DVD. Feature film. 101 min. Standard & widescreen. Dolby d ig. remix. Sound & subtitles in Engl., French, & Spanish. C ast bios, film hilites, production notes, & 3 theatrical tr ailers.
Frances Hodgson Burnett's timeless tale of the magical effect of a long forgotten garden on the lives of three lonely English children. Executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and rendered with lyrical flair by Polish director Agnieszka Holland (EUROPA EUROPA).
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.
Theatrical release: August 1993.
Filmed in Yorkshire, England.
THE SECRET GARDEN is not Polish director Agnieszka Holland's first film in English, but it is her first mainstream English language picture.
A film which opened to very strong reviews, Holland's version is a fine rendition of the often revived classic: in 1949 Margaret O'Brien starred in MGM's adaptation, the BBC and the Hallmark Hall of Fame have produced films based on the 1911 novel, and there was also a popular Broadway musical with music by Elizabeth Swados.
In an interview with film critic Amy Taubin, Holland said that although the book was a childhood favorite, the adaptation was not her initiative. Caroline Thompson finished the script and sent it to her for consideration.
Screenwriter Caroline Thompson opens the story with an earthquake rather than a plague, telling interviewer Mark Burman: "The earthquake is a strong metaphor for shaking up one's life, as we who live in Los Angeles know....It's meant to inspire."
Secret Garden Reviews:
"...Elegantly expressive, a discreet and lovely rendering of the children's classic..."
-- Janet Maslin, New York Times
"...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
-- Ty Burr, Entertainment Weekly
"...Executed to near perfection in all artistic departments....[A] superior adaptation of the perennial favorite novel..."
-- Todd McCarthy, Variety
"...It is a work of beauty, poetry and deep mystery, and watching it is like entering for time into a closed world where one's destiny may be discovered..."
-- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Customer Secret Garden Reviews Customer Secret Garden DVD Reviews
Average Rating: (3.5 out of 5 stars)
Excellent I've always loved this movie, it's and excellent movie!!! Submitted by bluejoey01 (Greenville, MI, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
The Secret Garden is Enchanting I was asked to give a review by Cd Universe, So here it goes. I found the Secret Garden to an Uplifting film, I Recommend you add this Video/DVD to your Family's collection. Kate Marbly is wonderful in this film. It's a moving and Timeless classic. Teaches you can find good, even when life changes around you. Mary found beauty in a Garden Nobody wanted.
I give it 5 stars ***** Submitted by a reviewer (Murphette123456@aol.com) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
I would like ... I wold like to know how to get the musics from the movies "The Secret Garden" and "The Little Princess" and if possible the E-Mails from Kate Maberly and Leslie Matthews Submitted by kelvin.secretgarden (Lages, SC, BRAZIL) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 3 found this helpful.
Thoroughly Loved It I completely loved this movie and I'm a guy (I think). I can see that some viewers might think it's too syrupy sweet at the end, but I'd bet they're all cynical dog-kickers. It is a kids movie, but I fully bought into the story and I thought the tone was just right. As a bonus, the musical score was so enjoyable that I bought the CD. Submitted by a reviewer (takoma park, MD, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful. This review is for a different format.
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Secret Garden DVD
Secret Garden DVD Features
Region 1 Keep Case Full Frame - 1.33 Letterbox - 1.85 Additional Release Material: 3 Theatrical Trailers Interactive Features: Interactive Menus Scene Access Text/Photo Galleries: Production Notes
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