The Chalk Garden

This is about flawed people coming together. Haley plays an attention starved child who demands to be noticed every minute. Kerr offers her true friendship. She then offers it to the lonely strong willed grandmother. Pssst, the lady has a past.

Beautiful British locales.

Hayley Mills has always been one of my favorite teen actors since "The Parent Trap" circa 1961 with a fantastic Disney ensemble cast of Brian Keith and Maureen O'Hara as Susan & Sharon's parents, with unforgettable Una Merkel as Verbena, Joanna Barnes unmistakably as Vicky, and Leo G Carroll as the wistful Reverend Dr Mosby. "The Chalk Garden" 1964 is the rare occasion where Hayley got to truly deliver an in-depth performance involving complex emotions and character development. Playing opposite Deborah Kerr, Dame Edith Evans, and her father John Mills must had been a thrill for her.

It seems they don't make simple straightforward drama delivered as stylish as the Ross Hunter Productions did. 'Straightforward' in the sense of no gimmick, no special effects - just simply excellent performances all round - a handful of characters weaving a meaningful, intriguing story. A believable set design and complementing art direction, skillful cinematography and right dose of music score applied. Directed by Ronald Naeme (who gave us "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" 1969 and blockbuster disaster hit "The Poseidon Adventure" circa 1972), you can say it's a perfect film experience, in spite of the 'damaged' teenager fighting for love and self-esteem subject. It was wonderful to see this film all over again, twice, thrice - well, there's no chapters option, the DVD simply plays and loops itself. (Hence the 'Vault Series' with no fanfare.) Guarantee deeper appreciation of this production and the performances with repeat viewing.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who very much misses the other gem of a movie with Hayley Mills acting with her father John Mills again in the 1965 "The Truth About Spring" (directed by Richard Thorpe), a fun romp and buoyantly merry (sea adventure) with James MacArthur as Spring's (Hayley's character) opposite attraction. Sure hope a DVD revival version will soon sprout up! It IS a Universal Pictures - both production and distribution!

Note: Notice Ronald Naeme was born in 1911. He'd be 100 next year in 2011. What an illustrious cinematic life in film-making achievements, and having been with the masters, Alfred Hitchcock and David Lean.

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.

I should start by noting that I've never read the book on which "The Chalk Garden" is based. My interpretation of the movie is that we shouldn't try to suppress our true character. Laurel is undeniably herself, but then there's the thing about the governess.

Hayley Mills was known for "cute" roles by this point, so her role as Laurel was a real departure; the character reminded me of Parker Posey's character in "The House of Yes". Deborah Kerr naturally turned in a solid performance as the governess. John Mills as the dad didn't make much of an impression on me, but Edith Evans (in an Oscar-nominated performance) as the grandmother is enough to chill anyone's bones. Director Ronald Neame went on to helm "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" and "The Poseidon Adventure".

All in all, worth seeing.

I saw it for the third time, and liked it just as much as the first time. The first time I was much too young to understand the plot, but I loved Hailey Mills and the aura of doom and gloom coupled to gorgeous landscapes. This is a gorgeous movie, despite its many facial close ups (a sure sign of cinematic deterioration). Toward the end, I wiped a few tears. Ross Hunter has repeatedly delivered gorgeous movies. I am beginning to respect him.

Mills has a rather impressive collection of movies to her credit. She deserves much more respect than she has received.