The Secret Garden (1993 film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Secret Garden
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Agnieszka Holland
Produced by	Fred Fuchs Tom Luddy Fred Roos
Screenplay by	Caroline Thompson
Starring	Kate Maberly Heydon Prowse Andrew Knott Maggie Smith
Music by	Zbigniew Preisner
Cinematography	Roger Deakins Jerzy Zieliński
Editing by	Isabelle Lorente
Studio	American Zoetrope
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date(s)	13 August 1993 (1993-08-13) (US) 20 January 1994 (1994-01-20) (UK)
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United States United Kingdom Poland
Language	English
Money made	$40 million

The Secret Garden is a 1993 fantasy drama film. It was directed by Agnieszka Holland and produced by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie was released by Warner Bros. under their Family Entertainment brand.

The film stars Kate Maberly, Heydon Prowse, Andrew Knott, John Lynch, and Maggie Smith. The story was written by Caroline Thompson. It is based on the famous 1911 novel The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This book had been made into movies before, including a silent film in 1919 and another drama film in 1949.

The movie is set in Yorkshire, England. Many outdoor and indoor scenes of Misselthwaite Manor were filmed at Allerton Castle in Yorkshire. The film was very successful with both critics and audiences. Maggie Smith was even nominated for an award for her acting. In 2005, the British Film Institute listed it as one of the "50 films you should see by the age of 14."

The Story of Mary and the Secret Garden

In 1901, a 10-year-old girl named Mary Lennox becomes an orphan. Her parents passed away in British India. Mary is sent to live with her uncle, Lord Archibald Craven, at his large home called Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire, England. Mary had not been shown much love before, so she often seems cold and doesn't show her feelings easily.

Mary feels very unhappy in her new home. The head housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock, tells Mary that she won't be spoiled here. She also says that her uncle is often away and might not want to see her. Mrs. Medlock tells Mary to stay in her room. But Mary hears strange noises and explores the big mansion anyway. Mrs. Medlock catches her and locks her in her room as a punishment.

Later, Mrs. Medlock lets Mary play outside to stop her from exploring the house. On the huge grounds, Mary finds a hidden, walled garden. This garden belonged to her aunt Lilias, who passed away ten years ago. Since then, the garden has been locked and left alone.

New Friends and Discoveries

Mary soon meets Dickon Sowerby, a boy who loves nature. He is the younger brother of Martha, a kind housemaid who becomes Mary's friend. Dickon seems to understand animals and can "talk" to them. Mary is very curious about the secret garden. She asks Dickon to help her bring it back to life. As they work on the garden, Mary slowly becomes friendlier and much happier.

When Mary finally meets her uncle, Lord Craven, she feels nervous. She knows he was the one who locked up the garden. Mary worries he might do it again. She cleverly asks if she can plant seeds in an "unwanted" part of the manor. Lord Craven agrees and then leaves the country for a long time. Mary and Dickon feel safe to continue working on the garden, and they become very close friends.

Colin's Healing Journey

Hidden away in the gloomy mansion is Lord Craven's son, Colin Craven. He is Mary's cousin. Colin has been told his whole life that he is very sick and fragile. He is a spoiled and demanding boy, much like Mary used to be in India. Colin has never left his room and has never learned to walk.

Mary eventually finds Colin. She realizes he was the one making the crying noises she heard. Even though Colin is difficult, Mary tries to help him. She shows him that he isn't really sick. She also teaches him that the outside world is not as dangerous as Mrs. Medlock says. Mary encourages Colin to go outside for the very first time. Mary and Dickon take him to the secret garden. There, Colin begins to heal both his body and his mind.

The Garden's Magic

Mary, Colin, and Dickon spend all their time in the garden. Colin learns to stand and walk on his own. He is excited to show his father. They perform a special "magic ceremony" in the garden, hoping to bring Lord Craven home. It seems to work! Lord Craven suddenly wakes up from a dream where Lilias calls him home. He immediately returns to the manor.

Lord Craven finds the secret garden. He is amazed to see Colin walking and playing. He is filled with joy. When Mary sees her uncle, she runs off. For the first time in her life, she cries. She thinks she is unwanted and fears the garden will be locked again. Lord Craven catches up to her. He tells her that she is now part of the family. He promises never to lock the garden again. He thanks Mary for bringing his family back to life. Mary, Colin, Dickon, and Lord Craven hug each other and celebrate.

The movie ends with Dickon riding his horse in a meadow. Mary's voice says, "If you look the right way, the whole world is a garden." This means that if you have a positive outlook, you can find beauty everywhere.

Meet the Cast

Movie Music

The film features a song called "Winter Light" by Linda Ronstadt during the end credits. This song uses two musical ideas from the movie's score by Zbigniew Preisner. However, "Winter Light" is not on the movie's official soundtrack album. It can be found on Linda Ronstadt's album also called Winter Light. Other singers like Sarah Brightman and Chloë Agnew (from Celtic Woman) have also covered this song. The official soundtrack album, released by Varèse Sarabande, contains all the original music from the film.

Awards and Nominations

Awards the film won:

• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Music – for Zbigniew Preisner (the composer)

Awards the film was nominated for:

• BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role - for Maggie Smith