THE SECRET GARDEN
UK, 1993, 101 minutes, Colour.
Kate Maberly, Maggie Smith, Heydon Prowse, Andrew Knott, Laura Crossley, John Lynch, Irene Jacob.
Directed by Agnieszka Holland.
The Secret Garden is one of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s most famous novels. The other two which have remained in popular consciousness are A Little Princess and Little Lord Fauntleroy. Already there were film versions of these novels after 1914 and they have been continually remade. A fine version of The Secret Garden was made by Fred M. Wilcox in 1949 with Margaret O’ Brien as Mary, Dean Stockwell as Colin, Gladys Cooper as Mrs Medlock and Elsa Lanchester as Martha. Herbert Marshall was the uncle.
In this version Kate Maberly is Mary Lennox and Heydon Prowse (his only film) is Colin. Andrew Knott is Dickon and Laura Crossley Martha. Maggie Smith is a crusty Mrs Medlock and John Lynch appears as Lord Craven. French actress Irene Jacob appears in photos and flashbacks as Mary’s mother and her aunt.
The film was directed by Polish director Angieszka Holland. She made a number of films in continental Europe, Poland and Germany as well as a number of films in the United States. These include To Kill a Priest, The Third Miracle, Washington Square, Copying Beethoven.
As with Frances Hodgson Burnett’s other stories, the opening is in India where Mary is orphaned when her neglectful parents are killed. On her return to England, she goes to a country house where her reclusive uncle will not see her, the household is managed by the strict Mrs Medlock and she discovers her invalid cousin, Colin. With Dickon, a local lad, she finds the secret garden of her aunt, finds her cousin, causes mayhem as she takes him outside and into the secret garden where he learns that he is healthy and that he can walk.
The Secret Garden has always been a very popular children’s story. This is a fine version.
1.The popularity of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s stories? Of The Secret Garden? Other versions?
2.The Indian opening? The atmosphere of India, the credit images, Mary, her servant, her parents, their socialising, their deaths? Mary as an orphan? Going back to England? The voyage, the children not liking her, singing ‘Mary Mary Quite Contrary’? Mrs Medlock being late in collecting her? The trip in the coach, Mrs Medlock eating, talking? The arrival?
3.The country house, vast, the hundred rooms, the touch of the sinister? Mary confined to her room, told not to go round the house? The exteriors, the beauty of the countryside? The different seasons, the collage from winter to spring? Animals, flowers, sunshine? An authentic atmosphere? The musical score?
4.Mary and her selfishness, presumptions, wanting servants to wait on her? Martha and their talk, her superiority, wanting Martha to dress her? Her having to learn that she should not be so imperious? Going around the house, Mrs Medlock and her being strict with her? In the grounds, talking with the staff? Finding Dickon, talking with him, playing with him, mellowing? The garden wall, finding the key, the gate? Going into the garden? Dickon and Mary and their work in the garden with the flowers? The secret?
5.Her finding Colin? The background of Colin’s birth, his mother’s death in childbirth? His father’s grief, seclusion, protecting his son? Not wanting to see him? Mary and her audience with her uncle, his kindness? But his continually moving away? Colin and his tantrums? The servants wearing masks? His fear of spores? Not going into the open air? The chatter with Mary, her accusations that he was selfish? Her hiding under the bed, Martha seeing her? Her taking Colin outside? Into the garden? His gradually standing on his feet, walking? At play with Dickon and Mary? Mrs Medlock’s disapproval? Colin and his being put in the ice bath? His tantrums?
6.Mrs Medlock, strict, with the servants? Her treatment of Colin? Her disapproval of Mary? The other members of the staff? Martha, her simplicity, kindness to Mary, her optimism? The final confrontation between Lord Craven and Mrs Medlock, Martha supporting her?
7.Lord Craven’s return, Colin not in his room, Mary not in her room? His going into the garden, the children playing hide-and-seek, seeing his son walking, his son walking towards him and touching him? His joy?
8.The happy resolution, the servants watching from the window, the children playing, nature, the boy and his father? Mary finding a place in the household?
