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The Miracle Worker

An emotional earthquake!

1962 · 1h 46m · Approved Drama
Directed by Arthur Penn

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Overview

The true story of the frightening, lonely world of silence and darkness of 7-year-old Helen Keller who, since infancy, has never seen the sky, heard her mother's voice or expressed her innermost feelings. Then Annie Sullivan, a 20-year-old teacher from Boston, arrives. Having just recently regained her own sight, the no-nonsense Annie reaches out to Helen through the power of touch, the only tool they have in common, and leads her bold pupil on a miraculous journey from fear and isolation to happiness and light.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
96%
Tomatometer
Fresh

The centerpiece is a one-room, nine-minute war of attrition, as a tutor (Anne Bancroft) imposes table manners on her feral charge (Patty Duke). It's a heaving, shin-cracking donnybrook, done with complete commitment.

Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice
Fresh

It's a stunningly impressive piece of work, typically (for Penn) deriving much of its power from the performances.

Derek Adams, Time Out
Fresh

Anne Bancroft is superb as Annie Sullivan, the teacher who finally reached into Helen Keller's darkness, and Patty Duke is chillingly real as the young Helen.

Don Druker, Chicago Reader
Fresh

Where the picture really excels, outside of its inherent story values, is in the realm of photographic technique.

Variety

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