A biography of movie star Helen Twelvetrees, 1907-1958. Star of films such as Her Man (1930), Millie (1931), Young Bride, State’s Attorney (both 1932), and Unmarried (1939). Settle in for a 5,000-word biography before clicking over to the separate “Films of Helen Twelvetrees” post.
You'll find several articles under the "Helen Twelvetrees" tag—after I posted a small biography to the site in late 2014 I became so intrigued that I spent the following year writing a book about her! The articles and reviews listed below are different from what you'll find in Helen Twelvetrees, Perfect Ingenue, but obviously I recommend my book, available both in paperback and for your Kindle. Review excerpts and more details here.
The Films of Helen Twelvetrees – Capsule Reviews of 20 Movies
The films of Helen Twelvetrees. A page providing capsule reviews of 20–and counting–Helen Twelvetrees movies. Pre-Code stardom through late 1930s decline.
Brief Impressions: King for a Night (1933) – Big Hearted Herbert (1934) and Father Is a Prince (1941) – Confessions of Boston Blackie (1941)
Enjoying a key scene between Chester Morris and Grant Mitchell in King for a Night (1933) leads to more Morris in a Boston Blackie entry plus Mitchell’s own starring vehicle, Father Is a Prince (1941), itself a remake of Big Hearted Herbert (1934), which is also discussed.
Helen Twelvetrees is Millie (1931) – With Joan Blondell and Lilyan Tashman
Helen Twelvetrees stars in pre-Code sizzler Millie (1931). Millie leaves her husband after she catches him cheating and she puts monogamy behind her once her boyfriend is caught with another woman too. Can Millie be an independent woman in 1931 and protect her daughter from an even more perilous relationship?
Her Man (1930) Starring Helen Twelvetrees and Phillips Holmes
Tay Garnett’s Her Man from Pathe is an overlooked pre-Code classic starring Helen Twelvetrees in the first screen adaptation of the Frankie and Johnny ballad. With Phillips Holmes, Ricardo Cortez and Marjorie Rambeau.
Panama Flo (1932) With Brief Biography of Star Helen Twelvetrees
RKO Pathe’s 1932 Helen Twelvetrees vehicle Panama Flo with Charles Bickford. A Helen Twelvetrees biography tucked in the middle of this lengthy post.
My Woman (1933) Starring Helen Twelvetrees and Wallace Ford
Brief notes are exactly that, just some stream of consciousness thoughts from my viewing of My Woman starring Helen Twelvetrees, Wallace Ford, and Victor Jory.