The Miracle Worker (1962)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Arthur Penn

Writers:

William Gibson (screenplay)
William Gibson (stage play)

Release Date:

28 July 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

An emotional earthquake!

Plot:

The story of Anne Sullivan's struggle to teach the blind and deaf Helen Keller how to communicate.

Plot Keywords:

Helen Keller | Struggle | Institution | Tutor | Teacher

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 9 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 12

6:00 PM

TCM

Cast

Anne Bancroft	...	Annie Sullivan
Victor Jory	...	Captain Arthur Keller
Inga Swenson	...	Kate Keller
Andrew Prine	...	James Keller
Kathleen Comegys	...	Aunt Ev
Patty Duke	...	Helen Keller

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | American Sign Language

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

South Korea:All | West Germany:12 (f) | USA:Approved | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (alternate rating) | Finland:K-8

Filming Locations:

Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Playfilm Productions

Trivia:

Although Patty Duke had been playing Helen Keller in the play for more than year, she almost didn't get the part in the film adaptation. The studio felt that being a teenager, she looked too old to play a seven-year-old. However, they decided to use Duke after deciding to use Anne Bancroft, who played Duke's original Annie Sullivan in the play.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning of the dinnertime confrontation, Helen's position changes; she is kneeling at Annie, and begins to stand, but in the next cut she is kneeling again.

Quotes:

Annie Sullivan: It's less trouble to feel sorry for her than it is to teach her anything better.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Family Guy: Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows (#3.17)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

Hush, Little Baby

This Isn't a Top 250 Movie?!? It Should Be!

I haven't seen acting like this in a long time! Patty Duke's portrayal of young Helen Keller shocked me with its intensity, rightness, and sensitivity. Anne Bancroft also played a tough role and did so brilliantly.

The other supporting roles were, of course, a bit stilted in the traditional Southern way, but added to the drama nonetheless. I still gave this movie a "10" despite having issues with the way director Penn handled the flashback scenes...a bit cheesy and not quite in keeping with the underlying plot in all cases. That said, the dinner scene with Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft is 100%+ riveting in a way seldom seen and the movie deserves its accolades just for that scene alone.