The Miracle Worker (1962 film): Difference between revisions

{{Short description|1962 filmFilm by Arthur Penn}}

The film went on to be an instant critical success and a moderate commercial success. The film was nominated for five [[Academy Awards]], including [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] for [[Arthur Penn]], and won two awards, [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] for [[Anne Bancroft]] and [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] for [[Patty Duke]], the latter of whom, at age 16, became the youngest competitive Oscar winner at the time.{{efn|The record was surpassed by [[Tatum O'Neal]] in 1974, who won the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]] at the age of 10 for ''[[Paper Moon (film)|Paper Moon]]''.}}

Young Helen Keller, [[blindness|blind]] and [[Hearing impairment|deaf]] since infancy due to a severe illness, is frustrated and angry by her inability to communicate and subject to frequent violent and uncontrollable outbursts. Unable to deal with her, her terrified and helpless parents contact the [[Perkins School for the Blind]] for assistance. In response, they send [[Anne Sullivan]], a former student, to the Keller home as a tutor. A battle of wills ensues as Anne breaks down Helen's walls of silence and darkness through persistence, love, and sheer stubbornness, starting by teaching Helen to make a connection between her hand signs and the objects in Helen's world for which they stand.