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A Child Is Waiting

  • 1963
  • Approved
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
4K
YOUR RATING
Judy Garland, Burt Lancaster, and Bruce Ritchey in A Child Is Waiting (1963)
Psychologist Dr. Matthew Clark is the head of the Crawthorne State Training Institute, one of the first boarding schools for developmentally challenged children. Dr. Clark is sympathetic but demanding of his teachers and students. His approach of tough love is controversial. He takes a chance at hiring former aspiring concert pianist Jean Hansen as the school's music teacher, Miss Hansen who has no background in nursing, teaching or dealing with the developmentally challenged. She herself is trying to find her own place in life. She immediately bonds with autistic student Reuben Widdicombe, who she sees as needing special attention in light of his parents having not visited him since they enrolled him in the school two years earlier. The Widdicombes divorced shortly thereafter because of the pressures their relationship faced in dealing with Reuben. Dr. Clark sees Reuben as the type of child the most difficult with which to deal: Reuben understands just enough to realize that he is different and is often being rejected. Miss Hansen and Dr. Clark disagree on how best to get through to Reuben. Although Dr. Clark admits that his methods have not worked with Reuben, he also does not believe that Miss Hansen's approach of undivided attention is the answer. Through getting to know the Widdicombe's reasons for not visiting and she herself seeing the life of the adult disabled, Miss Hansen comes to an understanding of how she feels she can best help her students, Reuben included.
Play trailer2:46
1 Video
33 Photos
Psychological DramaDrama

A teacher and a psychologist work with children at an institute for the mentally-imparied.A teacher and a psychologist work with children at an institute for the mentally-imparied.A teacher and a psychologist work with children at an institute for the mentally-imparied.

  • Director
    • John Cassavetes
  • Writer
    • Abby Mann
  • Stars
    • Burt Lancaster
    • Judy Garland
    • Gena Rowlands
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Cassavetes
    • Writer
      • Abby Mann
    • Stars
      • Burt Lancaster
      • Judy Garland
      • Gena Rowlands
    • 60User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:46
    Trailer

    Photos33

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    Top Cast26

    Burt Lancaster
    Burt Lancaster
    • Dr. Matthew Clark
    Judy Garland
    Judy Garland
    • Jean Hansen
    Gena Rowlands
    Gena Rowlands
    • Sophie Widdicombe
    Steven Hill
    Steven Hill
    • Ted Widdicombe
    Paul Stewart
    Paul Stewart
    • Goodman
    Gloria McGehee
    Gloria McGehee
    • Mattie
    Lawrence Tierney
    Lawrence Tierney
    • Douglas Benham
    Bruce Ritchey
    Bruce Ritchey
    • Reuben Widdicombe
    John Marley
    John Marley
    • Holland
    Bill Mumy
    Bill Mumy
    • Boy Counting Jean's Pearls
    • (as Billy Mumy)
    John Walker
    Elizabeth Wilson
    Elizabeth Wilson
    • Miss Fogarty
    Jim Backus
    Jim Backus
    • Hot Dog Vendor
    • (uncredited)
    John Cassavetes
    John Cassavetes
    • Retarded Adult Who Walks Toward Camera
    • (unconfirmed)
    • (uncredited)
    Marilyn Clark
    Marilyn Clark
      Brian Corcoran
      • Lewis
      • (uncredited)
      Fred Draper
      Fred Draper
      • Dr. Sack
      • (uncredited)
      Mario Gallo
      Mario Gallo
      • Dr. Ernie Lombardi
      • (uncredited)
      • Director
        • John Cassavetes
      • Writer
        • Abby Mann
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews60

      7.23.9K
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      Summary

      Reviewers say 'A Child Is Waiting' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

      Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
      Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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      Related interests

      Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
      Psychological Drama
      Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
      Drama

      Storyline

      Did you know

      • Trivia
        Director John Cassavetes and Producer Stanley Kramer had many creative/economic differences and during the editing phase, Cassavetes was fired.
      • Goofs
        Fourteen minutes in, the teacher asks "What time is it when the big hand is on the six and the little hand is on the twelve?" and a student answers "six o'clock" (which is incorrect), though when the camera pans to the blackboard, the big hand is on the twelve and the little hand is pointing to six (which is correct).
      • Quotes
        • Dr. Matthew Clark: I think you can find what you're looking for here, Miss Hansen. Because it's not what you can do for these children; it's what they can do for you.
      • Crazy credits
        Following the last name in the cast list (Elizabeth Wilson) are the words "and The Children".
      • Alternate versions
        The 1990 VHS has black and white versions of the MGM/UA Communications Co. and 1987 United Artists logos.
      • Connections
        Featured in Edge of Outside (2006)
      • Soundtracks
        Snowflakes
        Written by Marjorie D. Kurtz
        Performed Judy Garland

      Top picks

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      FAQ6

      • Is 'A Child is Waiting' based on a book?
      • What is this movie about?
      • Does Judy Garland sing in this movie?

      Details

      • Release date
        • January 11, 1963 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Ein Kind wartet
      • Filming locations
        • Lanterman Development Center - 3530 W Pomona Blvd, Pomona, California, USA(known as Pacific State Hospital at the time - closed 2015)
      • Production company
        • Stanley Kramer Productions
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      • Budget
        • $2,000,000 (estimated)
      • Gross worldwide
        • $1,675
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      • Runtime
        • 1h 42m(102 min)
      • Color
        • Black and White
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.66 : 1

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