School scenes

[MichaelMartinD]

I like the Opie school scenes because of their realism. They seem to depict a rural, somewhat poor and disadvantaged school where the kids are a little unruly and are not very interested in learning, and perhaps come from families that don't encourage learning. You can see this particularly in "Andy Discovers America." A real contrast with the tidy classroom setting depicted in Leave It to Beaver. You get the impression that Helen was called in to clean up this situation and instill a little order and appreciation for learning.

[vitoscotti]

[SarahBellum]

I assume Miss Crump was the only teacher Opie ever had throughout the series.

[Zoneboy]

I know Helen is the only teacher we actually see, but didn't Opie have another that she replaced? I thought Aunt Bea referred to her as Opie's new teacher in "Andy Discovers America".

[stevea]

Right, she entered a few seasons in. The show never zeroed in on school before that.

I'm too lazy to research it, but wasn't her first episode when Andy tried getting the kids interested in history by telling the kids the Paul Revere ride story?

[TSMIV]

Originally Posted by stevea

Right, she entered a few seasons in. The show never zeroed in on school before that.

I'm too lazy to research it, but wasn't her first episode when Andy tried getting the kids interested in history by telling the kids the Paul Revere ride story?

Yes, I just watched that one tonight. "Old Lady Crump" was Opie's new teacher.

[biffbronson]

Aneta Corsaut's acting is certainly convincing as her character is introduced.

It's interesting to me how her character is written, as the series goes on, as I think Helen is the only girlfriend of Andy's capable of striking fear in his heart. Back in Season 1, Ellie certainly had Andy on the defensive at a time or two, yet he remained unworried for the most part, even affable. Later, Peggy & Andy go through a rough spot regarding her wealthy background. But with Helen, we find several cases where Andy seems to be genuinely worried and fearful that she may end their relationship when she finds -- without knowing the details -- that Andy has spent time with other women.

It seems to me that as we get into the color seasons, since Andy's character is far less affable and generally less easygoing, the threatening tones of Helen possibly ending the relationship result in taking the stories into potentially more serious turns.

[stevea]

In the color seasons, yes he was fearful. Look at all the lying he did about his visit to Raleigh, seeing the attorney Lee Drake. He knew Helen well enough to know she'd go ballistic (who wouldn't, seeing Whitney Blake?). I think she'd have gone thru the roof even if he had been completely honest.

[MichaelMartinD]

Originally Posted by biffbronson

It seems to me that as we get into the color seasons, since Andy's character is far less affable and generally less easygoing, the threatening tones of Helen possibly ending the relationship result in taking the stories into potentially more serious turns.

Sounds to me like a "toxic relationship."

[vitoscotti]

Helen at times is certainly high spirited. The writers give her a bit of a temper I thought to spice up the stories. Many more times in the color episodes she is kind, caring understanding, and handles what's brought in front of her graciously. I remember Andy Griffith said there was a low point in some of the episodes with Andy's conversations with his girlfriends that it was so bland without an incident or problem. Whenever Andy & Helen had flare-ups Andy was no angel either with jealousy, dates broken, seen with fun girls. Without Don Knotts and the introduction of bland Howard the writers must of thought the couples fireworks were a homerun.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

Helen at times is certainly high spirited. The writers give her a bit of a temper I thought to spice up the stories. Many more times in the color episodes she is kind, caring understanding, and handles what's brought in front of her graciously. I remember Andy Griffith said there was a low point in some of the episodes with Andy's conversations with his girlfriends that it was so bland without an incident or problem. Whenever Andy & Helen had flare-ups Andy was no angel either with jealousy, dates broken, seen with fun girls. Without Don Knotts and the introduction of bland Howard the writers must of thought the couples fireworks were a homerun.

A perfect example of this was when Helen got the author gig. He got his nose out of joint real quick (because the sheriff was out of the limelight for once), and he treated her badly, even going out with the comedy-adding Mavis Neff.

Eventually even he realized he'd gone off the deep end, and apologized to her.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by TSMIV

Yes, I just watched that one tonight. "Old Lady Crump" was Opie's new teacher.

Yes, Andy had no idea what Helen was really like at that point.