by MGM /UA Home Video
Sales Rank: 1805
Price: $19.98
This 1963 film, directed by John Cassavetes, features Judy Garland's last dramatic performance. She plays a teacher at an institution for the retarded who ultimately can't contain her own urge to help, to the detriment of her young charges. Burt Lancaster gives a strong performance as the head of the institution, trying to balance fiscal responsibility and administrative duties with a caring nature. But it's a constant struggle between the urge to do the right thing and the politics of an uncaring state. One of Cassavetes's most mainstream efforts, it includes actual handicapped children as extras, which was considered daring at the time. <I>--Marshall Fine</I>
Viewer Reviews "A Child Is Waiting" is one of the very best Judy Garland films. It is an affirming story with powerful performances and a well-rounded script that doesn't preach or go off in the deep yonder like so many films during this time period are known to do. Perhaps the reason why the film is so unappreciated and subsequently unknown is because Judy doesn't sing and dance and isn't glamorous.
Instead Miss Garland plays against type as the female lead Jean Hansen, brought on board to be a teaching assistant in a school for develop mentally delayed children. Judy has such a powerful presence in each and every one of her scenes because she is absolute and this viewer can tell that she wholeheartedly believed in the cause and the plight of these children.
Burt Lancaster was equally brilliant as the staff doctor who oversaw the school. During the first maybe half of the movie Dr. Clark and Miss Hansen were at odds. And that's why this is probably Judy Garland's most defining picture ever. Because she was the quintessential patron saint.
Miss Hansen had so much love and sympathy and sorrow for this little boy whose parents literally threw him away. When she weeps for this poor child the audience can see that she is really and sincerely hurt. But as Dr. Clark eloquently displayed to Miss Hansen these children do not need a martyr to weep for them, they need someone to teach them how to be responsible and upstanding people.
As I stated there isn't another movie that I can think of from Miss Garland's very long and impressive film resume that comes close to the emotions displayed in this picture. That is because Judy Garland was truly no different from the child she was trying most to protect. She knew what it was like to be thrown away and she knew what it was to be society's victim. She knew how cruel and heartless this world is.
In a way it does surprise me that Judy wasn't nominated for an Oscar. But again that's probably because the popular audience wasn't ready to see Judy in such a dramatic or common role.
This movie is sometimes shown on Retroplex. If you're interested in seeing another powerful film that goes against the norm then I also recommend "The Sterile Cuckoo" with Liza. "A Child Is Waiting" is an important movie because it articulates what could happen if we don't treat people like people. And I know it can happen if we let our emotions get the better of us.
