Customer Reviews

The Miracle Worker (1979)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In short...I too have seen this 1979 "Made-For-Television" classic. Funny though, by 1979, I had only seen the original '61 Bancroft/Duke classic, just bits & pieces, a time or two. So the storyline, plot, theme & "modern" production of the newer Duke/Gilbert version, really struck a chord within me...like many, in that time, I trust. Nothing can take the place of that art filmish-like masterpiece from writer William Gibson & director Arthur Penn, but Duke having such a pivotal role in BOTH films...helps make this re-make a "modern-day" classic as well. The only BIG problem? As of late 2007...a day when those are moving into movie-downloads and viewing them on portable, miniature camera/phone micro-devices...still NO DVD ever released...and still, no plan to...at this time. And for that reason...and that reason only...I leave you with only 4 Stars my film-friend. But THAT, of course, is not "your" fault...!

This is the 1979 made for TV movie about Helen Keller who by the way wasn't born blind and deaf but became blind and deaf after an illness when she was a baby. This movie stars Melissa Gilbert as Helen and Patty Duke as Annie who had actually played Helen in the the movie that was made in the early 1960's but to be perfectly honest, as much as I like that movie I actually prefer this remake.

I teach this play so I have seen both this version and the 1962 version many times. I must say that I think the "62 version is better in many respects. The performances of the leads in that version truly set the mark for this play and probably couldn't be equaled by anyone else. In the remake, the performances are not quite as good although they are certainly first class performers doing excellent work. What makes this verion better for classroom use, is the color photography and the settings. Those not used to black and white, as my students are not, tend to find the '62 version slightly depressing. I remember when this verion was first televised the marketing factor was Patty Duke and the role reversal for this version. She is an excellent actress and is very good as Annie. The actors playing Mrs. Keller and James are also good, but I find the actor playing Captain Keller far less forceful than Victor Jory in the "62 version. I haven't seen the most recent version so I can't say how that compares to either. I wish this would come out on DVD, my VHS copy won't live much longer!

This is the 1979 made for television remake of the 1962 theatrical movie The Miracle worker, in that movie Patty Duke played Helen Keller and Anne Bancroft played her teacher Annie Sullivan but in this remake Helen keller is played by Melissa Gilbert and Patty Duke played Annie Sullivan. I saw this remake before I saw the original and I liked it and think that both Patty Duke and Melissa Gilbert were very good and this is a very inspirational, heartwarming story. The Miracle Worker is based on the real story of Helen Keller who was left, deaf, blind and mute when she had gotten sick when she was a baby. Annie Sullivan is the teacher who trys to teach Helen how to be able to communicate in a world that she doesn't understand. The original movie is very good too and there is another remake that stars Hallie Kate Eisenberg as Helen Keller but I haven't seen that version yet.

This is one of my favorite movies ever. When I was a teenager I watched it every weekend. It was one of the movies that helped me decide to become a special ed teachers. Though Melissa Gilbert, who was about 14 when she made the film, was a little old and tall to be playing 6 year old Helen Keller, it is still such a moving and beautiful movie that it is a classic.

MOVIE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE NEW AND WAS UNABLE TO WATCH COMPLETLY DUE TO IT QUIT PLAYING. VERY DISAPPOINTED. HAD BOUGHT FOR GRANDDAUGHTER WHO WAS DOING A REPORT ON HELEN KELLAR AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO VIEW INTIRE MOVIE DUE TO LOW QUALITY.

I bought this movie for my wife who had stated a while before that she used to rent it from the library all the time. She said she preferred it because of Melissa Gilbert's performance as Helen Keller, even though she was too old for the part at the time. I thought it would make a good birthday gift since she hadn't seen it in a while. I decided to watch it with her, open-minded, but not expecting much. I, too, was very impressed with Melissa Gilbert's portrayal. The movie captured the struggle between Ms. Sullivan and Helen Keller and Ms. Sullivan's own struggle very well. I wouldn't say it's a new favorite, but it was worth the mention.

Received a copy of the movie which I was not informed of prior to purchasing. Was expecting an original.

A 14yr old Melissa unbelieveable as a 6 yr old but a great movie nonetheless.

Almost identical dialogue as the 1962 version and Patty as Annie steals the show. She makes an excellent Helen AND Annie.

I really love this movie because it tells the true story of Helen Keller. She was born deaf and blind and she had to learn how to use fingerspelling to talk and learn words. I really love this movie because it is a great movie! Watch what happeneds in the end! It has a wonderful ending to the movie!