|
The Miracle WorkerRating:
Release Date: 06 March, 2001 Retail Price: $14.98 OUR Price: $10.99 You SAVE: $3.99! Cast: Complete Cast (15 total) |
The Miracle Worker Reviews
Every American adolescent should see this outstanding film
I am in awe of every aspect of this film. The screenplay is almost beyond compare. The acting by Ms. Bancroft and Miss Duke was of the highest merit. The directing and cinematography were both incredible. This is one of America's great achievements in film making. I will go into detail on a few of these points:
The screenplay is superb, getting to the very heart of what is the difference between love and pity, between meeting our dependency needs and encouraging the independence of other. The struggle between Anne Sullivan and her student, Helen Keller, is only slightly more dramatic than the struggle between Anne Sullivan and Helen's parents. As a young girl with impaired visision Anne and her brother grew up in a state institution with the mentally ill and elderly, playing with the bodies in the morgue. Her brother tragically dies of TB of the pelvis, but Anne convinces the assylum directors to allow her to attend school. After 11 operations she graduates at the top of her class from the Perkins School for the Blind. The achievements of Anne Sullivan must be recognized as being as significant as the achievements of Helen Keller.
Even though the film is full of insightful, piercing dialogue, it also is absolutely filled with action, so much action that it wears you out watching it. The battles between Anne Sullivan and Helen are amazing.
Ms. Bancroft is super in the role of Anne Sullivan, a semi-blind young woman who is certain of her mission and realizes compassion must not overpower the instinct to foster independence and autonomy of the human spirit. Patty Duke's portrayal of Helen is sensitive and natural, never once giving the impression that she is an actress playing as a blind girl.
The drama and movement are heightened by the wonderful choice of black and white with austere sets and scenes. Camera angles and closs-up shots of the characters intensify the emotional charge of the film.
What a wonderful combination of exquisite storytelling this film is. It should be part of every American adolescent's education to see and study this film.
Gripe w/DVD not Film
This incredible film takes you on a roller coaster of emotion, & hopefully, challenges any preconceptions of "limits" of persons with disabilities!
My gripes concen the DVD. There are no English subtitles, though there are French & Spanish! Considering this is Helen Keller's story, this ommission is not merely unthinkable, but insulting to anyone, now & in the future, who wants to enjoy this film & also has a hearing impairment!
Sadly Anne Bancroft is gone, but Patty Duke is alive & well. Yet there is no commentary or interview clip! I'm sure she may tire of speaking of it, but with the chance to preserve this story & extraordinary perfomance for the future, I'm certain somethig can be arranged!
Now, if they'll put out the TV remake w/Melissa Gilbert as Helen & Patty Duke (this time as Annie Sullivan). Though not up to Bancroft/Duke, it is still well worth watching, even if it's only to see Duke take on the ohter role. Gilbert got to break away from Laura Ingalls Wilder (which I loved as well) with gusto too!
And this remake bests the more recent one with the girl from the pepsi comercial hands down!
More Customer Reviews (38 total)
You like The Miracle Worker?
|
© 2004, 2005, 2006 DVD Booty | Don't Plunder Our Cache of Booty, Matey!
Hosting made possible by donations from Loan Town USA, Payday Loan Progress, and debt consolidation
