it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Mandy is directed by Alexander MacKendrick. The film stars Jack Hawkins, Mandy Miller, Phyllis Calvert and Terence Morgan.I enjoyed this one very much. I'm extremely impressed by the performance of Mandy Miller as Mandy, she has the difficult task of conveying what her character is going through by facial expressions only; and she does such a fine job and is utterly convincing and natural in the role. I'm going to try and check out more of her work. She is so good in this film, perfectly conveying how introverted and shy Mandy has become.Mandy(Mandy Miller)is born deaf, her parents Christine and Harry(Phyllis Calvert and Terence Morgan)raise her at home. Because she can't speak, she can't communicate with her family or anyone else and as she gets older she becomes hard to control.Eventually she is taken to a residential deaf school, which is run by Jack Hawkins progressive teacher, Searle. Here, Mandy can at last make friends and learn how to communicate in a hearing world. The growing friendship between Christine and Searle, that so easily could have developed into a romance is touching and well conveyed by Hawkins and Calvert.I really hope that people who saw this back at the time of release came to understand that deaf people(and anyone else with a disability)are just as normal as anyone else. I hope this film helped educate people about those who are deaf.I loved the part where Mandy's mum discovers the teacher she has been talking to perfectly normally is actually completely deaf, but can lip read and use her voice normally; that scene perfectly shows that deaf people can exist just as normally as those of us who can hear.

Superb film with Phyllis Calvert as the mother who knew that her deaf mute child needed instruction rather than being kept away from other children.Calvert is joined by an excellent cast to show how deaf mute children need that guidance, understanding, love and devotion if they are to succeed.What makes this an extraordinary film is that we're not only working with the child, but trying to put down the vicious gossip of an affair between her teacher and the Calvert character. Here there is not only a misunderstanding, but a vicious plot by a head in the school who doesn't like teacher Jack Hawkins, and with the help of the former's vicious secretary, schemes so that he can rid of Hawkins.One can never forget the fear in the child who was played so well by Mandy Miller. She was absolutely terrific in evoking the emotions of a child in a silent world.

This story is an excellent film from one of Britain's most talented directors - Alexander Mackendrick. When a family has to deal with the reality of a deaf child, it throws their lives into turmoil as they face their own misconceptions and try to work out what is best for the child. This movie documents the changes that could have occurred to any family in similar circumstances. The parents are not perfect but do their best to work things out and this is part of the reason I liked the movie. It is honest and the parents try to do what is right, albeit a big adjustment. The deaf child is Mandy, a bright and happy little girl who the parents realize hasn't started to speak a number of months on. This leads them to take her to a doctor who diagnoses the condition as congenital deafness. According to the doctor, nothing can be done. The parents, played by Phyllis Calvert and Terence Morgan, are shocked and are afraid for her future. They immediately take her to the grandparents' home where she can be kept alone and given private tutoring. Subsequently, they meet a specialist who suggests that the girl be placed in a school where she can learn more effectively under the guidance of a proper teacher in the company of other children. There is a rift between the parents who have different views about sending her away. There are other differences they encounter along the way. The father also suspects that an affair is going on between the specialist (Jack Hawkins) and the mother, Phyllis Calvert. The acting is superb all-round and the child, played by Mandy Miller, shows the strain that she too must face from her parents' disagreements and her own problems interacting with others. The movie is heart-wrenching but also offers hope. I thought this was an excellent film that treats the subject in a thoughtful and intelligent way.

I remember seeing this film, as a child, and have recently seen it again. Everything about it is memorable and it's an excellent example of British film making at its best. Given the sensitive subject matter, it could easily have turned out to be sentimental tosh. In reality, it is exactly the opposite, thanks in no short measure to a quality cast of first class actors. Jack Hawkins, Phyllis Calvert and Terence Morgan are first class, though the jewel in the film's crown is young Mandy Miller in the title role. Her portrayal is very moving and quite remarkable. Whilst so many of the scenes bring a lump to the throat, this superb film is an uplifting and positive experience. Not to be missed.