Formative Performances: Anne Bancroft in “The Miracle Worker”

[The following is a guest post from abovethetitle.]

It’s more trendy to say Bancroft in “The Graduate” (and she would absolutely be worthy for that performance as well) but Bancroft in “The Miracle Worker” marks a point in time in which I was obsessed with all things Helen Keller. With both actresses reprising their theatrical roles, Bancroft and her equally as impressive and formative onscreen partner Patty Duke went toe to toe as teacher and pupil. Of course I had to choose the w-a-t-e-r scene, one of the great moments of humanity ever portrayed in literature, theatre and film. With that one moment, Annie Sullivan was able to open up Helen’s whole world. They both won Oscars.