Based on William Gibson's Broadway play and retaining its acclaimed cast,
Arthur Penn's The Miracle Worker tells the true story of Helen Keller (
Patty Duke), an Alabama girl struck blind and deaf as a baby after an elevated fever. Enter Annie Sullivan (
Anne Bancroft), a partially-blind woman assigned the task of teaching Helen sign language. After first separating Helen from her over-protective parents (
Victor Jory and
Inga Swenson), Annie begins the arduous process of teaching the girl. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide