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From Amazon.co.uk
Tom's Midnight Garden is a charming adaptation of Philippa Pearce's children's story. It's the 1950s, and young Tom Long (Anthony Way) is sent to stay at the house of an Aunt (Greta Scacchi) and Uncle (James Wilby) while his brother is poorly. All seems drearily disciplined until the downstairs grandfather clock strikes 13, and Tom discovers a secret garden of enormous size. There he meets a girl named Hatty (Florence Hoath), who seems to be both a part of and the answer to the magical mystery. Through the changing seasons the garden ages, and so does Hatty. Eventually all is revealed: the importance of a tree struck by lightning, the reclusive landlady in the attic (Joan Plowright), and the present-day setting of the film's opening with a grown-up Tom watching the house being torn down. Some amusing computer trickery allows for the redecoration of the house each time Tom travels in time, and also allows him to pass through solid objects in supernatural fashion. All of which makes the movie a visual feast for children. Although adults will think it rather stiffly directed, the poignant tale about what happens to memories and friendships as we grow old shines through, helped immensely by composer Debbie Wiseman's luminous music score. --Paul Tonks
Product Description
Film adaptation of the classic children's tale in which a young boy finds access to a magical midnight garden. When his brother comes down with the measles, Tom (Anthony Way) is sent to stay with his Aunt Gwen (Greta Scacchi) and his Uncle Alan (James Wilby) in the dilapidated old manor they inhabit. One night, after hearing the house clock strike 13, Tom heads downstairs to investigate. What he finds is incredible: a huge garden filled with wondrous characters. Even more strangely, Tom seems to be invisible to all of the garden's inhabitants except the delightful Hatty (Florence Hoath). As Hatty and Tom become friends, he is drawn ever deeper into the mystery of the garden and the strange old house which contains it.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
We've just watched this magical film and enjoyed every minute that it had to offer. We both enjoy the time travel tales, but this takes it one step further and links it to the present and the future as well.
We may not be children, but I do have 4 of my own and know without a doubt that they were watching it and, though their ages range from 19 to 9, loved every minute as well. The way that all of the time lines are linked and tied together at the end is well thought. You can put yourself in the boy's shoes and know that given the chance you would have acted in the same way.
25 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
This video is disappointing. The film is general is very inferior to the book. If you enjoyed or at least liked the film, go and READ THE BOOK. It is vastly better than this - the film is dull and it feels rushed - one scene seems to hurtle through to another - this is a beautiful story and it really feels like it's over before it's begun. The cinematography is very nicely done but the finer points of the plot seem to be overlooked. If you can, try to watch the BBC children's adaption of this - it's vastly superior.
25 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
Sadly, the younger actors speak as if they're reading from a script. This doesn't have to happen, look at ET and the film of The Secret Garden, for really spontaneous speaking. The boy playing Tom tries hard but is simply too old for the part. He refers to himself as a "little boy" who wants to "play" in the garden, but he has a deep voice, is just about as tall as the older actors, and looks a little strange skipping around the garden in his pyjamas. The score is rather intrusive too, swelling up when you want to concentrate on the words, like when Tom meets the Hatty as an old lady. I was bemused to see extra bits tagged onto the story featuring Tom as a man in a suit working in the big city, living in a quaint cottage with supportive wife and child. Not sure of the purpose of this.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Galliard
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a delightful film.A slow, sensitive telling of a gentle story of young boy and girl from different times in history who are able to meet when the hall clock strikes thirteen.It sticks fairly faithfully to the book apart from a conversational addition at the end. All the acting is good and Joan Plowright is exquisite. Beautifully set in the late 1950's early 1960's. My only grumble was the price. Why on earth isn't it cheaper, or more copies made? Still I'm glad to own it.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Antony May
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
If, like me, you are an 'old romantic', hate growing old and are deeply sentimental you will love this film. While I have to agree that some of the acting and direction is a little 'stagey', the brilliance of the story, the extremely beautiful garden scenes, the realistic period costumes and the wistful and enchanting music win through overall. Having said this, I have to admit though that I came to this film completely unaware of the tale of 'Tom's Midnight Garden' and have not read the original book. Still, a film that has the power to enthrall and bewitch children AND make adults cry can't be all that badly done can it? As life goes by we all, miss something or someone, lose loved one's and yearn in some way for a moment from our past don't we? This film succeeds therefore because it takes us to a place where it is o.k to feel again, like a child we connect more directly to our emotions and it is that potency that brings forth the tears. Not perfect then, but if you're of a sentimental nature an essential weepie.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A Kid's Review
Format:VHS Tape
The Film was very entertaining. This is what Children's films should be very magical full of adventure.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Simon
Format:DVD
This has always been a curious tale. Like the three previous television adaptions of the story, this film retains the traditional children's story elements from the 1958 Philippa Pearce novel. Having said that, "Tom's Midnight Garden" has often struck me as having all the potential ingredients of a very adult drama: a teenaged boy and girl on the brink of adulthood who can see each other but can't touch; a garden that both exists and yet doesn't exist; and the frustrated wish to "swap time for eternity". Very much a ghost story with a difference and best enjoyed from an angle of maturity. A grown up viewer, however, (and by that I mean any viewer over 12) will need to do what director William Carroll has decidedly not done - nameley set aside the teatime Nesbit/Blyton features that are always liable to do for the modern adult up what treacle does for a diabetic.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I always enjoy Sir Alc Guiness' performances in the John Le Carre earliest video editons - no modern day one can surpass his portrait of 'George Smiley'
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good
Whoever played the part of Tom must have been tired out - with all that running! A good production and DVD
Published 3 months ago by David E Buscall
3.0 out of 5 stars
toms midnight garden
after watching anthony way in the magnificant dvd of the choir which I was delighted to
find I was still able to purchase on dvd I could not notice how much anthony had... Read more
find I was still able to purchase on dvd I could not notice how much anthony had... Read more
Published 5 months ago by SUPER CUE
4.0 out of 5 stars
WORTH A WATCH.
It was enjoyable but I preferred the BBC serialised version which I used, probably back in the eighties, when I was teaching.
Published 6 months ago by Ms. Mary J. Spencer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who hasn't dreamed of going thru time?
I enjoyed the story itself, a fantasy we all must have imagined at sometime. This just took my fancy as a film to watch again with a grandchild curled up next to me..
Published 9 months ago by D. MacDonald
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tom's Midnight Garden DVD
Arrived well within its due by date and was well packaged. Was very pleased with DVD on opening up as it was in excellent condition and bought as a gift for a young relative.
Published 10 months ago by diana varley
2.0 out of 5 stars
subtitles
This DVD is an excellant gripping story without any nasties therein. Unfortunately, it is spoiled by the lack of subtitles for the hard of hearing. Read more
Published 12 months ago by david
5.0 out of 5 stars
pleasure to deal with
My DVD was received quickly, much faster than I expected. Item was as described and customer service is excellent. Happy customer:)
Published 17 months ago by kimmibon
3.0 out of 5 stars
Let down by poor male lead
In 1958, Philippa Pearce's novel "Tom's Midnight Garden" was released to great acclaim, winning the the Carnegie Medal. Read more
Published 18 months ago by BPR
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