Johnny Belinda

Johnny Belinda is a 1967 television film directed by Paul Bogart. It is based upon the play Johnny Belinda by Elmer Blaney Harris. The film was thought to be missing from UK TV archives, but was discovered being sold in the United States on DVD by Kaleidoscope's Ray Langstone and a copy now resides with Kaleidoscope. Plot In the small town of Carcadie, Nova Scotia, 1903, a fisherman called Locky McCormick receives advice from Pacquet, the local shopkeeper: young Stella, the new doctor's maidservant, has received an inheritance and it would be a good idea to courtship her. Locky follows Paquet's advice. Dr. Robert Richardson mets the MacDonald family: Black, the father, Aggie, his sister, and Belinda, who is a deaf-mute young woman. Her appearance is unkempt, almost wild. The family raises farm animals and grind local wheat into flour at their small mill. The doctor realizes that, although she cannot hear or speak, Belinda is very intelligent. Her father, her aunt, and the whole town call Belinda "dummy" and care little about her. Dr. Richardson befriends Belinda and teaches her sign language. She also learns to read, mathematics, how to read lips, and her appearance improves. Belinda's father and aunt realize she is a kind, loving young woman, and the family's relationship changes. Over time, the doctor's affection for her grows. Meanwhile, Locky has noticed Belinda's beauty. One night when there is a dance in the town and he knows she is alone at home, he leaves the party surreptitiously, goes to Belinda's house, tries to seduce her and when she resist his advances, he rapes her.