I've just finished watching the miracle worker, and I wanted to share that this movie got me (surprisingly!) crying like a big girl, specially when Hellen in finally aware.
Yeah all you cinema experts might say it's cliched or whatever, but the thing is I didn't "plan" to sit there and watch a movie to make my cry , and it really moved me.
The movie is certainly (in my eyes) a masterpiece, well executed , careful photography, adequate music and the plot is just exciting. Quite a surprise, as I just thought it would be yet another old black and white old flick.
Are there other great cinema gems like this one that I have been missing for years? And no, top 100 doesn't seem a good place to start, so I'll try asking in this great movie forum as I don't trust imdb ratings anymore.
No matter if old or new films -- Segmentation fault. Core dumped.
Check out Now Voyager (1942). It moves the audience in much the same way as Miracle Worker although the "disability" is much different. Nevertheless, a great movie.
To say this film is underrated is the understatement of the century.
It's a crying freaking shame that this absolutely stunning movie isn't on the Top 250 while the hideous Pulp Fiction roosts there in the top 10. It makes me lose faith in humanity, honestly. This has got to be one of, if not the, most beautiful movie ever made. It sure makes me feel a whole lot better about my own life. What do I have to complain about? I can see and hear. What more do I need?
I'm an adult who loves Digimon and I don't care who knows it!
This is probably on the top 100, but it is definitely an excellent gem of a black and white movie. "To Kill a Mockingbird". It's story speaks volumes through the eyes of 3 kids. It's far from overrated and is very touching.
It kinda of touches me much like "The Miracle Worker" did. I think it may be because they both were popular and aired on network tv in the mid 60's when I was around age of the children in both movies. (They both were released in 1962)
It won Best Actor for Peck, while "Miracle worker" got Best Actress as well as Best supporting Actress for Bancroft and Duke respectively. (That shows you the calibur or work it was.)
Mockingbird has been an inspiration to many people much like Miracle Worker has and is very emotional. The struggles and story line is intense like Miracle Worker. This is one of my all time favorites. I think if you haven't already seen it you may want to take the chance and look at it.
Anne Bancroft won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Patty Duke won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. They both won their awards in 1963.
Well, are you looking for movies that are thematically similar, or just great movies that aren't as well-remembered? Here's a few I saw recently:
A Patch of Blue (1965) A Night at the Opera (1935) Out of the Past (1947) Sabrina (1954) The Spiral Staircase (1945) Sweet Smell of Success (1957) The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) Nights of Cabiria (1957) Peeping Tom (1960)
It's a fairly arbitrary list, though, since I don't know what your tastes in movies are.
Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler (1922) The Phantom of the Opera (1925) Foreign Correspondent (1940) Wages of Fear October Man Spione (1928) Cyrano De Bergerac (1990)
I would give it 8 stars... a very good - but I would argue, not a great - film.
First of all, it's hard to argue that it was somehow under-rated. The Oscars for both Bancroft and Duke guarantee that it will always be remembered by film critics, classic movie fans and historians alike.
Secondly - it is at its very core, a stage play. The movie is really little more than a filmed version of the stage play. Penn and Company did very little to make it feel more like a movie, and that hurts it cinematic impact somewhat I think.
Also - since it is a historical biography of a well known person, there is very little suspense in the outcome. I understand it is not meant to be a "suspense/thriller" genre, yet for me at least - it is hard to get so worked up, emotional, teary-eyed at the end..... when the ending is such an obvious foregone conclusion.... even to unsophisticated audiences unfamiliar with the Helen Keller biography.
Even so - it is fascinating to watch, and deserves high praise and strong recommendation due to the outstanding performances of Bancroft and Duke. In fact, I would rank Duke right up there as one of the Best Supporting Actresses of all time.
'Secondly - it is at its very core, a stage play. The movie is really little more than a filmed version of the stage play. Penn and Company did very little to make it feel more like a movie, and that hurts it cinematic impact somewhat I think.' -------------------- It didn't hurt it for me. But then when a film is opened-up, critics complain about that aspect. I think Penn did open it up, and also received an Oscar nom--without the film receiving one which speaks alot.
1962 was a great year for movies, witness these other movies NOT nominated for Best Picture: The Manchurian Candidate Days Of Wine and Roses Lolita Billy Budd Cape Fear Gypsy Freud Long Day's Journey Into Night Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?
While I think The Miracle Worker was worthy to be in the top 5, one must remember this was a low budget movie without any stars (this is the film that MADE the two leads famous) and made it's way by the talent of it's makers and word of mouth. The studio wanted to give the makers a couple million $$ to make the film in color if they would cast Elizabeth Taylor in the lead. By refusing they got half-million and black and white for the entire picture. It's classic status in the ensuing years, and two remakes, is based on the pure talent involved in transferring this play into film.
I have watched this film many times over the years. It was on TV this past week & I stopped what I was doing, to see it once again.
It is a brilliant film. The performances by Patty Duke & the late Anne Bancroft are memorable. The passing of Ms. Bancroft saddens me to this day.
I am not the least bit surprised that you were crying at it's end. I have choked up every time I see this film and did so this last time as well.
When I registered with IMDB and created My Movie list, this film one of the first to be added.
I applaud you for discovering this fine film and recognizing it for what it is; one of the better films of all time.
As far as the list of top 10 best films; the top 100 best films; I pay them no mind. The only list that counts to me is My Movie list. There are some 250 films on it and they are there because they have stood the test of time, by my watching them repeatedly and not getting tired of them. If I had $1 for every time I watched " The Verdict, " I would be a wealthy man.
Are there other great cinema gems like this one that I have been missing for years?
How about 12 Angry Men (the original) and Fail-Safe? If you like this one, I expect you'll like those. Very different subject matter, of course, but broadly similar as movies -- black and white dramas, heavy reliance on acting and dialogue, lots of tension, and the expectation that we in the audience have our brains turned on.
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The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
This is a wonderfully-produced, beautifully acted movie and deeply moving. You can say and think whatever you want about it, but thank God that you have the eyes to see it and the gift of hearing to listen to it.
This is a wonderfully-produced, beautifully acted movie and deeply moving. You can say and think whatever you want about it, but thank God that you have the eyes to see it and the gift of hearing to listen to it.
And this is a reply to me why?
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The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
I was just saying that "you" (people as a whole) should thank God for the gifts of sight and hearing, to be able to enjoy a movie such as this. My, you have a chip on your shoulder. No one said you couldn't say what you wanted about TMW; did I say that? I don't think so. Don't be so touchy.
Yes, Fail-Safe is a really great movie that is overlooked far too often. It's a shame that Dr. Strangelove softened its impact and caused audiences to believe that the situation was somewhat humorous. It's definitely worth seeing, though, especially now that time has distanced it from the black humor of Dr. Strangelove and has allowed it to become its own film.
That's why you and I don't see eye-to-eye sometimes, Jack; because you're a man of science.
To the OP -- I'd add Gentlemen's Agreement and The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit to the lists suggested above, if you are looking for serious, thoughtful drama.
The moment when Annie cries out "Mrs. Keller, she knows!" always moves me to tears, even if I have missed the rest of the film!
And I know why. I am a teacher, and have loved teaching since I was a child. There is something about that moment, the joy of finally opening that door, that I understand deeply.