Review of The Miracle Worker (1962) by Carlos M — 03 Jul 2016

Being blind shuts off of the world in which it brings. Being deaf loses the ability to hear and communicate with others. So, what happens when a person is both deaf and blind at the same time? This rare phenomenon happened to a girl named Helen Keller, who was sadly born with this condition. But under the tutelage of Annie Sullivan, Helen learned to communicate unlike any other person would. This historical event would later be turned into a stage play by William Goldman, and later into a 1962 film titled "The Miracle Worker". The film adaptation has been regarded as a classic, and it clearly shows. Everything about this movie is perfect, and watching it, one gets sucked into the drama. "The Miracle Worker" is an absolute masterpiece of cinema history as well as a great historical drama about a child with a rare disease.

The story involves Helen Keller (Patty Duke) who was born both blind and deaf. Her family is on the verge of putting her into an institute because she has grown into a menace. Enter Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft), a teacher for the deaf, but also for the blind. She has come to teach Helen the ways of communication, despite her condition. Helen doesn't want to learn at first, but in order to better make herself known, :she must oblige by Annie's rules, and listen.

"The Miracle Worker" is a fantastic drama that everyone should at least see once in their lives. Why is this, you ask? Well, for one thing, the story is presented in a realistic fashion that makes the viewer invested in the action. The audience wants to witness Helen succeed, and there is a prime motivation driving Annie to complete her mission. As well as wanting to learn more about :the actual events surrounding the film. Sure most of the events portrayed in the film are fictionalized, but it's done so well, one cannot be amazed at what is happening on screen.

In fact, the editing compliments this fact by making quick cuts of the action between Helen and Annie all the more realistic. This, in turn, makes the pacing of the movie consistent; by running less than two hours, the film gets across what it needs to do. Complimenting all of this, is the black and white cinematography that makes everything look great; from the sets and the costumes, this movie is definitely a visual treat. Finally, the music by Lawrence Rosenthal offers up a great soundtrack that creates a haunting atmosphere, whenever one hears it. But what really makes the movie stand out, are the performance of our two main leads.

Both Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke, both of whom won Oscars for their roles, deservedly, give out magnificent performances. The rest of the cast do great jobs, as well, but it is Bancroft and Duke who clearly shine here. Under the superb direction of Arthur Penn, these two women make "The Miracle Worker", and turn it into one of the greatest films of all time.

In conclusion, "The Miracle Worker" is a marvelous movie that details the struggle of human emotion should be seen, and make people aware of the conditions that are presented here.