The Secret Garden (1993 film)

The Secret Garden is a 1993 British drama fantasy film directed by Agnieszka Holland and starring Kate Maberly, Heydon Prowse, Andrew Knott, John Lynch and Maggie Smith. It was written by Caroline Thompson and based on the novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Plot synopsis

The recently-orphaned Mary Lennox travels from her home in India to her uncle Archibald Craven's hundred-room house, Misselthwaite Manor, in Yorkshire, England. Mary, materially spoiled but emotionally neglected by her late parents who had been killed in an earthquake, is rather unpleasant and unhappy in her new surroundings. Martha, a Yorkshire girl working as a maid, and her brother Dickon Sowerby, a boy who can "talk" to animals, befriend and help her to heal and grow. She discovers her deceased aunt's secret garden, which has been locked for ten years and enlists Dickon to help her bring it to life.

Hidden away in the gloomy house is Mary's cousin Colin, who has been treated all his life like a fragile, sickly invalid. This exaggeration has augmented what smaller problems he did have, turning him into a demanding, short-tempered, helpless boy. Mary, defying the orders of Mrs Medlock (who runs Misselthwaite), discovers Colin and is taken aback by his difficult nature, but reaches out to him anyway. Soon Colin, Mary, and Dickon all spend their time in the secret garden. They perform "magic"; barefoot, they make a large bonfire and play a flute, dance round it, and chant, while Colin asks the magic to send his father. Colin learns to walk and gets quite well, which his father Archibald discovers upon his return to Misselthwaite.

Cast

• Maggie Smith as Mrs. Medlock
• Kate Maberly as Mary Lennox
• Andrew Knott as Dickon Sowerby
• Heydon Prowse as Colin Craven
• John Lynch as Lord Archibald Craven (Colin's Father)
• Irène Jacob as Mrs. Lennox (Mary's Mother) / Lilias Craven (Colin's Mother)^[1]
• Colin Bruce as Major Lennox (Mary's Father)
• Laura Crossley as Martha Sowerby
• Walter Sparrow as Ben Weatherstaff

Production

Yorkshire's imposing Allerton Castle stood in for most of the exterior shots of Misselthwaite Manor, and some of the interior was also used. Fountains Hall was also used for part of the Manor's exterior.

Interiors of the former Midland Grand Hotel were used for filming as well, notable the scenes on the grand staircase.

Holland was already internationally famous as a director before the making of the film; in making this film she continued to work outside of Poland.^[2]

Soundtrack

The film features the end credits song "Winter Light" performed by Linda Ronstadt, which is based on two themes from the score by Zbigniew Preisner. However, the song is not featured in the film's original soundtrack, but in Ronstadt's eponymous album Winter Light.^[3] Opera star Sarah Brightman and the youngest member of Celtic Woman, Chloë Agnew covered this song for their albums; Brightman's Classics and Agnew's Walking In The Air.

The soundtrack, released by Varèse Sarabande, contains the original score.^[4]

Reception

Since its 1993 release, the film has garnered exceptionally positive reviews and currently holds an 85% "fresh" approval rating on the Rotten Tomatoes website, based on 40 reviews.^[5]

According to Box Office Mojo, the film has a domestic gross of $31,181,347.^[6]

Awards and nominations

Award wins

• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Music – (Zbigniew Preisner)

Award nominations

• BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role - (Maggie Smith)

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: The Secret Garden (1993 film)

• The Secret Garden at the Internet Movie Database
• The Secret Garden at Rotten Tomatoes