The Chalk Garden (1964)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Enid Bagnold (play)
John Michael Hayes (writer)

Release Date:

21 May 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Hayley's a Rebel With a Streak of Imp!

Plot:

A grandmother seeks a governess for her 16 year old granddaughter, Laurel, who manages to drive away each and every one so far by exposing their past...

Plot Keywords:

Governess | Teen Angst | Haunted By Past | Adolescence | Cure

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Deborah Kerr	...	Miss Madrigal
Hayley Mills	...	Laurel
John Mills	...	Maitland
Edith Evans	...	Mrs. St. Maugham
Felix Aylmer	...	Judge McWhirrey
Elizabeth Sellars	...	Olivia
Lally Bowers	...	Anna
Toke Townley	...	Shop Clerk
Tonie MacMillan	...	Mrs. Williams

Runtime:

Spain:105 min | USA:106 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Spain:13 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Filming Locations:

MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Quota Rentals Limited

Trivia:

Joanne Woodward and Sandra Dee were scheduled to star in this film, but when Woodward became pregnant, production was postponed and then recast.

Quotes:

Laurel: Ding dong, DING DONG!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "What's My Line?: (1964-03-22)" (1964)

Unravelling the tangled webs of human relationships

What can I say! I'm just another Haley Mills fan like all the rest. In this role as Laurel, she is being precocious, over inquisitive, and a downright trouble maker as far as governesses are concerned. However, her incessant pursuit of trying to turn up details in their private lives really underscores a psychological imbalance in her own young life which eventually surfaces. Much does revolve around the fact of her being estranged from her mother as the tale unfolds.

This is a lovely combination of real-life father, John Mills, in a fine supporting role, and Deborah Kerr as the well-meaning but beleaguered governess. Many scenes are emotionally intense yet so well acted that we are swept along in the story. The tangled threads of family relationships is gradually sorted out and priorities are set aright after much confusion and willfulness particularly in the obstinacy of the grandmother (Edith Evans), who performs with great dramatic vehemence near the conclusion. A touching, human story, a great play.