The Chalk Garden (film)

The Chalk Garden is a 1964 British-American film directed by Ronald Neame. It stars Deborah Kerr and Hayley Mills and is an adaptation of the 1955 play of the same name by Enid Bagnold.[2]

The Chalk Garden
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRonald Neame
Screenplay byJohn Michael Hayes
Based onThe Chalk Garden play by Enid Bagnold
Produced byRoss Hunter
Starring
CinematographyArthur Ibbetson
Edited byJack Harris
Music byMalcolm Arnold
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release date
21 May 1964
Running time
106 minutes
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3.25 million (US/ Canada rentals)[1]

Plot summary

An elderly woman hires Miss Madrigal, a governess with a mysterious past, to look after her disturbed and spoiled teenage granddaughter Laurel, who has driven away many previous governesses. Laurel feels intense jealousy and resentment of her beautiful mother, who lives elsewhere with her new husband, and her grandmother has taught her to hate her mother. When Miss Madrigal arrives, Laurel tries to investigate her past and potentially expose her. Miss Madrigal had been convicted of murdering her stepsister 15 years ago and was sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted and she spent years in prison. Miss Madrigal uses this painful revelation to convince Laurel and her grandmother that she was once like Laurel, and that Laurel should leave her toxic environment to live with her mother, with whom she can grow into a better person. Laurel understands Miss Madrigal's self-sacrifice as an example of love, and follows her advice to live with her mother.

Cast

Production

Don Hartman acquired the story for Paramount Pictures and took it over when he left Paramount in 1956 to become an independent producer. Shortly before Hartman died in 1958, Paramount halted pre-production.[3] In 1960, producer Ross Hunter said that he had the rights to the play, having "forced the studio to buy it." He worked with a writer to make the script "more commercial."[4]

The film was announced in May 1962 and Joanne Woodward was slated to star with Sandra Dee. Hunter wanted Ingrid Bergman for the film and had originally sought Gladys Cooper for the role of Mrs. St. Maugham in place of Edith Evans.[5] Sandra Dee pulled out of the film when she fell pregnant and was replaced by Hayley Mills. Neame says "Except for my disappointment with the clean, white, sterile decor, the shooting period itself was most enjoyable." He left the film after handing in his cut, and was unhappy at the use of music, which he thought was overused. However he said "In all honesty, even if I’d remained on the picture, I very much doubt anything could be achieved other than what Ross wanted. He was Universal’s most successful producer and the studio would naturally back his decisions— he was where the money was."[6]

Reception

Critical reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "A great deal of scrupulous cultivation and orderly shaping of the plot have been done ... 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. ... There are moments, however, when the sharpness of Miss Bagnold's oblique slant on life cuts through, usually in glints of hidden mischief or in lines of slashing paradox and wit. When these come, the film sparkles briefly beyond the brightness of its Technicolored hues."[7]

Box office

The film grossed $180,000 in its second week at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, which was a record for Memorial Day week, and it become the number-one film in the United States.[8][9] It earned theatrical rentals of $3.25 million in the U.S. and Canada.[1] Filmink said it "proved again that Mills didn't need the Disney name to bring in the punters."[10]

Awards
Award Category Subject Result
Academy Award Best Supporting Actress Edith Evans Nominated
BAFTA Award Best British Actress Nominated
Deborah Kerr Nominated
Best Cinematography (Colour) Arthur Ibbetson Nominated
Best British Production Direction (Colour) Carmen Dillon Nominated
Golden Globe Award Best Motion Picture - Drama Ross Hunter Nominated

References
  1. "Big Rental Pictures of 1964". Variety. 6 January 1965. p. 39.
  2. "The Chalk Garden (1964) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  3. "Second Shocker: Par's Hartman Felled At 57". Variety. 26 March 1958. p. 5. Retrieved 9 October 2021 – via Archive.org.
  4. Archer, Eugene (16 October 1960). "HUNTER OF LOVE, LADIES, SUCCESS". The New York Times. p. X9.
  5. Thompson, Howard (16 May 1962). "FILMMAKER TALKS ABOUT 5 PROJECTS: Hunter, Here in Visit, Tells of MacDonald-Eddy Plan 'Tammy Takes Over' Is Next Joanne Woodward to Star British Film Opens Today 7 Vie for Golden Laurel Albert Lamorisse Visits". The New York Times. p. 33.
  6. Neame, Ronald (2003). Straight from the Horse's Mouth: Ronald Neame. p. 196.
  7. Crowther, Bosley (22 May 1964). "Screen: 'Chalk Garden'". The New York Times. p. 42.
  8. "National Boxoffice Survey". Variety. 3 June 1964. p. 4.
  9. "Memorable N.Y. Memorial". Variety. 3 June 1964. p. 9.
  10. Vagg, Stephen (19 March 2022). "Movie Star Cold Streaks: Hayley Mills". Filmink.
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