The Miracle Worker (1979 film)

The Miracle Worker is a 1979 American made-for-television biographical film based on the 1959 play of the same title by William Gibson, which originated as a 1957 broadcast of the television anthology series Playhouse 90. Gibson's original source material was The Story of My Life, the 1903 autobiography of Helen Keller. The play was adapted for the screen before, in 1962.

The Miracle Worker
Genre	Drama
Based on	The Miracle Worker by William Gibson
Screenplay by	William Gibson
Directed by	Paul Aaron
Starring	Melissa Gilbert Patty Duke Charles Siebert Stanley Wells Diana Muldaur
Music by	Billy Goldenberg
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Sandy Gallin Raymond Katz
Producer	Fred Coe
Production locations	Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California
Cinematography	Ted Voigtlander
Editor	Gerald Lee Taylor
Running time	98 minutes
Production company	Half-Pint Productions
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	October 14, 1979 (1979-10-14)

The film is based on the life of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan's struggles to teaching her. It starred Patty Duke (who played Helen Keller in the original 1962 film, for which she won the Oscar) as Annie Sullivan and Melissa Gilbert as Helen Keller. It produced a TV sequel, Helen Keller: The Miracle Continues in 1984.

Plot

Young Helen Keller, deafblind and mute since infancy, is in danger of being sent to an institution. Her inability to communicate has left her frustrated and violent. In desperation, her parents seek help from the Perkins Institute, which sends them a "half-blind Yankee schoolgirl" named Annie Sullivan to tutor their daughter. Through persistence and love, and sheer stubbornness, Annie breaks through Helen's walls of silence and darkness and teaches her to communicate.

Cast

• Melissa Gilbert as Helen Keller
• Patty Duke as Annie Sullivan
• Charles Siebert as Captain Arthur H. Keller
• Diana Muldaur as Kate Adams Keller
• Stanley Wells as James Keller
• Anne Seymour as Aunt Evelyn
• Hilda Haynes as Viney
• Byron Green as Percy
• Noniece Williams as Martha
• Titos Vandis as Anagnos
• Jonathan Gilbert as voice of Jimmy Sullivan (Anne's younger brother who died in childhood while both were living at Tewksberry Hospital Almshouse).

Production

Melissa Gilbert heavily campaigned Meredith Baxter to play the role of Anne Sullivan.

British actress, Lynne Frederick, had expressed interest playing Anne Sullivan. Despite her lengthy and accomplished body of work, the producers told Frederick that she was "far too pretty" for the part.

Patty Duke, who played Anne Sullivan, previously played Helen Keller in the 1962 film of the same title.

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of accolades received by The Miracle Worker

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
1979	American Cinema Editors Awards	Best Edited Television Special	Gerald Lee Taylor	Nominated
1980	Directors Guild of America Awards	Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Specials/Movies for TV/Actuality	Paul Aaron	Nominated
	Golden Globe Awards	Best Television Film		Nominated
	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Drama or Comedy Special	Fred Coe, Sandy Gallin, and Raymond Katz	Won
		Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special	Patty Duke	Won
			Melissa Gilbert	Nominated
		Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or a Special	Ted Voigtlander	Nominated
		Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling	Larry Germain and Donna Barrett Gilbert	Won

See also

• The Miracle Worker (2000 film)
• Black (2005 film)
• List of films featuring the deaf and hard of hearing

External links

• The Miracle Worker at IMDb
• The Miracle Worker at AllMovie
• The Miracle Worker at the TCM Movie Database