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![The Miracle Worker](https://www.criticker.com/img/films/posters/legacy/The-Miracle-Worker.jpg?1325312803)
The Miracle Worker
1962
Drama
1h 46m
The story of Anne Sullivan's struggle to teach the blind and deaf Helen Keller how to communicate. (imdb)
Directed by:
Arthur PennThe Miracle Worker
1962
Drama
1h 46m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 69.96% from 499 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
(506)
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Rated 05 Sep 2011
87
78th
With Penn's direction, it feels like a transition for American cinema. The scenes with the family are shot and acted in the flat, purposeful style of the traditional studio picture. When Bancroft and Duke are alone, though, the film comes to life with physical intensity, as Penn shoots their violent struggles like exploding action sequences, reducing dialogue to gritty, naturalistic grunts and cries. The dream sequences' blown-up graininess is a striking visualization of faded memories, too.
Rated 05 Sep 2011
Rated 05 Jan 2007
65
44th
In perhaps the best adaptation of this fantastic play, Bancroft and Duke shine equally as the brilliant teacher and her amazingly fast-learning pupil, respectively.
Rated 05 Jan 2007
Rated 13 May 2017
86
62nd
B+
Rated 13 May 2017
Rated 25 Oct 2023
81
66th
I can't believe this was originally made as a play. Imagine two actresses having to replicate the physicality and frustration in the best scenes of this movie night in, night out. A relentless and brutal watch, even by today's standards.
Rated 25 Oct 2023
Rated 12 Sep 2023
80
68th
This is the case of a film where I think a certain amount of trite sentimentality in the writing is utterly overpowered by titanic performances from Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke. Despite having starred in the Broadway production, Arthur Penn had to fight to keep them. I can't picture this film without them. In addition to the ferocious physical performances, Bancroft in particular turns in a difficult and subtle performance that I really don't think the film would work without.
Rated 12 Sep 2023
Rated 04 Mar 2023
30
10th
An ostensibly inspiring tale of a string of well-meaning assaults that I did not enjoy witnessing.
Rated 04 Mar 2023
Rated 20 Feb 2021
78
70th
Beautiful stark contrasting b/w cinematography, superb performances by Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke in a touching movie about dedication and endurance, but above all about the power of communication, the need for connection and ambition for knowledge
Rated 20 Feb 2021
Rated 02 Aug 2019
81
77th
The melodrama is often thick, but the performances by the two leads are so impressive that they push through. That breakfast scene is one of the most exhausting things I've ever seen.
Rated 02 Aug 2019
Rated 12 Aug 2014
95
92nd
Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke collaborate like few performers can, drawing us into their challenged rapport and keeping us stuck to their triumphs and catastrophes. Neither role lacked hefty challenges and both actresses surrendered exceptional career-making and ultimately Oscar-winning performances.
Rated 12 Aug 2014
Rated 03 Feb 2010
83
56th
Powerful performances here, but never quite works as a movie.
Rated 03 Feb 2010
Rated 19 Feb 2024
70
63rd
Good film not without issues, but the central relationship is a really interesting one. When other characters are dealing with each other they do so woodenly, but get Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft alone together and there's a brute energy and physicality that unfurls with time. The resolution is far too neat, and would have benefited from a less black to white sense of transition. But Annie is an interesting character, who succeeds in charging the movie with strong emotion.
Rated 19 Feb 2024
Rated 09 Feb 2011
50
33rd
As some reviewers here wrote, The Miracle Worker really is outstanding in it's physical intensiveness which is exhausting and graceless - and maybe it should be that way. So is the performance of Anne Bancroft which is just, well, plain unpleasant to watch. Patty Duke really gives that uncomportable feeling of her character. I'm just not sure if I like all that straightforward discomfort and melodrama, that treats the subject with emotional brutality and in a heavy-handed manner.
Rated 09 Feb 2011
Rated 18 Feb 2012
90
89th
Really intriguing to watch the relationship between Sullivan and Keller and great performances from Bancroft and Duke. Highly recommended.
Rated 18 Feb 2012
Rated 08 Sep 2008
100
95th
There's not much in terms of violence here, but there are great heaps of raw pain -- of not only Helen Keller, but of her family, as they lived in a time when nobody knew what to do with the severely handicapped. Very powerful drama that is harder to watch sometimes than most horror films
Rated 08 Sep 2008
Rated 12 Aug 2010
85
81st
Everyone other than Bancroft and Duke give pretty miserable performances, but those two are so astounding and central to the film that they more than make up for it. A fantastic story and a very heartwarming film.
Rated 12 Aug 2010
Rated 25 Jul 2010
83
88th
The very first lesson, folding a napkin, was a highlight of the movie. Stunningly acted, marvelously edited, directed and choreographed. Bancroft's and a girl's general physicality were intensive and pleased an eye. The story itself draged time to time and it was a bit too melodramatic.
Rated 25 Jul 2010
Rated 14 Aug 2012
95
98th
very shocking movie, the art of Persian dubbing was also very important in my scoring.
Rated 14 Aug 2012
Rated 30 Jun 2010
80
81st
anne bancroft can't spell "discipline" lol
Rated 30 Jun 2010
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
48th
Keller's struggle is very well articulated in this film, but it seemed to drag on.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 12 Mar 2013
98
98th
1112: What a good job! strong drama, emotional earthquake, happy end. good job.
Rated 12 Mar 2013
Rated 22 Jul 2010
80
80th
Impressively present for a movie that in every technical aspect seems behind it's time. The story is strong and the physicality of the scenes are intense. Bancroft with her round glasses and Irish accent comes off a little nazi, but her appearance and fanatical determination only helps to ground the rather oppositional decisions of the family she is trying to help. It may not draw upon very universal themes, or arrive at anything but "Tough love is good!", but it's about as solid a drama as any.
Rated 22 Jul 2010
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
86th
It's a classic. And Anne Bankcroft was a hotty in her day.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 11 Nov 2012
80
54th
An incredibly moving account of Helen Keller's journey from death/blind child to the world of understanding and communication thanks to the efforts of a stern teacher. The storytelling is presented in a mixture of traditional and experimental movie making, fueled by riveting performances from Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft. At times feels very staged, with overly dramatic ACTING, but that makes sense considering it was an adaptation of a play.
Rated 11 Nov 2012
Rated 03 May 2008
95
83rd
I am who I am because of this movie. Classic!
Rated 03 May 2008
Rated 15 Nov 2017
93
92nd
Apesar da estrutura teatral e o fato de nunca ter dado muita bola para o Penn, Duke e Bancroft estão em um duelo de titãs fenomenal - acho que só equiparável no cinema com Burton e Taylor no Virginia Woolf.
Rated 15 Nov 2017
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Directed by:
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