best movie i've ever seen.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The first must-see film of the year.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

This film didn't make much money in the theaters, and that is possibly because it had a limited release and opened in April rather than winter or summer. It did run on HBO during the spring of 1983, then disappeared off of the face of the planet. It's a small film with big ideas and very much worth your time.Tom Sullivan was actually born in 1947, so Tom was in college in the mid to late 60's. This film doesn't try to bring the story back in time. It plays just like it is happening present day, which in this case was 1982. Mark Singer plays Tom with real heart and humor. I read Roger Ebert's review of this film, and he apparently didn't like it at all. He talks about it being an endless series of frat boy-like jokes and bad behavior, but I think that is the point. Most college age boys engage in all kinds of bad behavior - in Tom's case, getting in a fight in an English style pub, trying to crash his girlfriend's sorority party by coming up through the sewer, making a speech on the campus lawn about the blind taking over one night when the lights go out, having a last night of passion with an ex flame while in a relationship with his future wife, etc. In short, Tom sees himself as a normal guy, not a handicapped guy, and people - at least people his own age - largely respond in kind.The two exceptions? Tom proposes to a girl and she declines, not because she doesn't love him, but because she can't see them overcoming both his blindness and the other blockade society would put in their way. I'll let you watch and see what I mean. Also, towards the end of the film, Tom confronts a frightening situation that is so frightening mainly because he is blind. Afterwards, Tom then tells his future wife that he realizes now that people see him as a blind man. But don't think that the film ends on a downer like this, because there is one more humorous situation to come.The film in its entirety is humorous and inspiring largely because it is based on a true story. I'd recommend it if you can ever find it. It is truly a shame that VCI or Shout Factory or some other company that often takes on good but orphaned films has never bothered to put this out on DVD. Highly recommended.

Why is this movie so underrated as to not be available on DVD? There is so much petty, meaningless drivel in media. On the tube, in the theaters and on DVD. I have to shudder at the direction these are taking our kids. An inspiration like Tom Sullivan, whether over-dramatized or not in the movie, deserves an audience by our children. And a revisiting for those of us. Those of us whose personal trials were actualized and overcome after being inspired by the courage of the movie's main character. America has been so let down and sold out in recent years. Kids these days need in their memories more stories of real life heroes.

I can't agree more with the other person commenting on this great movie. This is one of several great movies from the early 80's that I have on VHS but that are falling apart and need to find a new audience on DVD.I just don't see what people wait for when they make those decisions about what to digitize and what to leave people waiting for.This movie is all heart and is held together by the very underrated Marc Singer (yes, that Marc Singer of Beastmaster fame. I swear you make one bad choice and you are branded for life). Telling the true story of blind singer/entertainer Tom Sullivan, Singer brings him to stunning life with a memorable performance that far few were ever able to see.Let's do what we can to get this great story on DVD for a new generation to enjoy.

I was twelve when I went to see this in the theater with a friend, and I can still vividly remember the movie after these many years. I find it difficult to believe it hasn't been released on DVD yet, and I hope it be released soon. This was one of those neat experiences where I didn't know anything about the film, so it was full of surprises for me. My friend and I were deciding what to see and the ad in the paper interested us. When the film first began, I had no idea the main character was blind (okay, I was twelve and didn't contemplate what the title meant) and when I discovered this in the opening scene, I can remember thinking, "Oh great, this is a story about a blind guy. How boring is this going to be?" Instead, I was blown away by the accomplishments and positive attitude the main character had despite his handicap, especially when in the end I realized it was a true story. And it is funny and also heartwarming. I would love to see it again.