Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The Miracle Worker Blu-ray Movie Review

A engaging film with some exceptional performances elevating the material

Inspired by an inspirational true story, The Miracle Worker is an adaptation of the stage play of the same name written by William Gibson (who adapted his own material for the feature-film version). The film tells the story of how the blind and deaf Helen Keller (Patty Duke), a young girl, began to learn a method of sign language communication from here experiences with her teacher, Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft). Produced by Fred Coe (A Thousand Clowns, The Adams Chronicles), The Miracle Worker was an Oscar winning production which was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and won for Best Actress (Bancroft) and Best Supporting Actress (Duke).

The thing that struck me the most about the film was its remarkable performances by the lead actresses. Both Bancroft and Duke are exceptional in the film and its not surprising that these actors have been recognized for their superb artistic accomplishments. In one of the film's most harrowing sequences audiences witness Annie Sullivan violently grasp hold of Helen Keller during one of her teaching sessions as she tries to get her to be obedient.

Annie and Helen violently thrash against one another for almost ten minutes of electrifying footage. It's a shocking and powerful sequence: perhaps the most powerful in the entire production. Even though the scene is disturbing its one that undeniably leaves a strong impression. Both of these talented actresses deserve the great recognition received with their respective performances. Through moments of darkness and light, the undeniable connection between Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller is explored.

"Help! I need someone. Help! Not just anyone."

Arthur Penn (Bonnie and Clyde, Little Big Man) capably directs the feature and brings the story to life with genuine authenticity. The film is a visual powerhouse with great attention to detail throughout. There are many beautiful shots throughout the film (such as the careful framing of eyeglasses) which are symbolic and inspired. The black and white cinematography by Ernesto Caparros (What's So Bad About Feeling Good?) is altogether compelling and the haunting silhouettes enhance the experience. William Gibson (Two for the Seesaw, The Cobweb) adapted the script from his own play and brings remarkably vivid storytelling to life. Adapting a story inspired by true events is no easy task yet the efforts of Gibson leave an indelible mark.

The Miracle Worker stands as a testament to those who fight for the disabled to excel and as a reminder to audiences that these sometimes violent methods of instruction are outdated. Today we have more advanced methods of teaching disabled youth how to learn to communicate (as online innovations continue to grow). While the ending of the film feels cathartic, it is also one which should make modern audiences consider their respective roles in society. We can always do better. The Miracle Worker reminds us. A excellent film.

The Miracle Worker Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Miracle Worker is presented on Blu-ray in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition. The film presentation is in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.66:1 widescreen. There are slight black bars present on the left and right side of the image. This is a generally impressive presentation with exceptional clarity. Detail is highly satisfying and the rich black and white cinematography has a magical quality to it: the cinematography is downright beautiful. 

The release is naturally filmic with nice film grain left intact and no signs of obtrusive DNR to obscure detail. The release does have some minor specks of dirt on the print on occasion. However, the scan is free of distracting scratches. The black levels are impressive and the film looks lovely for the most part. A satisfying presentation.

The Miracle Worker Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented with a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio mono soundtrack. The release preserves the original sound design. Dialogue reproduction is excellent throughout. For the most part this is a satisfying audio track. However, there are some minor imperfections: occasional hiss is on the track and there are a few scenes with (extremely brief) crackling. This shouldn't deter viewers as for the most part this is a excellent reproduction of the mono audio. While it would have been nice to have this audio track be even more pristine, I still feel it was satisfactory (especially when one considers the age of the source elements).

The Miracle Worker Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unfortunately, there are no supplemental materials included on the release of The Miracle Worker. If only the film had its own miracle worker when it comes to extras. (Alas, it did not.)

The Miracle Worker Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Miracle Worker is a compelling Academy Award winning drama with exceptional performances which elevate the material to even greater heights. The cast bring their absolute best to their respective roles and there are many great sequences in the film that are completely engaging from start to finish. Both Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft deserved their respective Oscar wins.

There are many other noteworthy elements of the production (from the effective music score composed by Laurence Rosenthal (Clash of the Titans, The Island of Dr. Moreau) to the elegant costumes from Ruth Morley (Taxi Driver, Tootsie). The Miracle Worker is a well-rounded production.

The Blu-ray release features a excellent scan of the film and a generally pleasing mono audio track. While the release is completely devoid of any supplemental materials (which is a disappointment), the quality of the presentation itself makes the release worthy of consideration for fans of the film. Recommended.