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).
as Hélène Wilfur
as Pierre Régnier
as Professor Amboise
as Valérie
as Françoise
as Doctor Regnier
as The lab boy
as Yvonne Amboise
as The doctor
as Totoche
as The widow
as Marcel
as Durant Tout Court
as The judge
as The dean
as The Japanese student
as The bookstore
as The Russian
