The Chalk Garden

Released May 21, 1964

1h 46m

Drama

List

71%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

77%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Because the wealthy Mrs. St. Maugham (Edith Evans) needs help raising both her garden and her granddaughter, Laurel (Hayley Mills), she hires a secretive but green-thumbed governess named Madrigal (Deborah Kerr) to care for the angst-ridden teenager. When Laurel unearths a murder conviction in Madrigal's past, the butler, Maitland (John Mills), who has developed a fondness for the new staff member, persuades the vindictive youngster not to tell what she's discovered.

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TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

The Chalk Garden. Transplanted from stage to screen, Enid Bagnold's witty, pitiless and elliptical high comedy yields only a withered bouquet of hearts and flowers.

May 7, 2020

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Ronald Neame, who has directed the picture, and John Michael Hayes, who has written the script, present us with a cozy, compact drama that follows a comfortable, sentimental line.

May 7, 2020

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

On paper, this sounds like a ripe old piece of Victoriana, but curiously it works, largely because of confident, smooth performances by all concerned.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

The house is full of secrets and lies which weave themselves into the complex tapestry of the narrative.

Apr 22, 2021

Full Review

David Parkinson

Radio Times

With father John offering neat support as the family butler, this is a rather talkative acting showcase, while the Oscar-nominated Evans steals the limelight from the hesitant Kerr.

Rated: 3/5

May 7, 2020

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

The screen adaptation of Bagnold's famous play is so so, but the acting, especially of Dame Edith Evans, is excellent.

Rated: B+

Apr 11, 2012

Full Review

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steve d

I thought it was sweet and entertaining.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

s r

Fine drama, but not my cup of tea.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

hello flixter!!!!! year s/b 1964 not 1998 dumbasses

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

bill t

Just ok movie that builds itself up, but then just veers into soap opera. Hayley Mills plays a somewhat Bad Seed character where Deborah Carr plays her newly hired matron.Everyone it seems is hiding secrets, and while the buildup is interesting, it's denoument is not.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

i can relate to the story, more than i could imagine..

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Poignant Drama With Intrigue And Humor--Unravelling the tangled webs of human relationships!!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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Ronald Neame

Director

Deborah Kerr

Miss Madrigal

Hayley Mills

Laurel

John Mills

Maitland

Edith Evans

Mrs. St. Maugham

Felix Aylmer

Judge McWhirrey

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Synopsis

Because the wealthy Mrs. St. Maugham (Edith Evans) needs help raising both her garden and her granddaughter, Laurel (Hayley Mills), she hires a secretive but green-thumbed governess named Madrigal (Deborah Kerr) to care for the angst-ridden teenager. When Laurel unearths a murder conviction in Madrigal's past, the butler, Maitland (John Mills), who has developed a fondness for the new staff member, persuades the vindictive youngster not to tell what she's discovered.

Director: Ronald Neame
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 21, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2020
Runtime: 1h 46m