Boxing Helena (1993)

Director:

Jennifer Chambers Lynch

Writers (WGA):

Philippe Caland (story)
Jennifer Chambers Lynch (screenplay)

Release Date:

3 September 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Beyond love, beyond obsession, there hides something beyond reason.

Plot:

A surgeon becomes obsessed with the seductive woman he once had an affair with. Refusing to accept that she has moved on, he amputates her limbs and holds her captive in his mansion.

Plot Keywords:

Nudity | Loss Of Control | Disturbing | Female Lead | Independent Woman

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Julian Sands	...	Doctor Nick Cavanaugh
Sherilyn Fenn	...	Helena
Bill Paxton	...	Ray O'Malley
Kurtwood Smith	...	Doctor Alan Palmer
Art Garfunkel	...	Doctor Lawrence Augustine
Betsy Clark	...	Anne Garrett
Nicolette Scorsese	...	Fantasy Lover / Nurse
Meg Register	...	Marion Cavanaugh
Bryan Smith	...	Russell
Marla Levine	...	Patricia
Kim Lentz	...	Nurse Diane
Lloyd T. Williams	...	Sam the Clerk
Carl Mazzocone Sr.	...	Pastor (as Carl Mazzocone Sr.)
Erik Shoaff	...	Uncle Charlie
Lisa Oz	...	Flower Shop Girl

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Argentina:18 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Canada:R | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | USA:R (certificate #32233) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Mainline Pictures Inc.

Trivia:

Kim Basinger pulled out of the title role, and was successfully sued for $9 million for violation of a verbal contract. The award was overturned on appeal, and the case was settled out of court.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Nick Cavanaugh is on the phone in a telephone box, the camera spins around the box. The reflection on all four sides of the phone box is identical indicating that the phone box is surrounded on all four sides by the same building with the same neon light.

Quotes:

Ray O'Malley: Hasta whatever!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Boxing Helena (#6.12)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

MOZART'S PIANO CONCERTO #25

Boxing Controversy...

Boxing Helena is a highly controversial film about a man's sexual obsession.

Kim Basinger was initially offered to act as Helena, but she declined because she believed it was degrading to women. However, we should decide for ourselves what our own opinions are.

It appears to be more degrading to men. Nick is obsessive, Ray is the typical slob, the other men are more or less submissive or weak. Aside from the relatively poor cinematography, the film conveys a side of life that many film makers seek to avoid, and for this it should be given credit.