17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helen Kellers' words set to video with real footage and photographs, January 16, 2008
This review is from: Helen Keller:in Her Story [VHS] (VHS Tape)
"Helen Keller In Her Story" is a documentary which was produced and directed by Nancy Hamilton and was originally released in 1955. It is in black and white and was distributed by Hearst in 1992 in VHS format.
This documentary takes the story of Helen Keller as written in her autobiography, and is narrated by actress Katherine Cornell. It won an Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary in 1955.
The narration is done over original footage of Helen Keller and some older material are still shots of photographs. While hearing about the life of Helen Keller it is fascinating to see her in motion in the video images.
We see Helen Keller traveling all over the world. We see how she can communicate using sign language. We see Keller reading Braille including reading her Braille Bible which she says she reads each morning and each evening. We see her typing using a regular typewriter as well as a Braille typewriter. Later we see her trying a device which people type words into and it converts them to Braille immediately.
Footage includes her original teacher and companion Anne Sullivan. We hear Helen Keller's voice and we learn that the thing that bothered her most was she wished she had a better speaking voice. Later footage includes her second companion and assistant Polly Thompson.
There is a segment which tries to show a day in the life of Helen Keller. This includes footage of Polly and Helen at Keller's estate named Arcan Ridge in Easton, Connecticut. We see everything from beginning the day with breakfast to her opening mail and corresponding with people to reading and learning to doing household tasks. We see exterior and interior shots of the home including seeing Keller take a walk outdoors by herself by following along a trail with a handrail.
(Note: Arcan Ridge is in the town of Easton Connecticut not in the town Westport as some sources mistakenly state. Helen Keller got her mail at a post office box in Westport and so there is confusion about where Arcan Ridge was. When we see letters addressed to Keller at Arcan Ridge in Westport that is just a mailing address. Also on the documentary's cover it states the footage shows her on her Vermont estate which is also not accurate. Arcan Ridge is where Helen Keller lived from 1936 until her death in 1968.)
This is a bit slow paced and formal compared to the new documentaries being produced today, this is an excellent documentary. If you are looking for more of a dramatic telling of portions of her life, perhaps the movie The Miracle Worker would be of more interest to you. If you are looking to view original video footage and photographs and to see Helen Keller in motion and even talking, this is an excellent documentary to watch.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Plenty of rare footage, January 3, 2006
This review is from: Helen Keller:in Her Story [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Excellent video for all the reasons listed in Amazon's official review and-- contains the only known recording of Anne Sullivan's voice!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
FASCINATING ACCOUNT OF A REMARKABLE LIFE, September 17, 2010
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE LIFE OF HELEN KELLER, ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE WOMEN OF ALL TIME.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
