THE MIRACLE WORKER.
US, 1962,106 minutes, Black and white.
Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke, Victor Jory, Inga Swenson, Andrew Prine.
Directed by Arthur Penn.
The Miracle Worker is the striking film about Annie Sullivan and her pupil, Helen Keller. It is powerful with a great deal of emotional impact. The story itself, in some of its details and in the inhuman and hopeless treatment of severely handicapped children, seems rather unbelievable nowadays. It certainly highlights the heroism of Annie Sullivan and pays tribute to the extraordinary success of her work.
Anne Bancroft, an extraordinary actress in her later films like - The Pumpkin Eater; The Graduate; Young Winston - gives her Oscar-winning performance here. So does the young Patty Duke. Victor Jory's performance, however, is rather strident. The director is Arthur Penn, who also directed - The Chase, Bonnie and Clyde, Little Big Man.
1. Did you agree with the title? What values did this film present and uphold?
2. What was the dramatic impact of the film? How positive in outlook was it, especially regarding the value of living, affirmation of the challenge of life?
3. What did the film show of strength, psychological and physical courage? How important is this theme?
4. Helen Keller - the sorrow of her early illness, the fact that she seemed like a human animal for so many years, the way she was spoilt, loved, feared? Her violence, response to her parents, to Annie Sullivan? The importance of the meal sequence, her fears, energies, yearnings? The sequences where she learnt the use of hands and faces for communication? The joy of understanding and the possibility of becoming human. How impressive was Patty Duke's performance?
5. Annie Sullivan - what kind of woman was she - admirable? Her background -flashbacks, her brother, their suffering, disabilities, life in the institution and her reaction? Her brother's death? The problem with her eyes, her glasses and determination to see? Her courage, love, sensitivity? Her immediate response to Helen, loving, yet firm? Why was she so determined to make Helen sit down and eat with cutlery? The details of her technique in teaching Helen, first by rote, then hoping for understanding, learning the alphabet, joy where Helen understands what water is? The final embrace sequence and reward for Annie? How impressive was Anne Bancroft's performance?
6. The Kellers - was their reaction to Helen understandable? Were they just impatient or merely ignorant of how to treat her? What sacrifices did they make for the treatment of Helen and what was expected of Annie Sullivan? The impact of the reward of their love when Helen realised they were her parents?
7. Was the atmosphere of the film well communicated: black and white photography, music, the southern states? Some critics said the film was melodramatic. Do you agree?
8. Despite its faults, the film had many successful sequences and two excellent performances. What impressed you most about the film?
