Heaven Help Us (1985)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Michael Dinner

Writer:

Charles Purpura (writer)

Release Date:

8 February 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

If God had wanted them to be angels, He would have given them wings!

Plot:

A new transfer student to St. Basil's Boys' Prep School tries to fit in while romantically pursuing a troubled young girl.

Plot Keywords:

Brooklyn | Catholic School | Pope Paul VI | Coney Island New York | Priesthood

Cast

Donald Sutherland	...	Brother Thadeus
John Heard	...	Brother Timothy
Andrew McCarthy	...	Michael Dunn
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Danni
Kevin Dillon	...	Rooney
Malcolm Danare	...	Caesar
Jennifer Dundas	...	Boo (as Jennie Dundas)
Kate Reid	...	Grandma
Wallace Shawn	...	Father Abruzzi
Jay Patterson	...	Brother Constance
George Anders	...	Brother Augustus
Dana Barron	...	Janine
John Eric Bentley	...	First Man (as John Bentley)
Imogene Bliss	...	Cook
Philip Bosco	...	Brother Paul

Also Known As:

Catholic Boys

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:M | UK:PG | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

When the studio decided to produce this film, it was tough to track down the writer. He was in Tibet and they had to wait for him to return before they started working on the film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Though set in 1965, virtually every school bus in the film was manufactured in the late-1970s and early-1980s. Most of them were built on truck cowls that didn't exist at the time, and contained features such as amber flashing lights next to the red ones above the windshield, which didn't exist in New York State until 1973.

Quotes:

[Dunn leaves the school dance, and comes into Danni's bar, she's not there so he goes into her house, and Danni sees him]
Danni: What the hell are you doing here?
Michael Dunn: The door was open, I was looking for you. I guess I shouldn't have just come in, huh?
Danni: Damn straight you shouldn't have just come in.
Michael Dunn: I'm sorry I just wanted to talk.
Danni: Get out of here, ok!
Michael Dunn: [while leaving] Sorry, I just wanted to dance with you.

Movie Connections:

References A Hard Day's Night (1964)

Soundtrack:

I've Been Loving You Too Long

Catholic School never looked so cool

HEAVEN HELP US (1985) *** Andrew McCarthy, Kevin Dillon, Mary Stuart Masterson, Malcolm Dunare, Patrick Dempsey, John Heard, Donald Sutherland, Wallace Shawn, Stephen Geoffreys. Nice coming-of-age comedy set in a Catholic boys' school in 1963 with some fine ensemble acting. Vintage soundtrack.