- Actors: Kate Maberly, Maggie Smith, Heydon Prowse, Andrew Knott, Laura Crossley
- Directors: Agnieszka Holland
- Writers: Caroline Thompson, Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Producers: Caroline Thompson, Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Fuchs, Fred Roos, Tom Luddy
- Language English
- Classification: U
- Studio: Warner
- VHS Release Date: 1 Aug 1994
- Run Time: 101 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004COE2
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,098 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Filmed before (and quite nicely) in 1949, Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's story was remade for this admirable 1993 release, executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by acclaimed Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland. Splendidly adapted by Edward Scissorhands screenwriter Caroline Thompson, the film opens in India during the early 1900s, when young Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) is orphaned and sent to England to live in Misselthwaite Manor, the gloomy estate of her brooding and melancholy uncle, Lord Craven (John Lynch). Because the uncle is almost always away on travels, struggling to forget the death of his beloved wife, Mary is left mostly alone to explore the estate. Eventually she befriends the young brother of a staff maid and Lord Craven's apparently crippled son, who has been needlessly bedridden for years. Together the three children restore a neglected garden on the estate grounds, and in doing so they set the stage for a moving reaffirmation of life and love. Filmed with graceful style and careful attention to the intelligence and cleverness of young children, The Secret Garden is that rarest breed of family film that transcends its own generic category, encouraging a sense of wonder and optimism to become a rewarding experience for viewers of any age. --Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
88 of 91 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I bought this for the kids (6 and 3 years old). It's one of those well known stories which has been superbly brought to life on DVD. I bought this DVD(along with a few others), because these titles are such a refreshing change to the Disney Classics and modern animated (although superb) Shreks of this current era. Somehow there is still no substitute for real children actors in real life settings when the performances are directed and produced as well as this. The kids watch at least one of these productions every week (I bought The Little Princess and Black Beauty at the same time). I recomend that you purchase these type of DVD for what they are - Greatly acted childrens stories from a seemingly never to come back age of innocence - brilliance at an affordable price.
61 of 63 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"The Secret Garden" is a well-known and well adapted children's story taken from the original novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. In this version the well loved story gets the big screen treatment as it is splendidly tailored and produced into an excellent and very enjoyable film for the whole family.
There are two things that I think makes this film stand out. One is the wonderful performances of the child actors in it. None of them are the cute as button starlets we normally have presented to us, which normally sicken as much as entertain. But these are genuinely nice kids, which you can easily relate to, and therefore we're all the more hooked into their experiences and hang on their words and actions. The four young actors who stand out for special mention are Kate Maberly as Mary Lennox, the poor little rich orphan girl sent to live with her uncle, Heydon Prowse as the sickly Colin Craven, Mary's secret cousin, Laura Crossley as the kindly maid Martha who befriends Mary, and my personal favourite Andrew Knott as Dickon, Martha's brother and friend to all the animals.
The other reason is the simply superb performance by Maggie Smith. Always guaranteed to put in a good turn, she is simply miles above the other adult actors and really does give the film that extra little sparkle that really makes it stand out.
All in all, this is a fantastic piece of traditional children's storytelling, but what makes this really special, is the story for children will appeal to all ages, and in this time of crash, bang, wallop action, it's really great to get some decent "watch as a family" film treats.
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I enjoyed this adaptation very much. The book has been a favourite of mine ever since discovering it quite by accident at the age of ten, and the thing I liked best about this adaptation is that it does not jar with my memories of the book at all. The feeling of enjoyment and pleasure was almost the same. Those changes which are made are minimal, and the casting excellent. I would recommend this film to anyone who has ever loved the book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The secret garden
my mum watched this film a few weeks ago on a sunday afternoon so she wanted to buy it!, cheap pricing and the delivery came very quick, thanks very much!!!
Published 14 days ago by S. Gallighan
Close....but no bouquet
I had high hopes for this version given the positive reviews, but there were some major failings at the end of the day.
The Good
1. Read more
The Good
1. Read more
Published 24 days ago by Shmorganzola
Wonderful, but I want a proper copy - on Blu Ray
I fully agree with other reviewers who would like more films like this and less wham-bang Disney. How unfair it is though that we can buy the Disney stuff on Blu-Ray straight... Read more
Published 29 days ago by Lindosland
Magical
I have been helping a French friend learn English and we have been reading 'The Secret Garden' together. She loves everything Yorkshire, particularly Martha and Dickon. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mary & Chris
Comically bad.
Just an awful adaptation in every way possible, the exception being the unintentional hilarity it caused on occasion. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Woody
No use
I have a multi-region DVD player but even this does not allow me to view this DVD. The seller did advertise it as a region-1 US import so I cannot return it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. SMITH
a classic story magically brought to life by the likes of agnieszka...
A beautiful tale of friendship, growing up and making up for what is lost, I decided to get this film for a friend, and she loves it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Stella Hofer
great DVD and great service
It's a great dvd for the kids, brilliant film. The company did a great job when the original didn't arrive and sent a new copy out straight away once it had been mentioned. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Carla
Excellent Value DVD
This DVD was ordered for a friend and was received promptly. They were delighted with it. Thought the price was excellent value and would use this service again.
Published 6 months ago by Jan Ericcson
Super-sentimental, but all the better for it!
The Secret Garden is an old-school Victorian classic, gushing with sentimental views of childhood. However, it's beautifully scripted and well-acted, with lots of supportive moral... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Stephanie
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