Deaf and Mute

 

I have no idea if saying or wring deaf and mute is politically correct or not but I don’t really care. It’s not supposed to mean anything degrading except that there are people who can’t hear and are unable to talk. It got me thinking about movies involving people who are deaf, either from birth or from when they were young so are often unable to voice words because they just don’t know how to voice an actual word. Anyway, here are 3 films I chose that fit this theme.

1. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME-1923

This film has been done many times beginning with this very famous version of the Victor Hugo book about a deformed, deaf man who rings the bells for the famous cathedral in the late 1400s. My favourite version is the 1939 film version starring Charles Laughton as Quasimodo and Maureen O’Hara as the beautiful Gypsy, Esmeralda, but I wanted to pick this film because of the epic work of Lon Chaney. Lon Chaney was known as the Man of a Thousand Faces due to his many characters he played in film and suffered due to the make up he fabricated. This make up included a contact lens that created pain in his eye plus it damaged his sight, a heavy piece, that he developed, attached to his back not allowing him to stand upright along with a constrainment of his legs which also caused much pain for Chaney for the rest of his life. Lon Chaney helped Patsy Ruth Miller, who played Esmeralda, with her character and how to convey the emotions just with her eyes and motions. Lon Chaney grew up with deaf mute parents where he used facial expressions, movements and sign language to communicate with them. This added to his acting prowess in film. Through all this makeup, he conveyed so much emotion that your heart bleeds for this human being treated so harshly by the crowds, except for Esmeralda who gave him water. This film, although over 100 years old, is a must see film.

2. JOHNNY BELINDA-1948

I love this gentle film about a young deaf-mute girl, played so brilliantly by Jane Wyman ( who won an Oscar for her role), whom her dad and his sister believe is not that bright. It takes the new Doctor of the village, played by Lew Ayres, to open their eyes that Belinda is anything but dumb. The Doc teaches her sign language and when her dad sees how well she can speak using sign language he is overjoyed that his daughter can “speak”. Unfortunately, ( spoiler alert) a brutish lout decides to rape the young girl resulting in a pregnancy. The girl only loves her child and will protect her child no matter what. Yup, this gentle drama has some wowzers in the film but it never loses its genteel feel. Her dad and aunt were not very approachable at first, but they change when they see Belinda can learn and has a voice. I love when her dad starts to learn sign language so he can talk with his daughter. I also developed a major crush on Lew Ayres who was so gentle and good looking with that moustache:))

3. THE MIRACLE WORKER-1962

This is the famous story about how a young Annie Sullivan is hired by this aristocratic Southern family to care for their, so-called, simpleton daughter, a young Helen Keller. Little does the family realize that Annie means to teach this brat sign language but not before teaching her some manners. The pivotal scene in the dining room, where Helen must learn how to fold her napkin, and eat her food with a knife and fork, is shocking when Helen does not get her way and Annie refuses for Helen to take Annie's food from her plate. A battle of wills ensues making Annie the winner ( albeit the dining room is a disaster). Annie is allowed to take the 8 year old Helen to a cabin, away from her family who were just enabling her, so she can teach Helen sign language. Helen is not only deaf and mute, but blind so teaching her words is quite the task but will open up the world. Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke both deserved their Oscars for the stellar performances. Helen and Annie were inseparable for the rest of their lives( Annie passed away in 1936 and Helen in 1968. Helen became a world lecturer, writer and activist for the blind, equal rights for women and the poor plus she learned 5 languages- German, French, Greek and Latin! So, when we feel despondent that we can’t do something, think of this lady.

Can you think of any films about a character being deaf and or mute? 

Oh, the answer to yesterday’s musical Oscar song is “ The Way You Look Tonight” won the Oscar, “ I’ve Got You Under My Skin” was nominated and “A Fine Romance” got nuttin’. The other nominees were, “ Did I Remember” from Suzy; “ A Melody From The Sky” from Trail of the Lonesome Pine; “ Pennies From Heaven,” from Pennies From Heaven and, “ When Did You Leave Heaven,” from Sing, Baby, Sing. I don’t know some of these songs at all which beat out some very famous songs we stil, know today like , “ Easy To Love,” “ Let’s Face The Music and Dance,” San Francisco.”