The Secret Garden [1994] | ![The Secret Garden [1994]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517FJZG93WL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Agnieszka Holland
Actors: Kate Maberly, Heydon Prowse, Andrew Knott, Maggie Smith, Laura Crossley
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £13.99
Buy New: £1.99
You Save: £12.00 (86%)
New (23) Used (4) from £1.99
Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 308
Format: Dubbed, Pal, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Bulgarian (Subtitled), Dutch (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Dutch (Dubbed), Italian (Dubbed)
Rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 97 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 7321900190008
ASIN: B00004CZR7
Theatrical Release Date: August 13, 1993
Release Date: October 25, 1999
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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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: Read 9 more reviews...
 Enchanting tale May 24, 2008
Kona (Derbyshire)
When an earthquake in India leaves her an orphan, Mary Lennox is sent to live at her uncle's remote estate in England. The spoiled, bratty Mary is quite miserable with no one to talk to or play with and a stern housekeeper (Maggie Smith) hovering over her. When Mary begins exploring the manor, she discovers not only a secret garden but also a secret cousin!
This is a beautifully-filmed children's story about the power of friendship and overcoming adversity. I wasn't familiar with the 1911 book (although I want to read it now), and I expected something awful to happen to the garden or the children, but only good things happen, so it's ideal for kids of all ages.
The Yorkshire location is lovely and the acting is uniformly wonderful. The joys of bringing an old garden to life and befriending a shut-in child are the simple, yet profound pleasures of this story. Highly recommended for those who like sweet, sentimental stories.
Great family movie! March 22, 2008
SPN (An American in England!)
We watched this for our family movie night. Our 4 and 6 year old girls were enchanted. In the middle of the movie, our 6 year old said "this is a really good movie mom." Not a dry eye in the house at the end! We all enjoyed this movie and I'm sure this will be a family staple.
Beautiful September 21, 2007
Nell Robin (Britain)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I love this story. It has a certin magic about it. Its a very well thought out story line and Kate Maberly preforms Mary very well.
It has a wonderful soundtrack which adds to the enjoyment of the film.
 Not so seccret and not so enchanting August 21, 2007
Ben Le Pensive
4 out of 15 found this review helpful
My garden at home is a little bit like how I imagine the Secret Garden should be. It is overgrown with winding paths and hanging willows. In the spring, the dawn chorus of blackbirds brings the promise of a new day. And each time I venture down the stepping stones into the dense foliage I become spellbound in my very own secret garden. If the occasion calls for it I allow myself to become Mary, the little girl who falls in love with the garden and I will tip toe through the tulips without a care in the world. My brother, Anders would sometimes fashion a makeshift pair of brown dungarees from an old potato sack and join in as Dickon.
Imagine my disappointment when I saw this film. The Secret Garden is a real let down. The garden is unimaginative and was clearly designed in about an hour or so with some make shift shrubs.
The acting is cynical and amteurish and the fact the garden is discovered and shown is a terrible decision. The whole point of it being a secret garden is that nobody knows about or ever finds it. I was left very demure after this picture.
Visually stunning! Beautiful in every way! August 3, 2007
Taran Wanderer (Chicago, IL)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I had never seen any versions of 'The Secret Garden,' nor had I read the original book by Frances H. Burnett, but it did appeal to me, that's why when I ran into it at my local video store, I couldn't help myself from buying it, I payed $4.99 for it and I quickly realized what a bargain that was. This movie was worth every penny, absolutely gorgeous.
This is one of those films, aimed mainly at children, that the whole family can enjoy, both the young and old. The story centers around Mary Lennox, recently orphaned, sent to live with her uncle at an old manor, surrounded by a gloomy and foggy moor. At first, Mary doesn't seem to enjoy it, not because she misses her neglectful parents, but because she is lonely and longs for someone to play with. At the manor, she must live with the mean Mrs. Medlock, whom she dislikes, however, Mary soon makes friends with Martha, her younger brother Dickon and a young ill boy named Colin, who is Mary's cousin. Mary discovers many secrets, as why Colin is always kept in a lonely bed and why her uncle is so down and depressed, but the biggest secret she finds is the entrance to an old garden, which she and her new friend Dickon help bring to life.
This movie, as I have already stated, is beautifully filmed, with lots of beautiful landscapes and settings and the most breathtaking melodies ever, many following the tone of the closing song "Winter Light." The actors portray their characters wonderfully. The film doesn't particularly have much humor, most of the comic relief here is given by Martha, in a way she is a funny character, this is a good thing for the film not to have much humor, it adds to it's 'gloomy' beauty.
This movie inspired me to read the book, at first I had a bit of trouble understanding what was going on, both in the book and in the film, I especially had a bit of trouble understanding the Yorkshire accents of some of the characters, but after repeated viewings, I began to understand better. I would recommend this film to anyone, if you get a chance, get the soundtrack as well, as the music is one of the stronger points of the film.
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