When you are acting without words and struggling to get the emotions out to the viewers, they may not always see those efforts. Jane Wyman did it and got the Academy Award. Her passion for the role came through her eyes. Mia Farrow tries here, and she just seems in the way, only coming to life briefly in the courtroom scene. Perhaps poor direction or a very dull supporting cast as well as the obvious bland filming, but the results just come off as a major disappointment, and a pointless remake.
Deaf and mute Belinda (Farrow) has been a thorn in the side of her aunt and uncle (Barry Sullivan and Ruth White), treated by them as an inconvenience that they were forced to deal with. Doctor Ian Bannen however loves her and wants to marry get. However, she's raped by the nasty David Carradine and gives birth to a baby who is named Johnny. Sullivan discovers the paternity by accident which results in his death, and Carradine decides he wants to raise his son, while another woman in the village decides she wants the baby for herself, and joins forces with Carradine to get him.
This videotaped TV production of the Elmer Harris play hasn't fared well over the years, and the print looks like something that was made during the early days of anthology TV. The pacing is very slow, even slower looking than the oldest kinescopes of the daytime soaps, and outside of Carradine, everyone seems to be sleepwalking in their performances, Farrow worst of all. Paul Bogart is one of the great directors of classic TV, but the direction here seems horribly uninspired. Sadly one of the great misfires of the golden age of television, a real chore to get through.
Deaf and mute Belinda (Farrow) has been a thorn in the side of her aunt and uncle (Barry Sullivan and Ruth White), treated by them as an inconvenience that they were forced to deal with. Doctor Ian Bannen however loves her and wants to marry get. However, she's raped by the nasty David Carradine and gives birth to a baby who is named Johnny. Sullivan discovers the paternity by accident which results in his death, and Carradine decides he wants to raise his son, while another woman in the village decides she wants the baby for herself, and joins forces with Carradine to get him.
This videotaped TV production of the Elmer Harris play hasn't fared well over the years, and the print looks like something that was made during the early days of anthology TV. The pacing is very slow, even slower looking than the oldest kinescopes of the daytime soaps, and outside of Carradine, everyone seems to be sleepwalking in their performances, Farrow worst of all. Paul Bogart is one of the great directors of classic TV, but the direction here seems horribly uninspired. Sadly one of the great misfires of the golden age of television, a real chore to get through.
