7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Psychologist Dr. Clark is head of the first boarding school for developmentally challenged children. He is sympathetic but demanding of his teachers and students. He takes a chance at hiring former aspiring concert pianist Jean Hansen as the school's music teacher.
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Judy Garland, Gena Rowlands, Steven Hill, Paul Stewart (I)Drama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
1963’s “A Child Is Waiting” has its heart in the right place. A drama concerning the efforts of teachers at a state institution dealing with special needs children and their confused, frightened parents, the picture seeks to destigmatize the mentally challenged, with director John Cassavetes striving to infuse a sense of realism into an otherwise formulaic but effective feature. “A Child Is Waiting” isn’t profound, but for a film of its era, it challenges the viewer with unusual community spirit, while stars Burt Lancaster and Judy Garland (in one of her final performances) handle emotional throttling well, keeping the movie steely enough to avoid a few maudlin temptations.
The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers pleasing detail throughout, delivering a degree of crispness that doesn't interfere with glamour lighting on Garland and cinematographic limitations of the era. Textures on costuming and set decoration are strong, along with expressive close-ups. Contrast is balanced, and delineation is never threatened. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is a little beat up in spots. Speckling and mild scratches are viewed throughout.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix has difficulty with clarity, finding highs especially harsh during the listening experience, offering sharp, crackly S-words. Dialogue exchanges remain intelligible, detailing an active emotional range, with softer, intimate moments surviving. Scoring is supportive but rarely defined to satisfaction, revealing age with a slightly dulled quality. Group activity is adequate, managing the bustle of children around the school. Hiss is present throughout.
Attitudes toward the challenged have changed over the last five decades, leaving the feature's pro-institution message a bit archaic, but still earnestly felt. Performances are also interesting, extending to Gena Rowlands and Steven Hill as an estranged couple dealing with a painful situation in the worst way possible. "A Child Is Waiting" isn't out to provide answers, it just wants to shed some light on a once taboo subject, doing so with patience, authenticity, and a few scenes of panic that carry an almost 3D-like quality.
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