Jean Hansen joins the staff at a state training institution for developmentally challenged children. When she disagrees with teaching methods used for a 12-year-old autistic boy, the princip... Read allJean Hansen joins the staff at a state training institution for developmentally challenged children. When she disagrees with teaching methods used for a 12-year-old autistic boy, the principal does not believe her approach is the answer.Jean Hansen joins the staff at a state training institution for developmentally challenged children. When she disagrees with teaching methods used for a 12-year-old autistic boy, the principal does not believe her approach is the answer.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
- Boy Counting Jean's Pearls
- (as Billy Mumy)
- Hot Dog Vendor
- (uncredited)
- Retarded Adult Who Walks Toward Camera
- (unconfirmed)
- (uncredited)
- Lewis
- (uncredited)
- Dr. Sack
- (uncredited)
- Dr. Ernie Lombardi
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDirector John Cassavetes and Producer Stanley Kramer had many creative/economic differences and during the editing phase, Cassavetes was fired.
- GoofsFourteen minutes in, the teacher asks "What time is it when the big hand is on the six and the little hand is on the twelve?" and a student answers "six o'clock" (which is incorrect), though when the camera pans to the blackboard, the big hand is on the twelve and the little hand is pointing to six (which is correct).
- Quotes
Dr. Matthew Clark: I think you can find what you're looking for here, Miss Hansen. Because it's not what you can do for these children; it's what they can do for you.
- Crazy creditsFollowing the last name in the cast list (Elizabeth Wilson) are the words "and The Children".
- ConnectionsFeatured in Edge of Outside (2006)
Burt Lancaster plays a doctor who runs the institution in the film. In some ways, he's very likable and committed and in others he's a very hard individual. He hires a new teacher for the place--an inexperienced by well-meaning lady (Judy Garland). At first, things seem to go well but when the two disagree on how to handle a particularly troubled kid, sparks start to fly. This boy has been abandoned by his family and they never visit him--and Garland is determined to do something to get him to open up and become a happier and higher-functioning resident. She also wants to give her love to the boy. But for Lancaster, pity is not on his agenda--he wants to toughen up the kids--to force them to respond to his less cuddly ways.
For me, the story about the one boy is not all that important. To me, what's important is the insight it gives in the treatment and education of developmentally delayed kids--and to show how it was done long ago. to psychology majors, those who work in the field or anyone who lives with and loves someone with developmental delays, it's well worth seeing. A very good film--and you might want to keep a box of Kleenex handy just in case.
By the way, one of the kids in the institution was played by Billy Mumy--the same kid who later starred on "Lost in Space" and as an adult on "Babylon 5"--and played the scary kid with freaky powers on "The Twilight Zone". Barbara Pepper who played 'Doris Zipfel' on "Green Acres" plays one of the teachers. Also, Steven Hill plays the disturbed boy's neglectful and rather angry father. He played the original lead on "Mission:Impossible" as well as the original District Attorney on "Law & Order". Finally, this was one of Judy Garland's last films. In 1963, she made this as well as "I Could Go On Singing" before dying so tragically young.
- planktonrules
- Apr 17, 2011
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Ein Kind wartet
- Filming locations
- Lanterman Development Center - 3530 W Pomona Blvd, Pomona, California, USA(known as Pacific State Hospital at the time - closed 2015)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $2,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1