the most bizarre of the cinematic sub genre be the so call the great lady of the grand guignol represent camp horror film which combine over the top melodrama with gothic thrill and always star by seasoned and almost forgotten actress from hollywood golden age in unflattering role of either long suffering victim or screech evil harpy . this genre provide them with an unusual acting showcase that allow strut their stuff on the screen once again and win new generation of fan at expense of their glamorous image from yesterday . what the matter with helen be the last drop of this sub genre with stunning performance of both debbie reynolds and shelley winter a the troubled mother of two convicted criminal who run away from their past to the sunny california in the 1930s to open a talent school to milk out the eagerly mother who want their daughter to be the next shirley temple . in california and debbie get happiness and client and tango and tap dancing and a new love interest ( dennis weaver meanwhile shelley get wacko with horrible flashback and menace anonymous call and menace stranger and menace agnes moorehead a a radio evangelist and cute little rabbit ( . ) and an unfortunate encounter with an electric fan ( ouch . ) . the sloppy script ( pen by henry farrell and the man who start all this genre with whatever happen to baby jane along with master director robert aldrich and joan crawford and bette davis ) be full of plot hole and red herring and wasted opportunity that could have make this movie great represent the underlie theme of twisted motherhood ( with debbie and shelley character a failed mother and the overbear mommy of the child star ) and obsessive female bonding ( debbie and shelley relationship and the fact that the few male character of this movie be either sinister or sleazy even dennis weaver dream boat texan ) be waste . instead we get debbie reynolds musical interlude and dance tot and although fun to watch take too much screen time of what be supposedly to be a psychological chiller . but still this movie be highly entertaining . the two star and curtis harrington stylish direction easily overcome it flaw . the movie recreation of the 1930 be colorful and elegant ( look at debbie clothes . ) make with a very tight budget . the increase atmosphere of madness and hysteria be genuinely creepy with a shock finale that will haunt you for day . and you wouldn not easily forget that silly goody and goody song that run through the movie either . and see an increasingly mad shelley winter screw every one of debbie reynolds chance at happiness be a hoot to watch . positive .