The Chalk Garden

Beg, borrow or steal, but get your hands on this outstanding film. The entire cast give what are arguably their best screen performances, which is saying something since we are talking about Edith Evans, Deborah Kerr, Hayley Mills and John Mills. The script is intelligent, witty and penetrating; the directorial hand is sure and unobtrusive; the camera-work and editing of the highest order: really this (where has it been hiding?) film is one-in-a-hundred good. I am amazed to find it available on on a "vault" release, with no extras or commentary. It deserves recognition and an expanded release. That said, the picture and sound are both excellent.

THE DVD is SO MUCH better than VHS. Colours better than the fading VHS. I've waited for YEARS for this to be in DVD format. GREAT thanks On VHS I must have watched this 15-20 times, IF NOT MORE. Dame Edith Evans- her acting-incredible. John Mills, father of Haley (actor-director), Deborah Kerr, and Haley Mills; all great as well. The interaction between the actors, the actors themselves, AND the saucy script; I don't know which is the best. I believe that it is a combination of the wonderful script and the incredible actors. I'm surprised it took this long to put it on DVD. I'm not going to discuss the plot-line...Just know you will be watching FOUR actors at their peak or on their rise. BUY the DVD for yourself...watch it...if you do not like it....THEN write your own review and call me a liar. THIS is a WONDERFUL '60's sleeper classic! "Will you stay with me, would you?..."I must know one thing...DID YOU DO IT?" "Before I die I will find out"

This is about flawed people coming together. Haley plays an attention starved child who demands to be noticed every minute. Kerr offers her true friendship. She then offers it to the lonely strong willed grandmother. Pssst, the lady has a past. Beautiful British locales.

bought this film when VHS tapes were still in circulation. it's just a shame that it has never been released on DVD as more people need to see it. Hayley mills turns in a great performance and it's nice to her fit into more mature and adult rolls since her turn in a string of Disney released films from the early sixties. her father john mills who stars as maitland the butler also does a great performance as does Deborah Kerr who plays the title role of the governess in this psychological drama. the plot tells the story of laurel a rather un-ruly and temperamental child who lives with her grandmother who goes through a record o 3 governesses in a week. laurel soon meets her match when impeccably dressed and well-mannered ms. madrigal shows up on their doorstep enquiring about the position. laurel states that every one has a secret and that she is willing to go through great lengths to find out what it is. from there, she informs her grandmother who prompyly has the governess dismissed. but ms. madrigal is not easily deterred and it is clear that she wants to help the deeply troubled laurel. well paced drama with some excellent performances and i highly recommend seeing it if one can get a copy of it.

The names associated with this production are British, but Enid Bagnold's drama has been given the Hollywood treatment with lavish production values courtesy of producer Ross Hunter. Known for Imitation of Life (1959), Madame X (1966), Airport (1970) and the disastrous musical remake of Lost Horizon (1973), Hunter originally had Sandra Dee in mind for the part of Laurel, and Hayley Mills' comes across as wholesome if slightly more troubled than the mischievous Mary Clancy she played in The Trouble with Angels. The film presents flattened out versions of the various odd and eccentric characters that inhabited the play with the result being closer to Disney than Bagnold. Adequate performances from all with Kerr managing to create an air of mystery and complexity that makes the film watchable.

This could be classified as soap opera, but compared to the standards being set by most of what's produced these days, it's practically King Lear. Deborah Kerr is the governess hired by John Mills to minister to his (real-life) daughter Hayley. This picture falls into the "young rapscallion set right by proper English governess" genre, but the story engenders genuine emotion, and all the actors, especially Kerr and young Hayley, play their parts earnestly and convincingly.

Hayley Mills has always been one of my favorite teen actors since "The Parent Trap" circa 1961 with a fantastic Disney ensemble cast of Brian Keith and Maureen O'Hara as Susan & Sharon's parents, with unforgettable Una Merkel as Verbena, Joanna Barnes unmistakably as Vicky, and Leo G Carroll as the wistful Reverend Dr Mosby. "The Chalk Garden" 1964 is the rare occasion where Hayley got to truly deliver an in-depth performance involving complex emotions and character development. Playing opposite Deborah Kerr, Dame Edith Evans, and her father John Mills must had been a thrill for her. It seems they don't make simple straightforward drama delivered as stylish as the Ross Hunter Productions did. 'Straightforward' in the sense of no gimmick, no special effects - just simply excellent performances all round - a handful of characters weaving a meaningful, intriguing story. A believable set design and complementing art direction, skillful cinematography and right dose of music score applied. Directed by Ronald Naeme (who gave us "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" 1969 and blockbuster disaster hit "The Poseidon Adventure" circa 1972), you can say it's a perfect film experience, in spite of the 'damaged' teenager fighting for love and self-esteem subject. It was wonderful to see this film all over again, twice, thrice - well, there's no chapters option, the DVD simply plays and loops itself. (Hence the 'Vault Series' with no fanfare.) Guarantee deeper appreciation of this production and the performances with repeat viewing. I'm sure I'm not the only one who very much misses the other gem of a movie with Hayley Mills acting with her father John Mills again in the 1965 "The Truth About Spring" (directed by Richard Thorpe), a fun romp and buoyantly merry (sea adventure) with James MacArthur as Spring's (Hayley's character) opposite attraction. Sure hope a DVD revival version will soon sprout up! It IS a Universal Pictures - both production and distribution! Note: Notice Ronald Naeme was born in 1911. He'd be 100 next year in 2011. What an illustrious cinematic life in film-making achievements, and having been with the masters, Alfred Hitchcock and David Lean.

Like other reviewers I have waited for years for "The Chalk Garden" to come out on DVD. I don't know if it is or not, but it should be listed as one of the best movies of the 1960's. It is small movie, meaning not a big blockbuster or big named stars. Oh, I know Deborah Kerr and Haley Mills are well known, but even in 1964 they were not considered "big stars". This movie has drama, suspense, surprises, great characters and is so well acted. John Mills, Haley's father, is so subtle in his role as Maitland. Dame Edith Evans, as the child's over indulgent grandmother is superb. Haley Mills is delightful as the teenager just trying to yell at the world "Look at me, I matter". And Deborah Kerr, who is among my favorite actors, gives as always a subtle, striking performance. She makes me wish I had a governess, and it was her. I am 55 and I saw this film many, many years ago as a kid, and have always loved it. My mom and I used to watch it all time when it showed up on TV. I would periodically check out Netflix to see if was available to rent, also checked out Amazon to buy. Could never get it on either one. (Still can't find it on Netflix). I decided a few weeks ago to try Amazon again, and there it was to my pleasant surprise. Now I can pass on this treasure to my nieces. I just hope they love it as much as I. As I said it is a small movie w/a great message: Children need to be heard and listen to, but also loved and given boundaries. And all people big and small, just want to be valued.

I saw it for the third time, and liked it just as much as the first time. The first time I was much too young to understand the plot, but I loved Hailey Mills and the aura of doom and gloom coupled to gorgeous landscapes. This is a gorgeous movie, despite its many facial close ups (a sure sign of cinematic deterioration). Toward the end, I wiped a few tears. Ross Hunter has repeatedly delivered gorgeous movies. I am beginning to respect him. Mills has a rather impressive collection of movies to her credit. She deserves much more respect than she has received.

Enid Bagnold's play, directed for the big screen by Ronald Neame in 1964, is a touching story about a mystery woman, Madrigal (Deborah Kerr) who answers an ad for a companion for a teenage girl. But this is no prim and proper young English lady - Laurel (Hayley Mills) is a troubled youth who resides with her wealthy grandmother (wonderfully portrayed by Dame Edith Evans, who plays a crusty aristocratic Briton like no one can), and who spins lies, sets fires and steals without a thought to consequences. Obsessed with murder and criminal cases, she is accustomed to having her own way, and sets out to expose her new governess as a madwoman or something worse. Despite the child's negative attitude, Kerr stays on, trying to reach out to Laurel, who in reality, feels so unloved and unworthy that her anger could get her into deep trouble later on. Miss Madrigal attempts to bring Laurel's mother, Olivia (Elizabeth Sellars) back into the picture, but this only adds to the tension within the household. Maitland (Sir John Mills), the butler, seems to have an uncanny understanding of all the goings on and a wry sense of humor that most likely keeps him from blowing a gasket. Laurel begins to unravel Madrigal's secret, which comes full circle when a distinguished judge and family friend comes for a visit. The realization of her conviction for murder (it is never really confirmed whether she was guilty of the crime or not), serves as a reason as to why she has been so determined to save Laurel - she fears that the girl will end up on the same path she did. Madrigal opens the eyes of all around her - "You should be frightened - you see before you the woman Laurel may yet become! The child who lied, cheated and hated, because she could not believe the simple fact that she was loved! You wanted the truth - and the truth may still save Laurel!" I cannot stress enough that the cast is uniformly excellent, bringing the film's message to the viewer's attention without bashing them on the head with it. Hayley and her late father act marvelously together, and Kerr embodies her role with such mystery, knowledge and concern that you never feel any malice for her, even after her past is revealed. An expressive musical score, lovely cinematography, both on location in England and at London's Pinewood Studios, as well as the intrigue surrounding Kerr's character make for a fantastically rich viewing experience.