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IMDbPro

A Circle of Children

  • TV Movie
  • 1977
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
133
YOUR RATING
A Circle of Children (1977)
Drama

A teacher at a school for emotionally disturbed children takes an interest in one particular child who doesn't talk but emits a stream of gibberish.A teacher at a school for emotionally disturbed children takes an interest in one particular child who doesn't talk but emits a stream of gibberish.A teacher at a school for emotionally disturbed children takes an interest in one particular child who doesn't talk but emits a stream of gibberish.

  • Director
    • Don Taylor
  • Writers
    • Steve Gethers
    • Mary Mac Cracken
  • Stars
    • Jane Alexander
    • Rachel Roberts
    • David Ogden Stiers
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    133
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Don Taylor
    • Writers
      • Steve Gethers
      • Mary Mac Cracken
    • Stars
      • Jane Alexander
      • Rachel Roberts
      • David Ogden Stiers
    • 6User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos4

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    Top cast33

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    Jane Alexander
    Jane Alexander
    • Mary MacCracken
    Rachel Roberts
    Rachel Roberts
    • Helga
    David Ogden Stiers
    David Ogden Stiers
    • Dan Franklin
    Nan Martin
    Nan Martin
    • Doris Fleming
    Matthew Labyorteaux
    Matthew Labyorteaux
    • Brian O'Connell
    • (as Matthew Laborteaux)
    Christopher West
    • Janis
    Niki Dantine
    Niki Dantine
    • Betty
    Frances Stevenson
    • Ellen
    Peter Brandon
    • Larry MacCracken
    Susan Pratt
    Susan Pratt
    • Elizabeth
    Laura Campbell
    • Mrs. Johnson
    Judy Lewis
    Judy Lewis
    • Mrs. O'Connell
    Ray Buktenica
    Ray Buktenica
    • Doctor Marino
    Pearl Shear
    Pearl Shear
    • Mrs. Grady
    William Tregoe
    • Art Dealer
    Sarah Jane Miller
    • Sylvia
    Virgil Curry
    • Trooper No. 1
    Gary T. New
    • Trooper No. 2
    • (as Gary New)
    • Director
      • Don Taylor
    • Writers
      • Steve Gethers
      • Mary Mac Cracken
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews6

    7.4133
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    Featured reviews

    8elo-equipamentos

    A forgotten Gem about humanity and kindness over so special children, an uplifting picture!!

    This thematic movie A circle of Children is a remake of "A Children is Waiting" starring by the star Judy Garland, this TV-Movie was re-titled in Brazil as "O Amor é Mais Forte" whereof I had watched at my Parent's house in my teenager years, now I've dare say that found it boring and slow pace feature, revisiting it at Youtube in English audio as subtitled neither, now a mature brain it sounds to me fully opposite, reassessing the picture I've lift it to high level in such poignant story over autistic that were left behind in the school for emotionally disturbed children by his agog biological parents who does not enough able or patient to dealing for with so special ones.

    The story starts when a sad housewife Mary MacCracken (Jane Alexander) has been passed for rough patch with her marriage, in order the fill in her existential emptiness, she make a visit at special school that dealing with special children, arriving there seeing those littles one is disturbance, Mary decides becomes a volunteer, henceforth she even inexperienced tries help in any manner often bumping into a native German nurse Helga (Rachel Roberts) in harshly way, Mary is supported by the Headmistress Doris Fleming and by the confirmed bachelor Dan Franklin (a young David Ogden Stiers already bald)

    Out of the blue appears a new boy left at school's front door Brian O'Connell (Matthew Labyorteaux) who speak indistinguishable at first glance, Mary getting attached with Brian slowing got his reliance, wondering how she'll tries handle Brian freely speak which he finds out fun speaking at microphone of tape recorder, Mary tries interacts with Helga, however has a natural language barrier on technical terms, then Mary figures out that put those some hard lines on the tape recorder, aiming for in slow time speed Helga memorizes such hard words, unwittingly by making it the old taped in slow time speed expose the Brian's speech, Mary finds out an astonishing discovery that will changes Brian for good, meanwhile Mary's private life is getting worst due his husband requires a divorce, sharply pained Mary grabs in those special children to go ahead.

    Suddenly a mutual interest raises between Mary and the friendly Dan Franklin, a dinner comes and a chat over their sole lives, perhaps there something at sight, in the meantime the relationship with Helga get a small enhancement each other, among all these events Mary is willing to stay continuously at service as school teacher, Jane Alexander delivers all she can in this thematic picture, which lays out just expose a life as it really is on these special children that suffer of autism, no art movie, no happy ending, no best photography, please no expect nothing like this listed above, it's an uplifting picture that gained a sequel on the follow year.

    Thanks for reading.

    Resume:

    First watch: 1978 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 8.
    10bjrlk

    LIFTS THE HEART MOVIE

    This is an excellent old movie that our family enjoyed many times. All I can say is too bad it is not showing today. My son and I watched this movie every time it came on. He was about 7 or 8 yrs old at the time. The movie is the story of a little boy who talks in the form of jibberish. Thought to be retarded, a teacher takes an interest in him & the results are amazing. Can't tell more, would give away the story. See it if possible.
    kmacph

    You might want to grab some tissues

    This is by far one of the best t.v. movies I have ever seen. I saw A Circle of Children for the first time when I was about 7 years old. It proves that special needs children can do anything they choose to if people would just take time and have patience with them while they learn. I highly recommend seeing this movie if you ever get the chance. I would love to see it again.
    9Texaswondergirl

    Amazing movie

    One of the best movies about special needs children ever. As a special ed teacher, I particularly love movies like this. The acting is good for a 70s movie. It is one of the movies that I saw as a child that inspired me to teach special needs children. It is based on the book, a Circle of Children. Mary McCracken begins as a volunteer in a harsh teachers special ed classroom. At first all she seems to do is cause problems with the children. However over time she becomes very attached to the children and begins to make a real Difference in their lives. One of the best parts is when she discovers the way a young boy (Albert from Little House on the Prairie ) is trying to communicate.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Featured in The 29th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      A Circle of Children
      Music by Steve Hines

      Lyrics by Steve Gethers (as Steven Gethers)

      Sung by Carmen McRae

      Original Music Copyright 1976 by Twentieth Century Music Corp. and Fox Fanfare Music, Inc.

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 10, 1977 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Circle Street of Children
    • Production companies
      • Edgar Scherick Productions
      • 20th Century Fox Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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