1962's The Miracle Worker-from director Arthur Penn and writer William Gibson-is largely considered an all-time film classic. Viewed some 60+ years after its initial release, it still holds up due to its exploration of the power of education.
For a very basic overview, The Miracle Worker tells the based-on-reality story of Helen Keller (Patty Duke)-a young girl stricken deaf and without speech or vision since infancy. With seemingly nowhere else to turn besides an asylum, the Keller family calls in Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft) from a school for the blind. A battle of wills commences as Annie struggles to teach Helen the nature of the world despite the obvious obstacles.
The first half of Miracle Worker contains perhaps its most iconic, top-of-the-mind scenes illustrating that battle of wills between Annie & Helen, the latter having been "spoiled", in a manner, by a family that does not quite know how to handle her. The dining room scene is paramount here-an almost 10-minute sustained sequence in which Annie must exert some sort of control over her new pupil. It is shocking simply in its courage to render such intensity involving a child.
Yet, that first hour sets up a movie that is good but not necessarily "one for the ages". It frames the Annie/Helen relationship as simply a struggle for power and it features some noticeably histrionic over-acting from Helen's parents Arthur (Victory Jory) & Kate (Inga Swenson). In short, it is very much a film of its era.
As such, I'll argue that the film's final 45 minutes are what makes it stand the test of time. It is there where the focus begins to shift to more nuanced, universal themes, most notably: Annie's desire for Helen to understand that words have connections to real things/concepts. In a sense, The Miracle Worker becomes a film not primarily just "the Helen Keller story" but also about the power of education in general. When the final breakthrough is made at the water pump, you'll be wiping away tears not just for Helen's progress, but for the triumph of Annie in instilling an educational philosophy that will allow Helen to grow her mind.
In the final reckoning, the legacy of The Miracle Worker is that it's as much of a film about Annie's commitment to education/learning as it is about Helen's specific travails. It is a bit of a journey to get all the way there, but the emotional payoff is one almost guaranteed to fill you with joy and leave a lasting impact.
For a very basic overview, The Miracle Worker tells the based-on-reality story of Helen Keller (Patty Duke)-a young girl stricken deaf and without speech or vision since infancy. With seemingly nowhere else to turn besides an asylum, the Keller family calls in Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft) from a school for the blind. A battle of wills commences as Annie struggles to teach Helen the nature of the world despite the obvious obstacles.
The first half of Miracle Worker contains perhaps its most iconic, top-of-the-mind scenes illustrating that battle of wills between Annie & Helen, the latter having been "spoiled", in a manner, by a family that does not quite know how to handle her. The dining room scene is paramount here-an almost 10-minute sustained sequence in which Annie must exert some sort of control over her new pupil. It is shocking simply in its courage to render such intensity involving a child.
Yet, that first hour sets up a movie that is good but not necessarily "one for the ages". It frames the Annie/Helen relationship as simply a struggle for power and it features some noticeably histrionic over-acting from Helen's parents Arthur (Victory Jory) & Kate (Inga Swenson). In short, it is very much a film of its era.
As such, I'll argue that the film's final 45 minutes are what makes it stand the test of time. It is there where the focus begins to shift to more nuanced, universal themes, most notably: Annie's desire for Helen to understand that words have connections to real things/concepts. In a sense, The Miracle Worker becomes a film not primarily just "the Helen Keller story" but also about the power of education in general. When the final breakthrough is made at the water pump, you'll be wiping away tears not just for Helen's progress, but for the triumph of Annie in instilling an educational philosophy that will allow Helen to grow her mind.
In the final reckoning, the legacy of The Miracle Worker is that it's as much of a film about Annie's commitment to education/learning as it is about Helen's specific travails. It is a bit of a journey to get all the way there, but the emotional payoff is one almost guaranteed to fill you with joy and leave a lasting impact.
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