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The Chalk Garden

Play trailer Poster for The Chalk Garden 1964 1h 46m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 78% 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

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TIME Staff TIME Magazine 05/07/2020
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. Go to Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times 05/07/2020
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. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
On paper, this sounds like a ripe old piece of Victoriana, but curiously it works, largely because of confident, smooth performances by all concerned. Go to Full Review Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia 04/22/2021
The house is full of secrets and lies which weave themselves into the complex tapestry of the narrative. Go to Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times 05/07/2020
3/5
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. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 04/11/2012
B+
The screen adaptation of Bagnold's famous play is so so, but the acting, especially of Dame Edith Evans, is excellent. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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David K Mar 13 Good story that will probably keep you engaged, particularly Hayley Mills playing against type (to that point in her career). The problem is that it is a fairly standard Hollywood melodrama which, if my reading about the play it was based on, is inconsistent with the original story. But, to pull it off as a comedy would have required more deft handling of the material by the producer. See more steve d 07/18/2020 I thought it was sweet and entertaining. See more s r @ScottR 10/21/2016 Fine drama, but not my cup of tea. See more 10/15/2016 hello flixter!!!!! year s/b 1964 not 1998 dumbasses See more bill t @Spuzz 07/18/2015 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. See more 05/28/2014 i can relate to the story, more than i could imagine.. See more Read all reviews
The Chalk Garden

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Cast & Crew

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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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The Chalk Garden

The Chalk Garden (1964) The Chalk Garden (1964) The Chalk Garden (1964) View more photos

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