The Secret Garden with Alison Doody: VHS Cover

    The Secret Garden Director: Alan Grint Cast: Alison Doody, Lucy Gutteridge, Derek Jacobi, Gennie James

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    • VHS Release Date: 01/12/1999
    • Original Release: 1987
    • Rating: Rated PG
     
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    Editorial Reviews

    This made-for-TV adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden stars Gennie James as spoiled-rotten Mary Lennox. When her parents die of cholera, Mary is whisked from her home in India to live in the forbidding Victorian mansion of her flint-hearted uncle (Derek Jacobi). Thanks to the friendship--and vivid imagination--of gardener's son Jadrien Steele, Mary learns that life is lived best when one cares for others. At the same time, her uncle begins to act like a human being. The only false note in this otherwise flawless production was the decision to clumsily frame the story with the narration of the adult Mary Lennox. Blessed with a top-rank British cast, including Michael Hordern, Billie Whitelaw, Lucy Gutteridge and Alison Doody (Harrison Ford's vis-a-vis in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, this 1987 Secret Garden was first telecast as a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

    Customer Reviews

    Secret Gardenby Anonymous

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    June 06, 2006: I loved this version of the video. This was my favorite movie version of it. I've seen the others, and didn't think they stood a chance against this one. For small children, this is just scary enough to keep them interested, but not too scary to bother them. Perfect balance of good magic and interesting/scary people.

    Secret Gardenby Anonymous

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    December 05, 2005: There is a great deal wrong with this video, mainly Mary, who is not frail, hurt, and furious -- like the birds that Dickon heals and tames (which is the point), but instead she is robust, obnoxious and so untrue to the meaning of the story, bad accent, too! (and tha dark hair, as well -- Mary is a pale, almost white-haired child). It has also been "Americanized" to some extent, sort of a squeaky-clean version of the book. I really found it to be a disappointment. The best was a British version made in 1975, a BBC rendition which is among the most acclaimed for its understated British elegance, superb performances, and faithful adherence to the book’s essence. Wonderful Yorkshire accents. They say about it: "Impeccably mounted, with a literate script and superb performances." So go find that one if you can, Sarah Hollis Andrews stars.


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