The Miracle Worker is a 1979 American made-for-television biographical film based on the 1959 play of the same title by William Gibson, which originated as a 1957 broadcast of the television anthology series Playhouse 90. Gibson's original source material was The Story of My Life, the 1903 autobiography of Helen Keller. The play was adapted for the screen before, in 1962.

The film is based on the life of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan's struggles to teaching her. It starred Patty Duke (who played Helen Keller in the original 1962 film, for which she won the Oscar) as Annie Sullivan and Melissa Gilbert as Helen Keller. It produced a TV sequel, Helen Keller: The Miracle Continues in 1984.

Plot

Young Helen Keller, blind, deaf, and mute since infancy, is in danger of being sent to an institution. Her inability to communicate has left her frustrated and violent. In desperation, her parents seek help from the Perkins Institute, which sends them a "half-blind Yankee schoolgirl" named Annie Sullivan to tutor their daughter. Through persistence and love, and sheer stubbornness, Annie breaks through Helen's walls of silence and darkness and teaches her to communicate.

Cast

• Melissa Gilbert as Helen Keller
• Patty Duke as Annie Sullivan
• Charles Siebert as Captain Arthur H. Keller
• Diana Muldaur as Kate Adams Keller
• Stanley Wells as James Keller
• Anne Seymour as Aunt Evelyn
• Hilda Haynes as Viney
• Byron Green as Percy
• Noniece Williams as Martha
• Titos Vandis as Anagnos
• Jonathan Gilbert as voice of Jimmy Sullivan (Anne's younger brother who died in childhood while both were living at Tewksberry Hospital Almshouse).

Production

Melissa Gilbert heavily campaigned Meredith Baxter to play the role of Anne Sullivan.^{[citation needed]}

British actress, Lynne Frederick, had expressed interest playing Anne Sullivan. Despite her lengthy and accomplished body of work, the producers told Frederick that she was "far too pretty" for the part.^{[citation needed]}

Patty Duke, who played Anne Sullivan, previously played the role of Helen Keller in the 1962 film of the same title.

Awards and nominations