The story of 'half-blind Yankee schoolgirl' Anne Sullivan's struggle to teach young Helen Keller, blind, deaf, and mute since infancy how to communicate.
Anne Bancroft is superb as Annie Sullivan, the teacher who finally reached into Helen Keller's darkness, and Patty Duke is chillingly real as the young Helen.
Potentially soft material is handled with just the right severity; marvelously acted.
EmanuelLevy.Com
December 26, 2010
Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke give intense, powerful Oscar-winning performances in Arthur Penn's successful screen version of the Helen Keller story, based on William Gibson's play.
Portrays a literal war for a girl's soul, making that war so ugly that it's impossibly beautiful.
Common Sense Media
December 28, 2010
Outstanding movie based on life of Helen Keller.
Filmcritic.com
August 14, 2004
Notable not just for its earnestness and two outstanding performances (both won Oscars) -- it's also got one of the longest catfights in cinema history.
Beautiful black-and-white cinematography, startling performances, and harrowing physicality… the cathartic final scene is nothing short of transcendent.