Hélène

The story

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

M Madeleine RenaudHélène Wilfur J Jean-Louis BarraultPierre Régnier C Constant RémyProfessor Amboise H Héléna MansonValérie O Odette JoyeuxFrançoise R Robert Le ViganDoctor Regnier G Georges BeverThe lab boy J Jeanne HelblingYvonne Amboise B Blanche PeyrensThe doctor G Greta BuelensTotoche M Marguerite DaulboysThe widow R René DaryMarcel

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M Maurice BaquetDurant Tout Court P Paul EscoffierThe judge A Armand LurvilleThe dean T Tsugundo MakiThe Japanese student R Roger TozinyThe bookstore J Juozas MiltinisThe Russian G Gaby André G Gilberte Géniat P Pierre-Louis P Pierre Sarda