One of John Cassavetes earlier directed classics, it is one of the very few times we get to see Judy Garland the actress and not Judy Garland the little girl. There is not sweet eye candy in this movie. Everything hits you in this movie! One hard hitting blow after another. Its personal direction, the original story, and some of the best acting from both Judy Garland and Burt Lancaster. A relic of a movie, you don't see too many classic like these. An enjoyment, a true taste of the human soul. It is forever an amazing film for the simple reason in the story's message of hope.

I saw this movie because many said Judy Garland was excellent in it. I thought, though, it'd be boring or stupid because it was going to be more artistic, like Audrey Hepburn's "A Nun's Story" (major dissappointment) but I couldn't have been more wrong. Judy stars is this with Burt Lancaster of course but the real star of the movie is Bruce Ritchey, who plays a mentally challenged boy. Jean Hansen (Garland) wants more in her life and gets the job as a music teacher for the mentally challenged children at an institution. Dr. Clark (Lancaster) is a physchologist with very controversial methods of getting the children to behave. Hansen falls in love with one of the boys, not romantically but more on a nurturing basis. He returns her love and they become the best of friends and inseperable. This worries Dr. Clark. He doesn't want to see the boy get hurt...Or more Ms. Hansen get hurt. He knows that "Love isn't enough" and in a very compelling, tear jerking scene, he shares this little tip with Ms. Hansen. This movie is wonderful. I think that Ms. Garland became more beautiful with each passing year. She was fantastic. Mr. Lancaster, too, was excellent as was the woman who playe Reuban's mother. This got an 8/10. I suggest that any Judy Garland fan see it. It took a lot for her to do this picture.

It's not difficult to be alternately touched and depressed over this social drama that is arguably the most important film that Judy Garland ever made. As a mother of three (two of them within the age range of children here), she thrived on the love and support from them in the most difficult of times. Over a decade before this film was made, part of her cure was the unconditional love she received from similarly diagnosed children as there are here, particularly one who became highly emotional as she prepared to leave. This is a fictional walk back to her past as her character joins the staff of a special children's school, and instantly becomes involved in the life of the sweet natured Bruce Ritchey who takes a shine to her just by looking into her eyes.

As the head of the school, Burt Lancaster is initially reluctant to hire the untrained Garland, but thanks to his assistant (Elizabeth Wilson) agrees to give her a shot. His unorthodox methods shock her, and her almost obsessive love for these children, especially Ritchey. An awkwardly narrated flashback (featuring Gena Rowlands and Steven Hill as his parents) explains the circumstances surrounding his condition. Lancaster goes from being cold and demanding one moment to understanding in others. He's definitely a complex and conflicted man, unsure of the troubled soul that makes Garland latch onto Ritchey, creating for some tense moments and incredible acting from both. The direction of rising independent director John Cassavetes gives this a unique feeling, practically perfect in every way. It's ironic that he was disappointed in the editing of the film, because other than one or two sequences, it flows perfectly naturally. Wife Rowlands gets an amazing sequence with Garland where she reveals her true feelings concerning her son, something I'm sure many parents in this position can relate to.

Don't expect a light hearted moment from Judy to lead into song, even though she does briefly sing one song acapella, altering her voice not to sound like a professional, as well as participate in a chorus with the amazing children she's surrounded by. She's a vast quotient of issues, and delivers a most subtle performance, while Lancaster is as passionate here even in his own conflicts as he was in "Elmer Gantry". This is a difficult film to be inspired to even attempt to watch, because the subject matter is even more potent today. These children, often looked on as freaks, have been re-diagnosed with different names and different forms of treatment. The film presents them as gifted in the way of looking at adults in a way others cannot, perhaps revealing truths those being observed do not want revealed. The opening shot of an almost teary eyed Garland lets you know that she is not heading to Oz, to Carvel, to put a show on in a barn, or to ride the trolley to the fair.

An extended Thanksgiving play towards the end, as well as a visit to the adult wing of the institution, is frightening. The pageant sequence goes on perhaps a bit too long, but I can see why it was not cut down. Judy really pulls out all the stops in delivering a performance, and at times, it seems as if she's not even acting, but has emerged into the soul of a completely different person. Lancaster may seem overly stern and even unlikable at times, but in the end, you really begin to see his point of view, even if like Garland, you question some of his methods. They seem very natural together. Look for Billy Mumy briefly as one of the kids in Garland's introduction to the crowd and veteran character actress Barbara Pepper as one of the teachers. In a sense, this film was way ahead of its time, a total flop, yet producer Stanley Kramer and director Cassavettes have left behind something truly remarkable.