The Secret Garden (1949)

Good concept, poorly executed.

Crappy film

Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

This has a superior cast,from the British military who discover Mary alone in her home after an epidemic,to the cruel taunts on the ship,to the mansion in Yorkshire.We learn all about Mary,from a sullen orphan who learns to live and love after the loss of her parents in India.She has to make due in her uncle and cousin's home,a home as devoid of hope as her own was in India,and her new friendship with Dickon,getting to know her relatives and bringing them back to life.It's not easy weathering such personal tragedy,but one can't let it rule one's life,like Mary herself,her uncle,and her cousin.Always a favorite book,this movie version is THE BEST!Too bad the author never had this salvation of a secret garden in her own life!Lowell Gilmore,in first scenes of the film,is good,playing British officer,even if he was a Midwesterner.Would love to know what happened to his health from at least 1955,as he looked sickly and retired in 1958,dying in 1960.

The book by Frances Hodgson Burnett is an enchanting piece of literature. This adaptation is very good, and very good as a film, but can I be honest? I prefer the 1993 film, as I grew up with it, and it never fails to move me. The film could have been longer by three minutes, and Herbert Marshall I found rather dull as the grieving, melancholic uncle. However, this version of The Secret Garden is beautifully mounted, the cinematography, scenery, sets and costumes are very wondrous. Plus the music score, story and script still maintain the charm, and the direction is focused. In terms of performances Margaret O'Brien is very spirited as Mary, while Elsa Lanchester is typically splendid as Martha, Reginald Owen is charming as Ben Weatherstaff the gardener and Gladys Cooper is suitably beastly and tyrannical as Mrs Medlock. Overall, very well done and I liked it very much, it's just that I have a preference to the 1993 film. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I was mesmerized the first time I saw this film as a child. I was quite happy to stumble upon it recently and experience it again as an adult.It is quite an atmospheric film - capable at producing quite differing moods. There is the scary, creepy mansion; the beautiful grounds and terraces; the spoiled and crippled boy that throws tantrums; and finally the beautiful restored garden presented in Technicolor (the rest of the movie was in black and white).I like how the movie leaves you guessing as to what is going on. Who is the boy heard screaming and why? It creates a certain tension and suspense. Also, what happened to make the master lock-up the secret garden - what is the horrible secret? I appreciate that they don't spoon-feed us the history of this strange place, but allow us to discover the facts slowly.Margaret O'Brien is in the last years of her child stardom and unfortunately doesn't transition well in later roles. She does fine in this film, although many may find her whiny, spoiled character a tad annoying. I actually think she acted more naturally as a young child - it seems the very young take to fantasy and imagination almost like second nature. Here, her acting begins to look more "stagey".This film plays very much likes a children's mystery. But I think adults will find much to enjoy. There are great performances by big stars such as Herbert Marshall and Gladys Cooper. On occasion, there is some overacting - like the "extremely" happy maid, Martha. But the exaggerations will play well to children.I consider this film to be a great escape - so let yourself be transported to "The Secret Garden"!

This is a movie I never tire of seeing. Margaret O'Brien is just about perfect in the part of Mary Lennox, an orphan who finds herself in a house full of strange people.Along the way she finds love in friendship, a love that was never shown to her by her parents.The book on which this film is based by Frances Hodgson Burnett, was my favourite book as a child and I've given many copies to children over the years. This movie is quite a perfect replica of the book, apart from the injection of a totally unnecessary "crime" element. The characters are multi-dimensional, a wounded father flailing against the world and projecting illness on to his son. The son, Colin, played by a very young and handsome Dean Stockwell, in turn reacting with tantrums and hate to the world around him.Mary has her own issues, feeling ugly and unloved due to her past in India.Unhappiness reigns in the Manor House headed up by Herbert Marshall playing Colin's father - a brilliant performance.There is a teeming cast of well known names to add to the flavour of the film: Dame Gladys Cooper as the housekeeper; Elsa Lanchester as the maid; Reginald Owen as the mysterious gardener.The black and white filming adds a morbid darkness with the colour sequences in the garden contrasting beautifully.The only flaw was the settish nature of the scenes, even the gardens are "back lot".But these quibbles aside, some movies one can get immersed in afresh with each viewing. This is one that takes you in and doesn't let up till the final very satisfying frame.9 out of 10.