Hélène (1936)

109 min · France · 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).

Cast

Madeleine Renaud

Hélène Wilfur

Jean-Louis Barrault

Pierre Régnier

Constant Rémy

Professor Amboise

Héléna Manson

Valérie

Odette Joyeux

Françoise

Robert Le Vigan

Doctor Regnier

Georges Bever

The lab boy

Jeanne Helbling

Yvonne Amboise

Blanche Peyrens

The doctor

Greta Buelens

Totoche

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