I knew that there was a recent film adaptation of The Secret Garden starring Colin Firth and Julie Walters, but I knew I needed to watch this version before considering it. It was the most critically acclaimed version, and one I only remember seeing once, probably in college, based on the classic book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, from scriptwriter Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands) and director of Black Beauty, directed by Agnieszka Holland (Europa Europa). Basically, ten-year-old Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) has become recently orphaned, and is sent from her home in British India, returned to England to live with her uncle Lord Archibald Craven (John Lynch). She was unloved and neglected by her late parents who were killed in an earthquake in India. With lack of love and having been ill-treated, Mary is cold and self-centred, and is so repressed she is unable to cry. She is unhappy with her new surroundings. Head housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock (BAFTA nominated Dame Maggie Smith), orders her not to leave her room and to keep out of the way. But strange noises lead Mary to explore the mansion on her own, and she finds a hidden door in her room leading to unoccupied parts of the house. She also discovers a large key in a jewellery box, but she is unsure what it is for and leaves it alone. When told to play outside, Mary discovers a walled garden, which has been locked and neglected since the death of her Aunt Lilias (Irène Jacob) ten years ago. She realises that the large key she found earlier unlocks the door to this secret garden. Martha (Laura Crossley), Mrs. Medlock's cheerful housemaid, befriends Mary, along with her younger brother Dickon Sowerby (Andrew Knott) who loves to be outdoors. Fascinated by the secret garden, Mary wants Dickon to help her bring it back to life, gradually becoming friendlier and happier in the process. When she is finally introduced to her uncle, Mary is apprehensive, knowing that he wants nobody to enter the garden. She asks for permission to plant seeds on an "unwanted" part of the manor grounds. Lord Craven grants her permission, then claims he is leaving for an extended period. Confident that the garden will remain a secret, Mary and Dickon continue their work, growing close. Hidden away in the gloomy mansion is Lord Craven's son and Mary's cousin, Colin Craven (Heydon Prowse), who has been treated like a fragile, sickly invalid his entire life. He is a spoiled, demanding, short-tempered boy, like what Mary was, he has never left his room or learnt to walk, and is confined to his bed and a wheelchair. Mary eventually finds him, discovering that he was the source of the noises she was hearing. Mary realises Colin's difficult nature, but reaches out to him, helping him realise he is not really sick, and the outside world is not as dangerous as Mrs. Medlock has made it out to be. Encouraged by Mary, Colin goes outside for the first time. Mary and Dickon take him to the secret garden, and Colin begins both a physical and mental healing process. Mary, Colin, and Dickon spend all their free time in the garden, where Colin learns to stand and walk. Anxious to show his father, Lord Craven is awakened suddenly from a dream of Lilias calling him home to the garden. He finds the secret garden and sees Colin walking and playing with the other children, he is amazed and filled with joy. Upon seeing her uncle, Mary runs off and bursts into tears for the first time in her life, she assumes she is unwanted and fears the garden will be locked up again. Lord Craven seeks her out and reassures her that she is now part of the family. Promising never to lock it up again, he thanks Mary for bringing his family back to life and reuniting them. Mary, Colin and Lord Craven embrace, Dickon informs his sister Martha and the rest of the manor staff of the good news, and they watch Lord Craven and the children with amazement. It ends with the children happily playing in the now fully restored and flourishing garden. Also starring Walter Sparrow as Ben Weatherstaff, Irène Jacob as Mary's Mother, Frank Baker as Government Official, Valerie Hill as Cook, Andrea Pickering as Betty Butterworth, Peter Moreton as Will, Arthur Spreckley as John, Colin Bruce as Major Lennox, and Parsan Singh as Ayah. Maberly is charming as the at first arrogant and slowly nicer leading girl, Smith does almost steal the show as the beastly housekeeper, and Prowse is likeable as the initially fussy disabled boy who regains his strength. It is a simple but good-natured and enchanting story, it makes full use of its colour and location, the garden itself is transformed remarkably, and the score by Zbigniew Preisner brings it to life as well, a satisfactory family fantasy drama. Very good!
Review of The Secret Garden
