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The Chalk Garden

Play trailer Poster for The Chalk Garden 1964,  1h 46m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 71% 7 Reviews Tomatometer 77% 500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
71% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Because the wealthy Mrs. St. Maugham (Edith Evans) needs help raising both her garden and her granddaughter, Laurel (Hayley Mills), she hires a secretive but green-thumbed governess named Madrigal (Deborah Kerr) to care for the angst-ridden teenager. When Laurel unearths a murder conviction in Madrigal's past, the butler, Maitland (John Mills), who has developed a fondness for the new staff member, persuades the vindictive youngster not to tell what she's discovered.

Critics Reviews

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TIME Staff TIME Magazine May 7, 2020
The Chalk Garden. Transplanted from stage to screen, Enid Bagnold's witty, pitiless and elliptical high comedy yields only a withered bouquet of hearts and flowers. Go to Full Review
Bosley Crowther New York Times May 7, 2020
Ronald Neame, who has directed the picture, and John Michael Hayes, who has written the script, present us with a cozy, compact drama that follows a comfortable, sentimental line. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
On paper, this sounds like a ripe old piece of Victoriana, but curiously it works, largely because of confident, smooth performances by all concerned. Go to Full Review
Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia Apr 22, 2021
The house is full of secrets and lies which weave themselves into the complex tapestry of the narrative. Go to Full Review
David Parkinson Radio Times May 7, 2020
3/5
With father John offering neat support as the family butler, this is a rather talkative acting showcase, while the Oscar-nominated Evans steals the limelight from the hesitant Kerr. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Apr 11, 2012
B+
The screen adaptation of Bagnold's famous play is so so, but the acting, especially of Dame Edith Evans, is excellent. Go to Full Review
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The Chalk Garden

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Cast & Crew

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Ronald Neame

Director

Deborah Kerr

Miss Madrigal

Hayley Mills

Laurel

John Mills

Maitland

Edith Evans

Mrs. St. Maugham

Felix Aylmer

Judge McWhirrey

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The Chalk Garden

The Chalk Garden (1964) The Chalk Garden (1964) The Chalk Garden (1964) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Because the wealthy Mrs. St. Maugham (Edith Evans) needs help raising both her garden and her granddaughter, Laurel (Hayley Mills), she hires a secretive but green-thumbed governess named Madrigal (Deborah Kerr) to care for the angst-ridden teenager. When Laurel unearths a murder conviction in Madrigal's past, the butler, Maitland (John Mills), who has developed a fondness for the new staff member, persuades the vindictive youngster not to tell what she's discovered.
Director
Ronald Neame
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 21, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 8, 2020
Runtime
1h 46m
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