A CHILD IS WAITING

US, 1963, 104 minutes, Black and white.
Burt Lancaster, Judy Garland, Gena Rowlands, Steven Hill, Paul Stewart, Lawrence Tierney, John Marley, Elizabeth Wilson, Bill Mumy.
Directed by John Cassavetes.

A Child is Waiting is one of the earliest films by John Cassavetes. An experimental film-maker, he achieved a great reputation during the 70s and 80s, especially with such films as A Woman Under the Influence, Opening Night, many of his films with his wife of many decades, Gena Rowlands. She also appears in this film. However, this is a commercial film made under the production banner of Stanley Kramer who eventually removed John Cassavetes from the film. However, it is a tough film, in the Cassavetes vein, written by Abby Mann (who wrote Judgment at Nuremberg and Ship of Fools at this period).

While Burt Lancaster is credible as the doctor, it is Judy Garland as a young woman who comes to an institution to work with children who is surprising. It shows what might have been had Judy Garland been allowed to develop her talents as an actress as she grew older. However, this was frustrated with her death.

The film was quite moving, especially in the light of the early 1960s, in its presentation of children in institutions, dealing with the mentally impaired, the theorising about what were the best methods for dealing with the children, how much compassion and affection there should be compared with rigorous discipline. The film is a precursor of many later films about mentally impaired people – which later became star vehicles for such actors as Dustin Hoffman in Rainman and Robert de Niro in Awakenings.

1. The evocative title and audience response? The expectations for this film at the box-office? The purpose for its being made?

2. Comment on the motivation for making a film like this for popular consumption. What is the expected effect on audiences? Sympathy and understanding of the plight of the children?

3. The importance of the black and white photography, the documentary-like presentation of people and places? The music, the use of popular stars? The sentiment involved in the presentation?

4. Comment on the credit sequences and the drawings. People's reaction to the children? People’s reaction to retardation? The motivation to help? The question of 'what is normality?’?

5. The film’s focus on Reuben for understanding the plight of the children and the problems? The impact of the preparations? Picturing people's hostile attitudes towards him and his hostile attitude towards others? concerning him during the film, their occurrence, illustrating the nature of the institution and its work?

6. How important was it that the audience saw the institution through Jean’s eyes? Learning about it through her experience: her arrival, meeting the staff, visiting the classes, asking questions, the picnic etc.? Her being hurt by the doctor's treatment of Reuben? The sentiment behind her behaviour? Her making mistakes and deep mistakes? Her learning through this experience? How was the film a learning experience for the staff?

7. The presentation of Doctor Clark and his ideals: his background in psychiatry, his personal story, his manner of running the institution, his meetings and his methods? His attitudes and dealings with Reuben? His dealings with Jean?

8. What kind of person was Jean? Her lonely background, her wanting to do good and make something of her life etc.? Her dependence on Reuben and his dependence on her, her being shifted from the house, her getting in touch with the parents, her experience of her mistake and its effect on Reuben, her ability to redeem the situation?

9. The presentation of the other teachers, the kind of help that they gave to the children, the doctors?

10. The contrast with the administrators, their inspection of the institutions, the crises, Doctor Clark, their wanting tangible results? The film’s comment on their attitudes?

11. How important were the details of the children and their way of life? In the classroom, at meals, on visiting days, with their relations? What incidents beet illustrated their life in the institution?

12. The details on Reuben's files, their visualization by flashback? The attitude of the mother and what she did wrong in Reuben's regard, the father? The crisis for the family, force? The trauma of Reuben's being left at the institution?

13. This contrasting with the visit and the trauma for Reuben ? Why was he so afraid? The effect on him?

14. The thanksgiving celebration and the happiness and the possibility of some growth? Audience response to this?

15. How pessimistic was the film about retarded children, the optimism about the quality of human life? The attitudes, Doctor Clark’s philosophy of running the institution?

16. The film as a contribution to humane understanding of the quality of life?