![Helen Broderick](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185/ivLLiHElyLFtRlYxj46f4Rc91Li.jpg)
Helen Broderick
Helen Broderick (August 11, 1891 - September 25, 1959) was a wonderfully funny character comedienne with vaudeville and stage experience, a close friend of Jeanne Eagels. The story goes, that at the age of 14 she ran away from home, because her mother, who appeared in operatic comedy, was totally obsessed by the theatre. Paradoxically, all the people she met turned out to be performers, and Helen (who needed to make a living, after all) ended up where she hadn't wanted to end up - on the stage.
She started out as a chorus girl in the first Ziegfeld Follies in 1907. Her talent for comedy was discovered quite by accident. In 1911, she was understudy to the actress Ina Claire in the Broadway play 'Jumping Jupiter'. One night, Claire was unable to perform and Helen Broderick stood in as the romantic lead. She soon had the audience in stitches, trampling about the stage like an elephant, rolling her big saucer eyes and attempting to croon 'Cuddle Near Me All Day Long' in her rather unique voice. The romance was no more and instead turned into a popular farce with Helen now permanently installed in the lead role. For a while, Helen partnered her husband, Lester Crawford, in vaudeville. In the 1920's, she enjoyed success on Broadway, most notably in 'Fifty Million Frenchmen' ( a role she took to Hollywood in 1931). Her best parts in the movies were as the perennial friend or chaperone of the heroine (an earlier Eve Arden), delivering acidic wisecracks in her inimitable dead-pan manner. She was particularly amusing in Top Hat (1935) and Swing Time (1936) with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; and in The Rage of Paris (1938) with Danielle Darrieux.
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 3.778 |
Birthday | 1891-08-11 |
Place of Birth | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
Also Known As |
![Top Hat](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/qoPBiN6PBs2NsP7BNOJGCnmwruG.jpg)
1935
![Top Hat](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/qoPBiN6PBs2NsP7BNOJGCnmwruG.jpg)
Top Hat
7.3/280
Showman Jerry Travers is working for producer Horace Hardwick in London. Jerry demonstrates his new dance steps late one night in Horace's hotel room,...
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Top Hat
![Swing Time](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cECQGtw13ooPIuEpVWOUlUXaAnO.jpg)
1936
![Swing Time](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cECQGtw13ooPIuEpVWOUlUXaAnO.jpg)
Swing Time
6.8/212
Lucky is tricked into missing his own wedding again and has to make $25,000 so her father allows him to marry Margaret. He and business partner Pop go...
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Swing Time
![Nice Girl?](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/uQRqwzf3GEyapbXyToYSTyRHKvD.jpg)
1941
![Nice Girl?](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/uQRqwzf3GEyapbXyToYSTyRHKvD.jpg)
Nice Girl?
5.3/3
Jane is a nice girl and has had her eyes on a young man who seems more interested in his hand-built car than in Jane. She decides to shed her "nice gi...
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Nice Girl?
![The Rage of Paris](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/lkcecPOr93hqwgjJpFAjY68RWsr.jpg)
1938
![The Rage of Paris](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/lkcecPOr93hqwgjJpFAjY68RWsr.jpg)
The Rage of Paris
6.1/15
Nicole has no job and is several weeks behind with her rent. Her solution to her problems is to try and snare a rich husband. Enlisting the help of he...
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The Rage of Paris
![Murder on a Bridle Path](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4EICSZzj9lqn6alggikS8YWjMFy.jpg)
1936
![Murder on a Bridle Path](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4EICSZzj9lqn6alggikS8YWjMFy.jpg)
Murder on a Bridle Path
5/5
When the body of Violet Feverel is discovered on the Central Park bridle path, Inspector Oscar Piper is about to declare her death accidental from a t...
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Murder on a Bridle Path
![Father Takes a Wife](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/y6cCeu6hQhaDilaw0b832XwbnBW.jpg)
1941
![Father Takes a Wife](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/y6cCeu6hQhaDilaw0b832XwbnBW.jpg)
Father Takes a Wife
6.1/5
A famous actress has to win over her ready-made family when she weds a shipping magnate.
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Father Takes a Wife
![Honeymoon in Bali](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8a4HXvql8Ck85AJAUOqq8DI0NVB.jpg)
1939
![Honeymoon in Bali](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8a4HXvql8Ck85AJAUOqq8DI0NVB.jpg)
Honeymoon in Bali
6.2/2
Bill Burnett, a resident of Bali, visits New York City, meets and falls in love with Gail Allen, the successful manager of a Fifth Avenue shop, who is...
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Honeymoon in Bali
![The Bride Walks Out](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/2LxPfJES8LGIX5DlIvu1HK9FsA9.jpg)
1936
![The Bride Walks Out](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/2LxPfJES8LGIX5DlIvu1HK9FsA9.jpg)
The Bride Walks Out
5.3/13
Carolyn Martin is a fashion model who hastily marries her boyfriend, engineer Michael Martin. But part of the marriage arrangement requires that Carol...
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The Bride Walks Out
![Stand Up and Fight](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/j1vAHzQB9Mw9PkxdNQXt7uNmjVQ.jpg)
1939
![Stand Up and Fight](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/j1vAHzQB9Mw9PkxdNQXt7uNmjVQ.jpg)
Stand Up and Fight
5.8/4
A southern aristocrat clashes with a driver transporting stolen slaves to freedom.
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Stand Up and Fight
![Love on a Bet](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/yxh0U4WWXuyGvkEkPr4hVoYVKMV.jpg)
1936
![Love on a Bet](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/yxh0U4WWXuyGvkEkPr4hVoYVKMV.jpg)
Love on a Bet
7/2
Aspiring Producer Michael McCreigh convinces Uncle Carlton to finance a play on the condition that he lives the play's ridiculous plot. If Michael fai...
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Love on a Bet
![She's Got Everything](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/fCfktARniBgC0jojDsiqcAKzxwv.jpg)
1937
![She's Got Everything](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/fCfktARniBgC0jojDsiqcAKzxwv.jpg)
She's Got Everything
5.3/3
The day after Carol returns from a European trip, she wakes up to find her dead father's creditors hauling everything away. Her aunt wants her to marr...
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She's Got Everything
![The Life of the Party](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3Gm61ul4FFLkSmNzaU3ZbQrNOZ.jpg)
1937
![The Life of the Party](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3Gm61ul4FFLkSmNzaU3ZbQrNOZ.jpg)
The Life of the Party
5.2/4
A singer finds another heir (Gene Raymond) to marry, to avoid the one (Joe Penner) her mother found.
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The Life of the Party
![Service de Luxe](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/CaQrq5roDFpwAZbED6D0K8pAXW.jpg)
1938
![Service de Luxe](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/CaQrq5roDFpwAZbED6D0K8pAXW.jpg)
Service de Luxe
6.5/6
Glamorous and efficient Helen Murphy runs a service that will provide any type of assistance to wealthy customers, but what she's really looking for i...
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Service de Luxe
![We're on the Jury](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/gAnSMeXTYRphBsiNrVZqNKCHqse.jpg)
1937
![We're on the Jury](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/gAnSMeXTYRphBsiNrVZqNKCHqse.jpg)
We're on the Jury
5.8/5
A juror at a murder trial is convinced the defendant is innocent.
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We're on the Jury
![Smartest Girl in Town](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/vlw5sAg9ejanDbk2pT7XgDM4WN9.jpg)
1936
![Smartest Girl in Town](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/vlw5sAg9ejanDbk2pT7XgDM4WN9.jpg)
Smartest Girl in Town
5.5/4
A girl in search of a rich husband mistakes a millionaire for a male model.
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Smartest Girl in Town
![Radio City Revels](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/AemqOGl2rQo8hPjfULPEsJ6QFTJ.jpg)
1938
![Radio City Revels](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/AemqOGl2rQo8hPjfULPEsJ6QFTJ.jpg)
Radio City Revels
8/2
A down-on-his-luck songwriter attempts to peddle musical compositions of a naive Arkansas hillbilly under his own name. Comedy.
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Radio City Revels
![Virginia](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/5t6Hdd4FuQyAFrpnwoFiY3y5PV7.jpg)
1941
![Virginia](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/5t6Hdd4FuQyAFrpnwoFiY3y5PV7.jpg)
Virginia
0/0
Post-Civil War romantic drama about defeated Southerners, starring Madeleine Carroll and Fred MacMurray.
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Virginia
![Meet the Missus](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6Kp9SjjG2Fw4OcOw3AqVzKAZa6M.jpg)
1937
![Meet the Missus](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6Kp9SjjG2Fw4OcOw3AqVzKAZa6M.jpg)
Meet the Missus
4/1
A small town Ohio barber accompanies his ditzy wife to Atlantic City, where she competes in the Happy Noodle Company's Mrs. America Contest.
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Meet the Missus
![Chip Off the Old Block](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/5AOKClYszU5m20g2HbkNUTlunhp.jpg)
1944
![Chip Off the Old Block](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/5AOKClYszU5m20g2HbkNUTlunhp.jpg)
Chip Off the Old Block
4/1
The son of a strict Navy officer falls for the daughter of a musical-comedy star.
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Chip Off the Old Block
![To Beat the Band](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/Aau3GCW2Sbc2Q5tpe1epraolsBx.jpg)
1935
![To Beat the Band](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/Aau3GCW2Sbc2Q5tpe1epraolsBx.jpg)
To Beat the Band
0/0
An eccentric heir must marry a widow in order to collect the millions left to him in his aunt's will, so a suicidal neighbor agrees to marry the man's...
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To Beat the Band
![Naughty But Nice](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/uNhuRldVIpy5PSlYCZw12lKYHNe.jpg)
1939
![Naughty But Nice](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/uNhuRldVIpy5PSlYCZw12lKYHNe.jpg)
Naughty But Nice
6.2/6
Donald Hardwick (Dick Powell) is a stuffed-shirt, classical music professor. His family and small-town music college that he works are of equal mindse...
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Naughty But Nice
![Her Primitive Man](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mOAoANVMHsV4e5rzLOsSauRsCjz.jpg)
1944
![Her Primitive Man](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mOAoANVMHsV4e5rzLOsSauRsCjz.jpg)
Her Primitive Man
6/1
An anthropologist unwittingly takes a man disguised as a "primitive man" back to New York as a specimen.
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Her Primitive Man
![Love, Honor and Goodbye](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/tMf2NxmkHrMoUqm9Dt4M4FUCiUJ.jpg)
1945
![Love, Honor and Goodbye](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/tMf2NxmkHrMoUqm9Dt4M4FUCiUJ.jpg)
Love, Honor and Goodbye
4.5/2
A lawyer's wife walks out on him, then poses as a French nurse to spy on him.
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Love, Honor and Goodbye
![3 Is a Family](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/d6LpMJiYihaV7N6sMLZX3rZBD4S.jpg)
1944
![3 Is a Family](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/d6LpMJiYihaV7N6sMLZX3rZBD4S.jpg)
3 Is a Family
0/0
Based on a play by Phoebe and Henry Ephron, "3 Is a Family" is a 1940s farce. Charlie Ruggles plays a hubby whose bungled business schemes force his w...
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3 Is a Family
![Stage Door Canteen](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/1pUUs6kVSXz1x06coXhX2qZYjWA.jpg)
1943
![Stage Door Canteen](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/1pUUs6kVSXz1x06coXhX2qZYjWA.jpg)
Stage Door Canteen
6.1/14
A young soldier on a pass in New York City visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous stars of the theater and films appear and host a recreati...
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Stage Door Canteen
![Because of Him](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9krZXraElOxfmP2P71h1B7HcQ1q.jpg)
1946
![Because of Him](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9krZXraElOxfmP2P71h1B7HcQ1q.jpg)
Because of Him
6.2/5
A young woman who wants to break into the theater schemes to become the protege of a famous Broadway star.
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Because of Him
![50 Million Frenchmen](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/lp3q767PmR70RBul8ld6PYvsDI7.jpg)
1931
![50 Million Frenchmen](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/lp3q767PmR70RBul8ld6PYvsDI7.jpg)
50 Million Frenchmen
6.3/3
In this comedy, two men make an extravagant $50,000 dollar bet that one of them will be able to successfully court a lovely woman without spending any...
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50 Million Frenchmen
![The Captain Is a Lady](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/aWUzUl6d6MtwIUD0uSreJP4yfbR.jpg)
1940
![The Captain Is a Lady](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/aWUzUl6d6MtwIUD0uSreJP4yfbR.jpg)
The Captain Is a Lady
6/1
Because of a bad investment, Captain and Mrs. Peabody are evicted from their home. Mrs. Peabody finds lodging at a retirement home, but as only single...
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The Captain Is a Lady
![No, No, Nanette](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cwMYG1qtk4sZbwKvb4zPSsS5BzS.jpg)
1940
![No, No, Nanette](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cwMYG1qtk4sZbwKvb4zPSsS5BzS.jpg)
No, No, Nanette
6/4
Perky young Nanette attempts to save the marriage of her uncle and aunt by untangling Uncle Jimmy from several innocent but ensnaring flirtations. Att...
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No, No, Nanette
![The Road to Reno](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/z4v6yfWgwluxQfccJ4ZuFbPDj9I.jpg)
1938
![The Road to Reno](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/z4v6yfWgwluxQfccJ4ZuFbPDj9I.jpg)
The Road to Reno
2/2
An opera singer travels to Reno to divorce her rancher husband.
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