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The Secret Garden Details

1993 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 3123 members

Agnieszka Holland's adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic fairy tale, THE SECRET GARDEN is a highly entertaining family picture that is overflowing with gorgeous imagery. Ten-year-old Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) is a spoiled rich girl living in colonial India with her aloof parents who frequent elegant parties and .. Read more

Starring Maggie Smith, Laura Crossley, Andrew Knott, John Lynch
Director Agnieszka Holland
Genres Drama, Family

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The Secret Garden cover art

The Secret Garden

Agnieszka Holland's adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic fairy tale, THE SECRET GARDEN is a highly entertaining family picture that is overflowing with gorgeous imagery. Ten-year-old Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) is a spoiled rich girl living in colonial India with her aloof parents who frequent elegant parties and leave her with servants who attend to her every whim. When her parents are killed, however, Mary's life changes drastically. She's shipped off to England to live in the enormous manor of her father's friend, Lord Archibald Craven (John Lynch), and his invalid son, Colin (Heydon Prowse). Lord Craven, a miserable recluse since his wife's death, ignores his son and leaves the household management to Mrs. Medlock (Maggie Smith), an ironhanded authoritarian. In this cold environment, the children, with help from spirited maid Martha Sowerby and her younger brother, Dickon, manage to find happiness in a special garden hidden away for years. Beautifully shot by Roger Deakins, Holland's film is a visual feast that captures the fantasy like tone of the book without sacrificing any of Burnett's original vision. Zbigniew Preisner's magical score adds another lovely dimension, making this a film that individuals of every age can enjoy.

Starring Maggie Smith, Laura Crossley, Andrew Knott, John Lynch, Kate Maberly, Heydon Prowse
Director Agnieszka Holland
Studio WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 37 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Drama, Family
Language DVD: English
Dubbed Dutch, French, Italian
Hearing-impaired English, Italian
Subtitles DVD: Arabic, Bulgarian, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish
Released DVD: 25 Oct 1999
Production year: 1993
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (5) of The Secret Garden

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  • "...Holland found the perfect young actress to play Mary Lennox....It's hard to imagine the little loner in your house not taking this one to heart." -- Rating: B

    • Entertainment Weekly
    • Posted 11 Mar 2005

  • "...Executed to near perfection in all artistic departments....[A] superior adaptation of the perennial favorite novel..."

    • Variety
    • Posted 11 Mar 2005

  • Most helpful member's review of The Secret Garden

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  • 13 out of 13 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    superb......................

    this story is wonderful. My daughter Bethany loved it, and has since read the secret garden book by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

    The story centres around Mary Lennox, recently orphaned, sent to live with her uncle at an old manor, surrounded by a gloomy and foggy moor.

    At first, Mary does not seem to enjoy life at the Manor, because she is lonely and longs for someone to play with.

    At the manor, she must live with the mean Mrs. Medlock, whom she dislikes.

    However, Mary soon makes friends with Martha, her younger brother Dickon, and a young sickly boy called Colin, who is Mary's cousin.

    Mary discovers many secrets, as to why Colin is always kept in a lonely bed, and why her uncle is so down and depressed.

    But the biggest secret she finds, is the entrance to an old garden, which she and her new friend Dickon help bring back to life.

    This movie is beautifully filmed, with lots of picturesque landscapes and settings within Yorkshire.

    This film also has the most breathtaking melodies, especially the closing song called 'Winter Light.'

    Well worth renting out

  • Most recent members' review of The Secret Garden

    View all
  • 13 out of 13 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    superb......................

    this story is wonderful. My daughter Bethany loved it, and has since read the secret garden book by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

    The story centres around Mary Lennox, recently orphaned, sent to live with her uncle at an old manor, surrounded by a gloomy and foggy moor.

    At first, Mary does not seem to enjoy life at the Manor, because she is lonely and longs for someone to play with.

    At the manor, she must live with the mean Mrs. Medlock, whom she dislikes.

    However, Mary soon makes friends with Martha, her younger brother Dickon, and a young sickly boy called Colin, who is Mary's cousin.

    Mary discovers many secrets, as to why Colin is always kept in a lonely bed, and why her uncle is so down and depressed.

    But the biggest secret she finds, is the entrance to an old garden, which she and her new friend Dickon help bring back to life.

    This movie is beautifully filmed, with lots of picturesque landscapes and settings within Yorkshire.

    This film also has the most breathtaking melodies, especially the closing song called 'Winter Light.'

    Well worth renting out

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Rating breakdown

3,123 Member ratings
  • 100
411
  • 90
226
  • 80
642
  • 70
607
  • 60
600
  • 50
298
  • 40
159
  • 30
89
  • 20
69
  • 10
22

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      • Agnieszka Holland's adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic fairy tale, THE SECRET GARDEN is a highly entertaining family picture that is overflowing with gorgeous imagery. Ten-year-old Mary ...