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

MW: One one of the reasons I fell in love with film as art

Although I am a long-time Patty Duke admirer, and thus far from objective, this film still stands the test of time. This is the kind of filmmaking that prompted me to fall in love with the movies. Brilliantly inspired writing by William Gibson, from his equally inspired play. Intelligent, austere direction by Arthur Penn (one of the true gentlemen and masters of the American cinema); Penn had the sense to retain the inate artistry and grit of the original stage play and simply allow the camera to capture the actors' intuitive - albeit, well rehearsed, performances, recreating their stage roles which generated an unheard-of 19 curtain calls when it first graced the stage in its Philadephia opening. The film, in stark, black and white, speaks total reality to the film audience of 1962 - and, of course, well beyond that year. Finally, one would be hard pressed to think of another film that so exquisitely defines the term "2-character" study. Bancroft and Duke deliver A-plus, no bones about it, top-drawer, performances. It is a film about the undaunted human spirit and our need to communicate. Although much has been written about 11-minute breakfast donneybrook, which is certainly wonderful cinema to behold, the entire film is breathtaking from opening credits to the final scenes. I dare anyone to even breathe during the climactic water pump scene when teacher Annie Sullivan finally "connects" and communicates with her "unreachable" charge, the deaf, blind, young Helen Keller. It's an absolutely astonishing, "can't take your eyes off it," moment of celluloid. Duke, Bancroft and Penn worked beatifully to create this incredibly touching masterpiece of dramatic filmmaking, which is not without its moments of "comedy," as all fine dramas are capable of conveying. It is a film which breathes life - and it is especially brought to life by two of the best actresses America has ever produced. The Miracle Worker is a story and film portraying real human courage, patience and individual, personal will. It continues to live in my memory as a work of art that has rarely been equalled before - or since - on screen.