Retro Review: A Child is Waiting

The boyfriend and I were flipping channels the other day and happened upon the film A Child is Waiting from 1963 starting Judy Garland and Burt Lancaster. We were both confused as to what type of movie it was from the opening credits. I actually thought it was a psychological thriller because there were children singing a creepy song while on screen were dark pictures that children had drawn. As soon as the credits finished we realized that the film was about children with disabilities living in an institution.

My curiosity was immediately piqued because I have worked with people with special needs and have seen the discrimination that they face. I was curious as to how this forty-six year old movie would deal with it. And the result was fairly well. Jean Hansen (Garland) is a thirty something lost single woman trying to find her place in the world. She is both vulnerable and strong. She becomes very attached to a young boy named Rueben played brilliantly by Bruce Ritchey. Rueben is a child who feels abandoned by his parents and doesn't fit in with his peers at the institution. He takes to Miss Hansen right away. However, Dr. Clark (Lancaster) is concerned. The onscreen chemistry between Garland and Lancaster is palpable. They both believe that they have Rueben's best interest at heart.

I really enjoyed this movie minus a few moments. The acting was extraordinary. It of course was dated with its treatment of people with disabilities, but for the time it did really well at showing the struggles that people with special needs face. I was disturbed by the use of the word "defective" used to describe Rueben. "Retarded" was used but purely in a medical aspect. I also could have done without the children basket weaving every time they were in the arts studio. The one thing that really bothered me was a shift in attitude by Garland near the end of the film with little explanation.

All in all this is a worthy watch and I give it 3.5/5 Studebakers.