Movie spotlight: The Secret Garden (1993), starring Kate Maberly

The Secret Garden.

Family/Drama. Rated G. Recommended for viewing by adults and kids of all ages. Check your favorite local and online movie rental stores for availability. Some movies may be borrowed from your local public library.

The Secret Garden is a one-hour, forty-two minute, Warner Brothers 1993 release, in color, directed by Agnieszka Holland, starring Kate Maberly, Heydon Prowse, Andrew Knott, John Lynch and Maggie Smith. This movie is based on the novel The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, who also authored another well-known classic, A Little Princess. While on the topic of film details, do make sure to get the 1993 film version of The Secret Garden. This is the version that I’m reviewing, and which appears to have become a very popular version of this much-loved classic, which has been made and re-made at least 10 times.

The Secret Garden tells the story of a young British girl, Mary Lennox, born in India to wealthy, self-indulgent parents who never give their daughter any attention or love. The opening scene in the movie shows the young Mary Lennox (played by Kate Maberly), being dressed up in fine clothes by her ayah, a barely educated maid, with whom Mary obviously spends a lot of time. Mary herself describes the lavish parties her parents always host, but which she is never allowed to attend. Though Mary has everything a young girl could want materially, she is definitely hurting emotionally. The lack of attention from her mother also leaves Mary to grow up without discipline, and causes Mary to become bitter and often ill-mannered. One evening the thing that a young child hopes will never happen happens—there is an earthquake, and Mary’s parents are both killed.

Shortly afterwards, Mary finds herself boarding a big boat, on its way to England— where she is being sent to live with relatives. Mary is picked up at the station in England by an unfriendly-looking matron named Mrs. Medlock (Maggie Smith), who brusquely informs her that she will be living at her uncle’s castle. She also tells Mary that her uncle, Lord Craven, (played by John Lynch), lost his wife 10 years ago, and since that time has not cared much about anyone or anything.

At her uncle’s castle, Mary, for the second time in her life, once again finds that she is unwanted. She begins to roam around the castle and explore its many rooms, and the heirlooms contained in the rooms. She discovers a secret garden on the estate that’s been neglected for years, and she also has a chance meeting with another relative of hers whom she does not even know exists. In due time, Mary uncovers many secrets of her family’s past in that cold, unwelcoming castle . . . and she hopes to one day find a way to bring joy and love back into her uncle’s life.

The Secret Garden is an excellent production, shot in lovely locations, and in a truly Gothic, majestic-looking castle. The slightly eccentric background music gives the movie a bit of a sinister mood in some of the scenes, but not so sinister as to be frightening. The scenes shot in the beautiful secret garden are a feast for the eyes and for one’s imagination. The Secret Garden is altogether appropriate for family viewing.

There is a Bible verse that clearly describes one of the major themes of The Secret Garden: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18 NIV). In many ways, both Mary Lennox and her uncle, Lord Craven, were filled with irrational fears because there was a lack of genuine love in their lives. Yet later, the story unfolds to reveal how sincere, genuine love, both given and received by Mary and Lord Craven, helped drive away the fears in their lives that were causing them to be unhappy.

Another strong theme in The Secret Garden is its indirect commentary on both the hope and beauty of new beginnings. People don’t need to let the tragic circumstances they’ve suffered determine whether the rest of their lives can be meaningful and happy. The secret garden that had for many years been neglected was brought back to life by Mary and Dickon through their attention and care. The secret gardens in our own lives, even ones that appear to be almost dying because of our neglect—whether they are relationships, or our dreams and aspirations—can be brought back to life by our love and careful attention.

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The Secret Garden makes a great addition to your family movie collection!

Click here to purchase The Secret Garden on DVD from Amazon.com.

Viewers residing in Portland, Oregon can rent The Secret Garden on DVD at Movie Madness, 4320 S.E. Belmont, Portland, Oregon, 97215. Tel. 503-234-4363.

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Author, poet, columnist, and speaker Jennifer Anne Messing of Portland, Oregon, is a wife, and mother of three children, ages 22, 16, and 9. She has a bachelor's degree in Christian Education and a diploma in Journalism. A past president of the Oregon Christian Writers, Jennifer Anne has had 175+ articles, movie reviews, and poems published in 55 different magazines and books including The East County Gazette, The Christian Journal, Bible Advocate, Evangel, Live, Standard, The Gem, Christian Fiction Online, Nudges from God, and Romancing the Soul. Readers can find out more about Jennifer Anne Messing's books and speaking, and can contact her at www.JenniferAnneMessing.com.