Miracle Worker [DVD] [2000] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Fans of "Pepsi Girl" Hallie Kate Eisenberg will find her scarcely recognizable as the silent, sullen young Helen Keller. Blind, deaf, and mute, Helen is unable to communicate with her family except through temper tantrums. She is allowed to eat with her hands, tear buttons off the clothes of others, and even knock over the baby's cradle. She is barely pacified with candy and headed toward institutionalization when Annie Sullivan enters her life. Plagued with vision problems of her own and orphaned at a young age, Sullivan has the right mix of steeliness and empathy to turn her young student's behavior around and teach her language. Allison Elliot (The Spitfire Grill) disappears into the role of the teacher whose job is made tougher by Helen's imperious plantation-owner father (David Strathairn) and soft-centered mother when they doubt her authority and challenge her methods. This Disney television remake of the Oscar-winning 1962 original--based on William Gibson's play--lacks some of the emotional impact of its predecessor, especially in the climactic pump scene. Eisenberg often seems a little stiff as the wildcat Helen, but Elliott and the able supporting cast make this 88-minute update worthwhile. Ages 7 and up. --Kimberly HeinrichsProduct DescriptionThis contemporary version of the classic true story stars the acclaimed talents of Hallie Kate Eisenberg (THE INSIDER, BEAUTIFUL, and BICENTENNIAL MAN) as Helen Keller, and Alison Elliot (THE SPITFIRE GRILL, THE WINGS OF THE DOVE) as Annie Sullivan. Helen, who has been unable to speak, hear, or see since childhood, is increasingly difficult to educate, and her parents find Annie Sullivan. Although she is new to teaching, it is through Annie's strong will and unshakable faith that Helen discovers how to survive and thrive in the world through the eyes and ears of others. Your family will love this story of these remarkable American women.

This is a really lovely Disney movie, I caught the last half hour of it on television one day and really wanted to see it from the start so I bought it.My two sons aged 12 and 10 were completely engrossed in the story of 6 year old Helen Keller the little deaf and blind girl who was transformed from an uncontrollable, undisciplined and difficult child into a girl with a thirst for knowledge about the black silent world all around her.It is based on the true story of Helen Keller and her teacher who stayed with Helen her entire life.This movie began lots of conversation about the challenges that such profound disability bring, and made my children think and talk about what it must be like to be deaf and blind.It is also is visually georgous as well - and very well priced!

It will not work on my vidio playerWe couldn't watch it.I was very disappointed.

I didn't know it was a US import. Not clear.

Unable to watch as haven't got right system can only be played in USA. If I had known this I would have brought a different version . So was very sad about this

good movie

DVD läuft einwandfrei! Wunderschöner Film über ein Mädchen, welches sowohl taub als auch blind ist und somit von seiner Umwelt gar nichts wahrnehmen kann. Die überforderten Eltern holen sich Hilfe bei einer Frau, die nicht zimperlich rangeht.

Mi queja es que en la descripción del producto no se aclara que no se puede reproducir este dvd en Zona 2: Europa, que es donde yo lo he comprado, y me obliga a formatear mi reproductor si quiero verla.

This version of the Miracle Worker suffers in no way when being compared to the original Anne Bancroft version. I find that this version is able to show more aspects of Helen's life because it doesn't spend such a long time on the one breakfast scene. The sound quality is far superior. The voices are far easier to listen to (no yelling from the Captain and an easier to catch Irish accent from Annie). The very beautiful realistic surroundings are pleasant to watch. Alison Elliot and Hallie Kate Eisenberg are excellent as Annie and Helen. Their acting involves a more subtle use of facial expression than the original version (developed as a stage play) was able to allow.Speaking simply, this film appeals to modern sensibilities.I teach ESL at the college level. Our students have done a Helen Keller novel study/film tie-in for years, and this film enchants them. The other, which has many, many artistic merits, is not for this situation beyond comparison of interpretation activities.

der film in deutscher sprache- im deutschen fernsehen lief er - ist ein erschütterndes zeugnis über das leben eines kindes, dem die selbstverständlichkeiten - hören und sehen - durch krankheit genommen worden sind.daß dieser phantastische film hier keinem menschen in deutscher sprache zugänglich ist, finde ich höchst bedauerlich. die englische version, die ich mir auf DVD bestellt habe, weil es ja keine deutsche gibt, läuft leider nicht auf einem normalen deutschen abspielgerät. auch das noch!