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The Miracle Worker

The Miracle Worker

Drama · History · 1962

The true story of the frightening, lonely world of silence and darkness of 7-year-old Helen Keller who, since infancy, has never seen the sky, heard her mother's voice or expressed her innermost feelings. Then Annie Sullivan, a 20-year-old teacher from Boston, arrives. Having just recently regained her own sight, the no-nonsense Annie reaches out to Helen through the power of touch, the only tool they have in common, and leads her bold pupil on a miraculous journey from fear and isolation to happiness and light.

Movie details

The Miracle Worker

“An emotional earthquake!”

1962 Drama · History 1h 46m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.9 / 10

Community rating

The true story of the frightening, lonely world of silence and darkness of 7-year-old Helen Keller who, since infancy, has never seen the sky, heard her mother's voice or expressed her innermost feelings. Then Annie Sullivan, a 20-year-old teacher from Boston, arrives. Having just recently regained her own sight, the no-nonsense Annie reaches out to Helen through the power of touch, the only tool they have in common, and leads her bold pupil on a miraculous journey from fear and isolation to happiness and light.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Miracle Worker?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Arthur Penn

Written by

William Gibson

Anne Bancroft

Anne Bancroft

Annie Sullivan

Patty Duke

Patty Duke

Helen Keller

Victor Jory

Victor Jory

Captain Arthur Keller

Inga Swenson

Inga Swenson

Kate Keller

Andrew Prine

Andrew Prine

James Keller

Kathleen Comegys

Kathleen Comegys

Aunt Ev

John Bliss

John Bliss

Admissions Officer (uncredited)

Court is in session

Put The Miracle Worker on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.