY TALE. Read more

Published on Oct 9 2002 by John D. Seneca

5.0 out of 5 stars MACABRE DELIGHT
I saw "Helen" on it's release in 1971 and it's been one of my favorite films ever since. On the surface, it's a delicious send up of 30's Hollywood---colorful and expertly... Read more

Published on Sep 9 2002 by Mark Norvell

5.0 out of 5 stars Curtis Harrington...both sides of the coin...same year(?)
I just got this DVD, having never seen "Helen". Well, aside from having Shelley Winters in common, both were directed by Curtis Harrington. Read more

Published on Aug 30 2002 by R. Gawlitta

5.0 out of 5 stars Shelley Gets Her Due!!
Finally, in hopes that Debbie makes some money from the 'Helen' picture, and the younger generation may finally appreciate how good of an actress Shelley Winters really is! Read more

Published on July 25 2002 by William G. Ratcliffe

5.0 out of 5 stars Nobody does it to you like Shelley!
Curtis Harrington has been one of my favorite Directors since I first saw the 1967 movie GAMES with Katherine Ross at the theater. (I was 9 years old and it scared me to death. Read more

Published on Jun 24 2002 by Rodney D. Luck

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 10 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!