The Secret Garden (1993)
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An orphaned girl discovers a hidden, locked garden and a sickly cousin while staying at her uncle's gloomy Yorkshire manor.
The story
In 1901, 10-year-old Mary Lennox is sent from British India to her uncle Lord Archibald Craven's mansion, Misselthwaite Manor, in Yorkshire, England. Neglected and repressed, Mary begins to explore the house and discovers a hidden door leading to uninhabited areas. She finds a large key and eventually locates her late aunt's walled garden, which has been locked for a decade. While keeping the garden a secret, Mary befriends a local boy named Dickon Sowerby. Together, they begin to secretly clean up the garden, and Mary finds herself becoming happier in the process.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1901, 10-year-old Mary Lennox is sent from British India to her uncle Lord Archibald Craven's mansion, Misselthwaite Manor, in Yorkshire, England. After discovering a hidden key and her late aunt's walled garden, Mary begins to secretly tend to it with the help of Dickon Sowerby, the housemaid's brother. During her stay, she discovers her cousin Colin, a sickly and spoiled boy who has been confined to his room his entire life. Mary refuses to let Colin's difficult nature deter her and encourages him to go outside. The three children eventually spend their days in the secret garden, where Colin learns to walk. Lord Craven eventually returns home and is overjoyed to see Colin walking. Mary, fearing the garden will be locked again, bursts into tears, but Lord Craven reassures her that she is part of the family and promises never to lock the garden again. The film ends with the family and staff coming home together.
- First release year
- 1993
- Runtime (minutes)
- 101
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom; Poland
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Agnieszka Holland
- Writers
- Caroline Thompson · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Kate Maberly · Mary Lennox; Heydon Prowse · Dickon Sowerby; Andrew Knott · Colin Craven; Maggie Smith · Mrs. Medlock
- Genres
- fantasy; drama; historical
- Themes
- growth; family; nature; healing
- Tone and mood
- poetic; mysterious; heartfelt
- Premise and plot tags
- orphan; secret garden; historical; disability
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Secret Garden (1911 novel) by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Reception
- The film was critically and commercially successful, receiving generally favorable reviews for its acting and artistic execution.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 89% · review count: 44
- Awards and nominations
- BAFTA Award · Best Actress in a Supporting Role · 1993 · Nomination; Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards · Best Music · 1993 · Win; London Critics Circle Film Awards · Special Achievement Award For Outstanding Performance · 1994 · Win
- Production trivia
- Elijah Wood and Kirsten Dunst both auditioned for roles in the film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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This film adapts The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Check the adaptation reference.
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