I saw the movie on TCM a while back and just had to have it. I saw it once when I was very young (long time ago), and had forgot how powerful it is. This movie does what most movies today fail to. It draws you in where you feel the emotions of the characters and come away with a valuable experience you can apply to life. When you see Helen Keller at the beginning you think like anyone would seeing a person in her condition. Is there a meaningful life possible for this individual? But when the teacher arrives and works with her even through lack of cooperation from Helen and even her parents you realize what determination and the belief in a persons potential can accomplish. The acting is top drawer by everyone. I think it is Patty Duke's and Anne Bancroft's best roles they ever played. This also appealed to me on a spiritual plane in our walk with God. What the world sees as hopeless and useless people God sees and knows their potential if they surrender and accept Christ. The end is so powerful I cry every time I see it. Helen is at a point where her parents are bringing her back into the household like a pet that has had some basic training but she still has not grasped the concept of communication that will liberate her from her world of silence and darkness. She feels liberated from the teacher's authority and starts reverting to her old behavior. The teacher strives one more time and breaks through the bars of her mental prison. It changed the teacher too as you see. Take time and watch this.Read full review
I was already reading Helen Keller's Biography. Why? Just to get a better appreciation of life. That's what you get from her book and that's what you get from the movie. This movie is not only touching and gripping it will make you think about so many things. The least of which, your own life and how much we take for granted with our 5 gifts (senses). The scenes where Ms. Sullivan uses tough methods to get Helen to learn would be considered nothing short of child abuse by today's standards and child-pampering laws. But by Ms. Keller's own admition, NOT being treated as if she had a handicap by her teacher led to learning everything she knew and eventually led to a loving bond between teacher and pupil. It makes you wonder how the more we give children "their rights in school" these days the less they learn and the more they can't compete in the world. Yet about 100 years ago, a def, dumb and blind woman, graduated head of her college class and was honored by Elenor Roosevelt. Great Great acting by both Patty Duke and Ann Bancroft.Read full review
Visiting Ivy Green prompted the eBay purchase of the DVD as the gift shop there was out of DVDs the day we visited. Purchasing this DVD was about half the cost of a purchase in the gift shop. The movie was powerful. Great acting talent by all, especially the young Patty Duke. The filming sets were not very accurate to the real buildings that still exist, but that had very little impact on the story flow or story impact. Spoiler alert - the pump scene was very accurate. GREAT family movie still holds up well after all these years.
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I have been fascinated by the story of Helen Keller since I first read a book about her life, as a child. I found my granddaughter reading a book about her and she expressed a similiar fascination with her. I have often seen The Miracle Worker and love it. To me, this is the very best edition. She had never heard about the movie so I went in search of it. It's not that easy to find but I found it for a good price on Ebay. After it came, we had a special time together watching the movie and being moved by the incredible acting and true life story. We had so much to talk about together and were able to try to endeavor to appreciate just what life was like for Helen. The movie is truly a wonderful experience and one of my favorites! The acting, in particularly, Patty Duke, is amazing!
I bought the movie "The Miracle Worker" because I am a teacher and a caregiver to a four year old blind girl at our local elementary school. I have a seven year old granddaughter who is very interested about my student and asks all sorts of questions about her. In the course of our conversation about Annet, I told my grandaughter about Helen Keller. She asked all sorts of questions about her too, so I decided to get the movie. Mikala (my grandaughter) loves the movie, and we have watched it several times. It is a wonderful portrayal of Miss Keller's early years, and it is always interesting to watch how Anne Sullivan broke through the barriers to Helen's communication. It has also helped me remember that, even though a child may have severe disabilities, helping them achieve their potential is always a worthwhile goal. Wanda RichardsonRead full review
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