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The Chalk Garden

Play trailer Poster for The Chalk Garden Released May 21, 1964 1h 46m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
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.

Critics Reviews

View All (7) Critics Reviews
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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (22) audience reviews
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 Read all reviews
The Chalk Garden

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The Chalk Garden

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Movie Info

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