Everyone other than Bancroft and Duke give pretty miserable performances, but those two are so astounding and central to the film that they more than make up for it. A fantastic story and a very heartwarming film.

The very first lesson, folding a napkin, was a highlight of the movie. Stunningly acted, marvelously edited, directed and choreographed. Bancroft's and a girl's general physicality were intensive and pleased an eye. The story itself draged time to time and it was a bit too melodramatic.

Impressively present for a movie that in every technical aspect seems behind it's time. The story is strong and the physicality of the scenes are intense. Bancroft with her round glasses and Irish accent comes off a little nazi, but her appearance and fanatical determination only helps to ground the rather oppositional decisions of the family she is trying to help. It may not draw upon very universal themes, or arrive at anything but "Tough love is good!", but it's about as solid a drama as any.

anne bancroft can't spell "discipline" lol

Powerful performances here, but never quite works as a movie.

With Penn's direction, it feels like a transition for American cinema. The scenes with the family are shot and acted in the flat, purposeful style of the traditional studio picture. When Bancroft and Duke are alone, though, the film comes to life with physical intensity, as Penn shoots their violent struggles like exploding action sequences, reducing dialogue to gritty, naturalistic grunts and cries. The dream sequences' blown-up graininess is a striking visualization of faded memories, too.

Really intriguing to watch the relationship between Sullivan and Keller and great performances from Bancroft and Duke. Highly recommended.

As some reviewers here wrote, The Miracle Worker really is outstanding in it's physical intensiveness which is exhausting and graceless - and maybe it should be that way. So is the performance of Anne Bancroft which is just, well, plain unpleasant to watch. Patty Duke really gives that uncomportable feeling of her character. I'm just not sure if I like all that straightforward discomfort and melodrama, that treats the subject with emotional brutality and in a heavy-handed manner.

This film has some great scenes with Duke and Bancroft, but then has some idiotic scenes featuring the easily worst actor of the film; Inga Swenson. Furthermore, the film suffers from odd direction, which is then negated by some incredible direction. Honestly, don't expect much, but it should be at least worth a rainy, boring Saturday afternoon.

I am who I am because of this movie. Classic!

There's not much in terms of violence here, but there are great heaps of raw pain -- of not only Helen Keller, but of her family, as they lived in a time when nobody knew what to do with the severely handicapped. Very powerful drama that is harder to watch sometimes than most horror films

In perhaps the best adaptation of this fantastic play, Bancroft and Duke shine equally as the brilliant teacher and her amazingly fast-learning pupil, respectively.

It's a classic. And Anne Bankcroft was a hotty in her day.

Keller's struggle is very well articulated in this film, but it seemed to drag on.