A Child Is Waiting

About this movie

The third directing effort by the great John Cassavetes is an engrossing, sobering expose of society's cruel prejudice toward mentally challenged children. Jean Hansen (Judy Garland) is an experienced city transplant who takes a job at a Down syndrome institution and befriends Reuben, one of the boys afflicted with the disease. Reuben latches on to Jean, to the dismay of Dr. Matthew Clark (Burt Lancaster), the head of the institution. He feels that Jean's affection for Reuben will disturb the other children, prompting him to separate the pair. Cassavetes uses actual children afflicted by Down Syndrome to convey the reality of these disabilities, giving the film a level of humanity and unflinching depth that resonates long after the final credits have rolled. The great Gena Rowlands and Steven Hill lead the supporting cast that includes Paul Stewart, Lawrence Tierney, Elizabeth Wilson and John Marley.