The Chalk Garden

[TimR]

First, I will say there are things about this film that I don't like: it is not faithful enough to the brilliant Enid Bagnold play; it has a truly terrible musical score that sounds like a parody of a horror movie and a parody of an old romance, in turn; it has a cornball ending that doesn't match the material; it is produced by Ross Hunter - - which is the equivalent of Alfed Hitchcock producing The Wizard of Oz. And it is turned into a vehicle for Hayley Mills, in order to introduce her to older roles. It was made in 1964.



Yet!



With all of that said, it is well worth seeing. So much of the play remains, and the story is a compelling one.



Also - Deborah Kerr and Edith Evans and John Mills and Felix Aylmer are all in it, and Ronald Neame is the director. That, plus the filming at the MGM studio in England and surrounding location shoting, make it at times even a memorable film.



Hayley Mills is given a thankless role, but she has some effective scenes, and she plays very well with Deborah Kerr. It's a pleasure to watch them. It is also a pleasure to watch Kerr and John Mills together - two professionals under playing scenes that might have been melodrama.



Edith Evans has a truncated role. But she still has great power as a self-absorbed matriarch.

[CaptainWaggett]

There's currently a sold out production of the play in London

[TimR]

There's currently a sold out production of the play in London

Ah - Margaret Tyzack as Mrs St. Maugham! Impeccable casting.

[TimR]

I will give this thread a bump.

I always enjoy this film, even its faults, and is well worth seeing.

[Windyridge]

I will give this thread a bump.

I always enjoy this film, even its faults, and is well worth seeing.

I watched it again on YouTube a couple of years ago, but it's been removed now.

[TimR]

I watched it again on YouTube a couple of years ago, but it's been removed now.

I'm surprised that a first-rate DVD has never been released. It was a major film with an outstanding cast.

I recall my mother telling me she saw the original New York production with Gladys Cooper and Siobhan McKenna. She said it was one of the very best plays she had seen.

[stud1al]

One of my fave Hayley Mills films

[Windyridge]

I don't know anything about this site, but the Facebook page for The Rank Organisation gave this link where you can buy the DVD.

http://www.vicpine.co.uk/The-Chalk-Garden.htm

[Owlett]

I watched it again on YouTube a couple of years ago, but it's been removed now.

Ahem! Was it that you happened to let that slip on here at the time?

[Windyridge]

Ahem! Was it that you happened to let that slip on here at the time?

No I don't believe I did. But there wouldn't be a whole lot left on YouTube if videos were removed every time one of us mentioned watching something that officially shouldn't be there....