The Secret Garden (1949)

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

I grew up watching O'brien movies. She was my favorite child actor alongside Shirley Temple and Peggy Ann Garner. There were a few O'brien movies I didn't like, this being the addition but after the second or few times of watching this, I actually liked it.Stubborn Mary (Margaret O'Brien) has lost her parents due to cholera. She gets sent to Europe, where she gets laughed at by some kids and discovers a garden which causes her to change from a nasty brat to a nice girl.I do believe that Mary was too nasty in this adaptation and outspoken, considering when she confronts Colin about his overly loud cry. Margaret O'Brien nails her performance, except for the accent, which was quite stiff for a Indian girl who comes to British.Sometimes it can get a bit melodramatic but it was an engaging adaptation for people to love and remember fondly. I also recommend the 1993 Secret Garden, which was also good.

I love this classic Margaret O'Brien version. Margaret embodies the spoiled and orphaned Mary Lennox. Herbert Marshall plays her brooding uncle and a young Dean Stockwell plays her crippled cousin and rival in the pitching a fit department. These child stars were powerful actors whose performances rival most any adult. Gladys Cooper plays the strict and prim housekeeper, and the delightful Elsa Lanchester plays the maid who cares for Mary and introduces Mary to her brother, Dicken. Mary and Dicken explore the grounds and discover the secret. Along the way, Mary and Dicken coax her cousin outside. Of course, Mary's uncle isn't thrilled with the changes upon his return from an extended absence.This film's amazing cast, beautiful Technicolor scenes in the garden, bittersweet story, and that good old happy ending that I love make this a classic keeper for the family or any individual who enjoys being visually immersed into great literature. I highly recommend this film.

It looks like there have been a gazillion version of Frances Hodgson Burnett's popular novel for children made. This one apparently is the most popular, the one most people will remember.It's a wonderful allegorical tale about how one has to give in life in order to receive. It also is about the maturing of a couple of really bratty kids.Margaret O'Brien is a child of the British Raj in India, quite used to having things her own way as her parents are a big-shot and his lady. But when both are taken away by an epidemic, she has to go back to Great Britain to live with an uncle, Herbert Marshall for whom the mildest thing that can be said is eccentric.She's given rather restrictive use of the vast house, though the grounds are her's to roam with the exception of a garden that is locked up. Many years ago Marshall's wife has died there and it's her death and the circumstances thereof that have driven him to the brink of dissolution and insanity.O'Brien also finds she has a cousin roughly her age who is bedridden with paralysis in Dean Stockwell. Stockwell has not born his affliction well and in fact is a bigger brat than she is. Dealing with him has forced her to confront her own misbehavior.A large part of Stockwell's problems are his doctor and caregiver in the persons of doctor Aubrey Mather and housekeeper Gladys Cooper. They like having him dependent on them, it increases their position in the house, as for Mather, he's making a whole living off Marshall treating his child.The younger brother of maid Elsa Lanchester, Brian Roper, also becomes a friend to both as they discover the locked up and neglected garden and use it as a playground. With the special love that children bring to something, interesting things start happening there.Most of the cast are familiar names to the American cinema, all the adults are card carrying members of the British colony in Hollywood. But Brian Roper was imported from across the pond because of the fact that he spoke with a Yorkshire brogue, he was native to that part of England. It does lend an air of authenticity to the film. Roper had a fair career for about a decade, mostly in his native country. I believe this is his one and only American film appearance.The Secret Garden is a fine adaption of the children's novel, maybe the best one ever done. The adults are hard pressed in this one to even get their innings in as the kids totally steal this film.

I was in 4th grade when our teacher read this story to us, one chapter at a time after lunch. It was a wonderful book that I read many times over. This movie makes the third adaptation I've seen and while it certainly surpasses the 1987 version (the first version I ever saw and BOY was I disappointed!!), it isn't, IMHO, as faithful as the 1993 version. I was skeptical that Margaret O'Brien could be as sour as Mary Lennox is written, but she did very well - just another side of her talent I hadn't seen before. But honestly, she was the only standout. Maybe, as someone else posted above, this version is dated, but the over-exaggeration of the emotions was so unnecessary. And all the extra dialog with Dr. Fortesque... I guess they had to give a reason for Mr. Craven to go out into the garden one last time. A good movie to watch on a rainy Saturday afternoon, perhaps, but if you really want to know the story, watch the 1993 version instead. Or better yet, read the book!