A Child Is Waiting (1963)

Psychologist Dr. Matthew Clark is the head of the Crawthorne State Training Institute, one of the first boarding schools for developmentally challenged children. Dr. Clark is sympathetic ... See full summary »

Director:

John Cassavetes

Writers:

Abby Mann (screenplay), Abby Mann (story)

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Judy Garland, Gena Rowlands

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Burt Lancaster	...	Dr. Matthew Clark
Judy Garland	...	Jean Hansen
Gena Rowlands	...	Sophie Widdicombe
Steven Hill	...	Ted Widdicombe
Paul Stewart	...	Goodman
Gloria McGehee	...	Mattie
Lawrence Tierney	...	Douglas Benham
Bruce Ritchey	...	Reuben Widdicombe
John Marley	...	Holland
Bill Mumy	...	Boy Counting Jean's Pearls
Elizabeth Wilson	...	Miss Fogarty

Storyline

Psychologist Dr. Matthew Clark is the head of the Crawthorne State Training Institute, one of the first boarding schools for developmentally challenged children. Dr. Clark is sympathetic but demanding of his teachers and students. His approach of tough love is controversial. He takes a chance at hiring former aspiring concert pianist Jean Hansen as the school's music teacher, Miss Hansen who has no background in nursing, teaching or dealing with the developmentally challenged. She herself is trying to find her own place in life. She immediately bonds with autistic student Reuben Widdicombe, who she sees as needing special attention in light of his parents having not visited him since they enrolled him in the school two years earlier. The Widdicombes divorced shortly thereafter because of the pressures their relationship faced in dealing with Reuben. Dr. Clark sees Reuben as the type of child the most difficult with which to deal: Reuben understands just enough to realize that he is ...

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Plot Keywords:

teaching | down's syndrome | based on tv movie | school | disability | 

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Taglines:

a child can be so many things, warmth... love... laughter and sometimes a child can be heartbreak!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 May 1963 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Un niño espera

Filming Locations:

Pomona, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min 104 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the British Board of Film Censors passed the film with an "X" certificate on 15 February 1963, United Artists took over three years to release the film in the UK. It finally premiered at the London Pavilion on 14 July 1966 and ran two weeks. In spite of two major stars and The Times headline "film worth waiting four years for," the UK release was small and not always handled appropriately. In St Ives, Cornwall, it was booked for two days in December 1966 and shared the bill with St George and the 7 Curses.

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Goofs

As the camera follows Jean Hansen from classroom to classroom during her first tour, a crew member is reflected in the glass doors between the classrooms.

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Quotes

Dr. Matthew Clark: I think you can find what you're looking for here, Miss Hansen. Because it's not what you can do for these children; it's what they can do for you.

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Crazy Credits

Following the last name in the cast list (Elizabeth Wilson) are the words "and The Children".

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Connections

Featured in Edge of Outside (2006)

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Soundtracks

Snowflakes
Written by Marjorie D. Kurtz
Performed Judy Garland

User Reviews

An excellent moving showing how truly talented Judy Garland was and how she truly cared about others, regardless of what the press has made her to be.

This movie is really an absolute marvel, it shows such a variety of emotion. Judy Garland plays her part wonderfully and also her musical talent is extraordinary. The way she interacts with the children in this movie, is extremely moving. You can tell she really does care for them, and the performance at the end of the movie really is one of the most touching moments I have seen in a film. A++ for Garland, and Lancaster is an outstanding character as well, Gena Rowlands also makes a great effort in this film. The children who acting this movie could not be closer to your heart, the way it is done you can actually still feel for them to this day, they did a wonderful job casting for this movie. I could not say enough of how the film was done, along with all of the talent put into it, especially by Judy.