Film

Hélène

1936 · 105 min · ★ 1 · Dir. Jean Benoît-Lévy

Helene is based on Helene Wilfur, a novel by Vicki (Grand Hotel) Baum. Madeleine Renaud essays the title role, a young medical student in love with aspiring musician Pierre Regnier (Jean-Lous Barrault). Pierre's father, a noted surgeon, puts pressure on his son to give up music in favor of medicine. Unable to withstand his father's remonstrations, Pierre kills himself, prompting the grieving Madeleine to forget all about romance and dedicate her life to the cause of healing others. Wilfur avoids the usual soap-opera goo by offering realistic performances and credible dialogue (the English-language subtitles were composed by erudite film critic Herman G. Weinberg).

Starring

Jean-Louis Barrault
Jean-Louis Barrault
Pierre Régnier
Madeleine Renaud
Madeleine Renaud
Constant Rémy
Constant Rémy
Professor Amboise
Héléna Manson
Héléna Manson
Valérie
Odette Joyeux
Odette Joyeux
Françoise
Robert Le Vigan
Robert Le Vigan
Doctor Regnier
Georges Bever
Georges Bever
The lab boy
Jeanne Helbling
Jeanne Helbling
Blanche Peyrens
Greta Buelens
René Dary
René Dary
Marcel
Marguerite Daulboys
Maurice Baquet
Maurice Baquet
Durant Tout Court
Paul Escoffier
The judge
Tsugundo Maki
The Japanese student
Armand Lurville
Armand Lurville
Roger Toziny
Roger Toziny
Juozas Miltinis