THE SECRET GARDEN

US, 1949, 88 minutes, Colour and Black and white.
Margaret O'Brien, Dean Stockwell, Herbert Marshall, Gladys Cooper, Elsa Lanchester, Reginald Owen.
Directed by Fred M. Wilcox.

The Secret Garden is based on a story by author of Little Lord Fauntleroy. This film was made in the late '40s, Margaret O'Brien's last M.G.M. vehicle - and virtually the end of her career as an actress. She had been an excellent child star in many emotional films and in Meet Me In St. Louis. She received an Oscar for her child performances. Here she is matched by Dean Stockwell as a spoilt young boy. There is an excellent adult cast led by Herbert Marshall.

The film has the atmosphere of 19th. century novels - British Empire in India, Yorkshire with its dim and brooding houses and morose characters. Ultimately it is transformed by beauty with the secret garden - the film going into Technicolor for the garden sequences. What might have been a sentimental children's story is given strength by the performances of Margaret O'Brien and Dean Stockwell and from the sensitive direction by Fred M. Wilcox (director of Lassie Come Home and other Lassie films and the science-fiction classic Forbidden
Planet). One of M.G.M's attractive period films - for children and for family audiences.

1. An entertaining and interesting story? For adult audiences? Children?

2. M.G.M. production values: re-creation of India, Yorkshire in the 19th century? The old and dark house? The brambled garden - and transformed into Technicolor? The strong cast? The musical score by Bronislau Kaper?

3. The prologue in India - the reality of Empire, distance from England, cholera and death? The British officers and their encounter with Mary? Mary as isolated and spoilt, domineering? Her grief - and playing with her dolls? Her reaction to the death of her parents? Her resentment against her parents? Her being taken back to England, her tantrums on the ship and her superiority? The arrival in England and Mrs. Medlock taking her away - to the grimaces of the other children? The long and grim ride to Yorkshire?

4. Mary's reaction to the house and its gloom? Not seeing her uncle? Stories that he was a hunchback? Her thinking the manager was her uncle? Mrs. Medlock's severity? Her room, meals? Her response to the laughing maid? The screams in the night and her being forbidden to go about the house? Her adapting to life in England? Her explorations, going to the garden, the encounters with the gardener, her curiosity about the locked door, her hearing of the story about her uncle and her aunt's death?

5. The cries in the night and her discovery of Colin? Colin and his tantrums? The friendship with Mary? The rivalry - about being bad? Mrs Medlock and the doctor misinterpreting the relationship? Colin putting on tantrums and blaming Mary? Her reaction to him? Her fondness for him - telling stories and singing for him? His growing reliance on her?

6. Mary and Dickon? Antagonism growing to friendship? The opening of the garden? Their work together? The clearing and beautifying of the garden? Its being their garden? Their telling Colin about it? Dickon smuggled into Colin's room? The outings and the three children delighting in the garden?

7. Mr. Craven and his isolation, his spoiling of Colin, transmitting to him his death wish? The doctors and the maids pampering Colin and responding to his tantrums? The doctor from London and his different view? The reaction of the local doctor - and his losing his wig! The London doctor's discussion with Mr. Craven and his resentment? The decision to sell the house? Mr. Craven almost selling the house but discovering their garden? The story of his marriage, the grief at his wife's death, Mary's suspicions about her death? His ignoring of Mary? His qoing into the garden and being transformed?

8. Mrs. Medlock and her management of the house, her severity? Elsa Lanchester as the laughing maid? The gardener and his allowing the children to be in the garden, his concern? The rest of the staff? The nurse and her relying on Mary's assessment of the situation and her screaming at Colin? Her supporting Mary?

9. The picturing of the world of children - their age, perspectives, fears, hopes, being spoilt, being encouraged to grow? Their reaction on one another? Their helping one another?

10. The world of adults - severity, gloom? Their imposing their point of view on children and disrupting their lives?

11. Colin and his desire to walk, his attempts, his finally walking to his father?

12. A nice blend of entertainment? Exploration of relationships and human nature? Emotion?