MovieChat Forums > What's the Matter with Helen? (1971) Discussion > Midget Lady

Midget Lady

posted 18 years ago by Blooeyz2001
8 replies | jump to latest

What was the point of the midget lady walking down the street? It seemed pointless, or did she signify something I'm missing?

[–] roses888 18 years ago

It just adds to the creepiness of the movie. Did you ever see "Poltergiest"?
Same idea.

[–] Crawfordfan 17 years ago

Unlike Baby Jane, which was about Hollywood's golden past in a decaying present, Helen is set in, and about, HOllywood's glory days in the 30s. The film bombards us with images clearly derived from/pastiching earlier films from this decade. Thus we are presented with references to Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford, Mae West, Shirley Temple, etc. Hamilton Starr at times resembles Bela Lugosi (he is made to appear creepy and thus an ambiguous red herring), and Agnes Moorehead's fake evangelist is clearly based upon Amy Temple McPherson - whose life and career became the basis for the Stanwyck vehicle: The Miracle Woman (1932). The "little lady" who appears earlier on in the film, is not only a reference to the midgets in The Wizard of Oz, but also to Todd Browning's cult masterpiece, 'Freaks' (1932). Helen treads the line between horror and musical, reminding us that not only was the 30s the decade which saw the heralding of the Warner Bros. & MGM musical film, but it further saw Universal studios produce a cycle of very profitable, and rather creepy, horror movies too!

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] TheManInOil 15 years ago

I think it's just there to remind us that receiving attention isn't always a good thing. Adelle feeds on attention, but both she and Helen have also fallen victim to it. When the little lady walks by, the children stare and are admonished for their rudeness, though she seems fine with it. This seems to be something not really pursued in the film but could have been interesting.

"Now let's have an intelligent conversation. I'll talk and you listen."

[–] nycruise-1 15 years ago

There's also the element of this really weird looking kid looking back at the Midget-Fidget.

The child making the comment is not the same as the one featured in the close-up.

Very bizarre - but it certainly keeps things "creepy."

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

[–] VinnieRattolle 14 years ago

Curtis Harrington was asked about that in an interview once (though I've read so many that I don't remember which one). He basically said it was just meant to be an odd, quirky Hollywood moment in the film. I believe he also said one of the producers told him to cut the scene since it wasn't really relevant to anything, but he insisted on shooting and including it in the final cut.

[–] toycoon-too 13 years ago

Yes, I believe she is another 'red harring' that he threw in there to distract and confound the viewer. I just watched this movie for the first time last night and I think it's memorizing. Completely bizarre with a great tidy twist ending.

"The most important thing is being sincere, even if you have to fake it." - Cesar Romero

[–] phillindholm 13 years ago

According to the tie-in novelization, she was either on her way to, or coming from, a studio.