The Miracle Worker

When i was about seven years old, I read a fascinating book, unusual for me considering I wasn't really much for reading books (and still aren't). I read this one several times, mostly for the story but also for two very secret codes that no one else knew. I learned them to the extent that throughout my schooling, I could use either one of them quite proficiently. One of the codes was Braille, the other was the Manual Alphabet. The name of the book was "the story of Helen Keller". It also gave me a lifetime of wanting to learn the entire American Sign Language. It would take fifteen years after first reading the book, but I would eventually learn some of this amazing language.

Now we jump to a time two years ago. My boss at the time, a truck driver and breeder of Great Danes, knowing I was very much an animal lover, asked if I'd be interested in taking a deaf female great dane he'd rescued from another breeder. The four month old puppy, a beautiful version of the coloring known as Harlequin, needed patience and extensive training. After several weeks working with her virtually every free moment, I was going to do something I'd never once considered: I was going to give up on another living creature. I wasn't getting through. Nothing was working. I was getting truly frustrated because she didn't seem to be catching on. I was seriously considering sending her back to my boss, who would find her another home. Maybe I and Evony weren't supposed to connect... I told my mom of this plan, and she, the one who taught me my love of animals, asked me to give the puppy just a little while longer.

It was while I was sitting in the living room shortly after that, checking the schedule of the satellite TV that I noticed the title "the miracle worker". Very familiar to the story of Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller (favorite book, remember), I switched it over to the movie. I watched it, taping it at the same time, then sat there a long time afterward. One idea of the movie stayed with me: If Annie Sullivan gave up, she was Helen Keller's last chance. Helen would be sent to an insane asylum (a common practise at the time for severely/multiple handicapped people). If, throughout the conflict, she had let go of that little hand, Helen Keller would have been just another sightless, soundless face in an asylum, instead of a leader and inspiration to all. Annie was the only one who saw intelligence behind those sightless eyes. She just had to get through to it. I looked at Evony, the puppy I had considered naming Helen or Keller, in honor of Helen Keller, and knew I couldn't give up and let go of that little hand...

Evony is now a two and a half year old, happy, healthy (36 inches at the shoulder, 150 pounds!) dog. Without any knowledge of signals used by dog trainers, I taught her American Sign Language. Her vocabulary is now sixteen signed commands. She adores anyone she meets, favorite is the kids who are fascinated by this giant white dog. When they ask if they can pet her, I request that they approach from the front so she can see them, because she can't hear. Then their fascination grows: a deaf dog. Adults are amazed that this huge dog, the personification of affection, understands American Sign Language. My answer is the same: "She's very intelligent. Just took some patience..." Do I see myself as a male Annie Sullivan, teaching a canine Helen Keller to lead the world? No. Her mission is to teach everyone to get along, and that they should all stop and pet large white dogs whenever possible. She does prove, however, what is possible when you're inspired. What a mistake I may have made, if not for this movie airing when it did.

I came across the video of this movie and had to rent it. The story of "The Miracle Worker" is timeless and is always worth a look. This version, however, absolutely PALES to the 1962 version! Hallie Kate Eisenberg seemed too calm, especially during the so-called temper tantrums which were unconvincing, not to mention that her clothes made her look more like a polished doll. She seems too cutesy with the ruffles and bows and dimples and would have fared better in a remake of a Shirley Temple classic. The only performance really worth seeing is that of Alison Elliott who did an excellent job portraying Annie Sullivan, complete with the Irish brogue done to a "T". Nevertheless, if you really want to see a more accurate version of this movie, rent the version from 1962 with INCREDIBLE performances by Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke, who was nothing short of OUTSTANDING in her portrayal of Helen Keller - totally believable!

This is a wonderful film and the best version of the Miracle Worker I've seen by far. Hallie Kate Eisenberg is a wonderful actress, cute and unlike the Olsen Twins, actually seems to study and rehearse her lines and role. She was extremely convincing, though perhaps a little too tame at times, in her role as young Helen Keller. I hope there are to be good things in store for her in the future!

I have enjoyed both of the earlier versions of The Miracle Worker so much so that I wanted to see this one. While the performance by Alison Elliott as Anne Sullivan was very well done, she was handicapped by the watered down dialogue and tension between her character and that of Helen. For someone who has never seen either the 1962 version with Anne Bancroft as Anne and Patty Duke as Helen or the 1979 version with Patty Duke as Anne and Melissa Gilbert as Helen (which is my favorite - probably because I saw it first), this version may be enjoyable, but I found it to be deflatingly understated. If you have seen either of the earlier renditions, do not expect the dramatic scenes to be as emotional or the dialogue to be as effective in this latest remake.

I came across this remake of the 1962 classic with Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke on WE television and was very, very impressed, both with Hallie Eisenberg, who played Helen, and with Allison Elliott, who played Annie Sullivan. I had, of course, seen the original black and white, but was pleasantly surprised with this remake of the original film. Hallie is an amazing young actress. It was beautifully filmed as well, and I always enjoy seeing David Strathairn, who played Helen's father. What an amazing story of the relationship between Helen Keller and the woman who taught her how to relate to the world around her, even those this child was locked in darkness without sight, sound or speech. A beautiful, moving remake with wonderful acting.