Fresh
Burt Lancaster delivers a firm, sincere, persuasive and unaffected performance.
Variety Staff, Variety
A Child Is Waiting
Burt Lancaster & Judy Garland take an untouched theme - and make it touching and unforgettable!
1963 · 1h 42m · Approved
Drama
Directed by
John Cassavetes
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A Child Is Waiting
Overview
Dr. Matthew Clark is the head of a state institution for intellectually disabled children. Jean Hansen, a former music teacher anxious to give her life some meaning, joins the staff of the hospital. Jean, who tries to shelter the children with her love, suspiciously regards Dr. Clark's stern training methods. She becomes emotionally involved with 12-year-old Reuben Widdicombe, who has been abandoned by his divorced parents.
Director and cast
- John Cassavetes Director
- Burt Lancaster as Dr. Matthew Clark
- Judy Garland as Jean Hansen
- Gena Rowlands as Sophie Widdicombe Benham
- Steven Hill as Ted Widdicombe
- Paul Stewart as Goodman
- Gloria McGehee as Mattie
- Lawrence Tierney as Douglas Benham
- Bruce Ritchey as Reuben Widdicombe
- John Marley Cast
- Barbara Pepper Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
92%
Tomatometer
Fresh
Flawed but fascinating.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Fresh
One should learn a great deal from this picture -- all of which should be helpful and give hope.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Rotten
John Cassavetes takes a shot at straight commercial filmmaking (1963), and the results are a little wide of the mark.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
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