Of course, everyone has their own opinion about the best version of this film.
To me, the 1962 version is the best. Anne Bancroft's performance as Anne Sullivan is nuanced and heartrending. Patty Duke manages to play a feral but brilliant Helen, who expresses rage, joy, fear, and sorrow without language. Even beyond those two, the cast is excellent. Kate is a loving mother, a picture of Southern gentlewomanhood. Captain Keller is the overbearing, short-tempered, but ultimately loving father. James is the contentious son who constantly challenges his father. And the audience can see them slowly coming apart at the seams as their pity for Helen turns her into their lord and master.
I was surprised, watching the 1979 version, how much Patty Duke seemed to pale in comparison to Anne Bancroft as Anne Sullivan. She was still good, but somehow, there was less passion. Less of the obstinance and fury at the world that seemed to drive Bancroft's Sullivan. And Melissa Gilbert seemed afraid to emote as much as Duke had as Helen. In general, the cast seemed less sure of their parts, and much less subtle.
However, both the 1962 and 1979 versions passed the ultimate test: when Anne Sullivan screamed, "She knows!" I wept.
...That I did not cry at the 2000 remake is the greatest of its failures, and I believe it the fault of the script's Disneyfication. All in all, the Disney script lacked the subtlety and nuance of the original. I will the give the benefit of the doubt to the actors involved, but their characters were not what I believe they were supposed to be, having read the original script.
By the time they write to Perkins, the original play describes Kate as being worn and aged by her love for her wild, undisciplined daughter. This Kate is too earnest and optimistic. There is not enough desperation in her. I would say the same of Captain Keller, though I did appreciate that they included the scene where he waits with Helen for Kate to come back with Anne, and he laments the fact that Helen doesn't know he's her father.
I think my biggest character complaint in this version is James. Previous versions of James were sympathetic in their way. He is the son of a forgotten mother, and his little sister is spoiled and pitied while he is constantly chided, no matter what he says or does. ...In this version, he seems cruel and vindictive.
All in all, this version never captures the emotion and weight of the original.
To me, the 1962 version is the best. Anne Bancroft's performance as Anne Sullivan is nuanced and heartrending. Patty Duke manages to play a feral but brilliant Helen, who expresses rage, joy, fear, and sorrow without language. Even beyond those two, the cast is excellent. Kate is a loving mother, a picture of Southern gentlewomanhood. Captain Keller is the overbearing, short-tempered, but ultimately loving father. James is the contentious son who constantly challenges his father. And the audience can see them slowly coming apart at the seams as their pity for Helen turns her into their lord and master.
I was surprised, watching the 1979 version, how much Patty Duke seemed to pale in comparison to Anne Bancroft as Anne Sullivan. She was still good, but somehow, there was less passion. Less of the obstinance and fury at the world that seemed to drive Bancroft's Sullivan. And Melissa Gilbert seemed afraid to emote as much as Duke had as Helen. In general, the cast seemed less sure of their parts, and much less subtle.
However, both the 1962 and 1979 versions passed the ultimate test: when Anne Sullivan screamed, "She knows!" I wept.
...That I did not cry at the 2000 remake is the greatest of its failures, and I believe it the fault of the script's Disneyfication. All in all, the Disney script lacked the subtlety and nuance of the original. I will the give the benefit of the doubt to the actors involved, but their characters were not what I believe they were supposed to be, having read the original script.
By the time they write to Perkins, the original play describes Kate as being worn and aged by her love for her wild, undisciplined daughter. This Kate is too earnest and optimistic. There is not enough desperation in her. I would say the same of Captain Keller, though I did appreciate that they included the scene where he waits with Helen for Kate to come back with Anne, and he laments the fact that Helen doesn't know he's her father.
I think my biggest character complaint in this version is James. Previous versions of James were sympathetic in their way. He is the son of a forgotten mother, and his little sister is spoiled and pitied while he is constantly chided, no matter what he says or does. ...In this version, he seems cruel and vindictive.
All in all, this version never captures the emotion and weight of the original.
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