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:

Biography | 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

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:

Several actors in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in this movie. These were (with their character names): Diane Bryan (Martha at Age 5), Donna Bryan (Martha at Age 7), Peggy Burke (II) (Helen at Age 7), Keith Moore (I) (Percy at Age 6), Mindy Sherwood (Helen at Age 5) and Walter Wright Jr. (Percy at Age 8)

Goofs:

Continuity: The way Annie holds the doll changes after Helen gets back in bed after learning 'milk.'

Quotes:

Aunt Ev: Why, that child has more sense than all the men Kellers. If there was just some way to reach that mind of hers.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Ray Charles (#3.5)" (1977)

Soundtrack:

Hush, Little Baby

An Exceptional Movie That Appeals to the Imagination

With two terrific leading performances, an absorbing and thought-provoking story, and many well-conceived touches by Arthur Penn and his production team, this classic version of "The Miracle Worker" is an exceptional movie that appeals to the imagination and that has much to say about humanity. The story itself is so good that even the lesser remakes have been worth seeing, but there is really no reason at all to look any further than this nearly flawless filming of the story.

As Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller, Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke could not have been better. The battle of wills and wits between the two is engrossing, becoming quite involved and very interesting. The lengthy dining room struggle alone would make any movie worth watching - it is worthwhile even beyond the interesting action itself, as it brings out aspects of human nature and human learning that go beyond even Helen's own trials.

There is a great deal of substance to the movie that goes beyond the immediate issues and confrontations, and a significant reason for the greatness of the film is the way that Bancroft and Duke tap into the imagination of the viewer. The concept of seeing an unseen world (and the challenge of helping someone to see it) is brought out in ways that are profound yet accessible.

The two leads carry almost the whole picture, as the other characters are there primarily for Annie and Helen to play off of. Accordingly, the supporting cast keep their characters more simple, and their performances stylized and almost exaggerated, which allows Bancroft and Duke to have most of the moments of significance. The production also enhances the picture through simple but well-conceived settings, use of lighting, and other features that nicely complement the main action.

It's always rather unfortunate that movies like this one, which take a little effort to appreciate fully, are not given more attention. If you stop to consider what Helen Keller had to face in life, it is a situation far more terrifying than facing any of the cartoonish, artificial movie villains that gain so much notoriety. And if you consider the job that Annie Sullivan had to do, her accomplishment is far more impressive and worthwhile than almost any scientific discovery, feat of athletics, or military exploit.

That this movie is able to convey such themes makes it a memorable classic that is much more worthwhile than many movies that have received far more acclaim.