What’s the Matter with Helen? (1971)

(On Cable TV, July 2021) It’s really hard to watch What’s the Matter with Helen? and not notice the similarities with psycho-biddy exemplar What Happened with Baby Jane? : In both cases, we’re dealing with a bloody psychodrama, featuring female protagonists intent on doing harm to each other, played by actresses past their prime years. In this case, we have two women cleared of a murder in the 1930s, moving to Los Angeles to open up a dance academy but being pursued by a dangerous stalker intent on making them pay. Considering the delicate mental state of one of the women, however, the biggest danger may not come from outside! Debbie Reynolds and Shelley Winters star, with Winters being far more memorable in her unhinged role. (Reading about the film’s production history is wild, with Winters seemingly breaking up along with her character, and some weird business about a prop knife being replaced by a real knife.)  The script is suitably macabre all the way to an often-spoiled climax. What’s the Matter with Helen? is not an exceptional film, but like many films in its subgenre, it does offer up a few treats, especially for classic Hollywood fans looking to complete their filmographies of known actresses.