A Child Is Waiting

A Child Is Waiting is a 1963 American drama film written by Abby Mann based on his 1957 Westinghouse Studio One teleplay of the same name. The film was produced by Stanley Kramer and directed by John Cassavetes. Burt Lancaster portrays the director of a state institution for children with intellectual disabilities or who were emotionally disturbed, and Judy Garland is a new teacher who challenges his methods. Plot Jean Hansen, a Juilliard graduate, joins the staff of the Crawthorne State Mental Hospital and immediately clashes with the director, Dr. Matthew Clark, about his strict training methods. She becomes emotionally involved with 12-year-old Reuben Widdicombe, and is certain his attitude will improve if he is reunited with the divorced parents who abandoned him. She sends for Mrs. Widdicombe, who agrees with the doctor's opinion that it would be best if Reuben doesn't see her, but as she leaves the grounds, her son sees her and chases her car. Distraught, he runs away from the school. Dr. Clark finds him and brings him back the following morning, and Jean offers to resign. Clark asks her to stay and continue her rehearsals for the Thanksgiving pageant. On the day of the show, Reuben's father Ted, arrives, having decided to enroll him in a private school. When he hears Reuben recite a poem and positively react to the audience's applause, he decides to leave him in the care of Jean, who is asked to welcome a new boy to the institution by Dr. Clark. Cast Burt Lancaster as Dr. Matthew Clark Judy Garland as Jean Hansen Gena Rowlands as Sophie Widdicombe Benham Steven Hill as Ted Widdicombe Lawrence Tierney as Douglas Benham Bruce Ritchey as Reuben Widdicombe John Marley as Holland Paul Stewart as Goodman Elizabeth Wilson as Miss Fogarty Barbara Pepper as Miss Brown Keith and Kerry Simon as infant Reuben Billy Mumy as boy counting Jean's pearls Juanita Moore as Julius' Mother