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).
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Cast
22 people
Madeleine Renaud
Hélène Wilfur
Known for
Le Plaisir
Stormy Waters
Jean-Louis Barrault
Pierre Régnier
Known for
Children of Paradise
That Night of Varennes
Constant Rémy
Professor Amboise
Also in
Hopes ...
Tower of Lust
Héléna Manson
Valérie
Known for
Le Corbeau
Lola Montès
Odette Joyeux
Françoise
Known for
La Ronde
Robert Le Vigan
Doctor Regnier
Known for
Port of Shadows
The Lower Depths
Georges Bever
The lab boy
Known for
Poison
La Belle Équipe
Jeanne Helbling
Yvonne Amboise
Also in
The Three-Sided Mirror
The Aviator
Blanche Peyrens
The doctor
Also in
Baleydier
Greta Buelens
Totoche
No other roles listed
Marguerite Daulboys
The widow
Also in
Let's Keep Smiling
Barak 1
René Dary
Marcel
Known for
Touchez Pas au Grisbi
Jean Benoît-Lévy Director · Marie Epstein Writer Vicki Baum Author
United States release January 21, 1938 · Produced in France
Production
Les Films Marquise
Production
France
Produced in
Languages
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French
Release dates
France · October 17, 1936
Theatrical
United States · January 21, 1938
Theatrical
Denmark
June 17, 1937 · Theatrical
Finland
October 17, 1937 · Theatrical
Hungary
May 1, 1938 · Theatrical
Italy
August 1, 1937 · Premiere · Venice Film Festival
Japan
August 6, 1939 · Theatrical
Portugal
March 22, 1938 · Theatrical
Sweden
November 1, 1937 · Theatrical
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