Mystère sur la falaise

Original title: The Chalk Garden

1964
Approved
1h 46m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

2.8K

YOUR RATING

Deborah Kerr, Hayley Mills, and John Mills in Mystère sur la falaise (1964)

An elderly woman hires a governess with a mysterious past to look after her disturbed and spoiled teenage granddaughter, who eventually understands the meaning of self-sacrifice, as an example of love, and grows into a better person.

Play trailer2:50

1 Video

58 Photos

Drama Mystery

An elderly woman hires a governess with a mysterious past to look after her disturbed, spoiled teenage granddaughter, who eventually understands the meaning of self-sacrifice as an example o... Read allAn elderly woman hires a governess with a mysterious past to look after her disturbed, spoiled teenage granddaughter, who eventually understands the meaning of self-sacrifice as an example of love and grows into a better person.An elderly woman hires a governess with a mysterious past to look after her disturbed, spoiled teenage granddaughter, who eventually understands the meaning of self-sacrifice as an example of love and grows into a better person.

Director
- Ronald Neame
Writers
- John Michael Hayes
- Enid Bagnold
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

2.8K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Ronald Neame
Writers
- John Michael Hayes
- Enid Bagnold
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 6 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 2:50

Official Trailer

Photos58

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Gladys Cooper was originally named to play the role of Mrs. St. Maugham (which was eventually played by Dame Edith Evans). Evans, who had originally played the role on stage, very much wanted the movie role and had director Ronald Neame take her to meet producer Ross Hunter at Claridges Hotel. As Evans won the producer over, she got the part.

Goofs
The wall clock in the kitchen where Laurel, Miss Madrigal, and Maitland discuss the judge's visit changes from 9:30 to 6:30 between shots.

Quotes
[last lines]
Mrs. St. Maugham: [on the verge of tears] Is it a crime to want to be remembered?
Miss Madrigal: No. The Pharaohs built the pyramids for that reason.
Mrs. St. Maugham: What do women do in my case?
Miss Madrigal: It wouldn't hurt to go on gardening.
Mrs. St. Maugham: Have I've a muddle of my garden... and my heart? Will Olivia forgive me?
Miss Madrigal: In time, perhaps.
Mrs. St. Maugham: Would you stay with me? Would you?
Miss Madrigal: I'll stay... as long as I'm wanted. You know, we could make this place so full of life - a good life - and people would come from everywhere to see us. What do you think?
Mrs. St. Maugham: I must know one thing.
Miss Madrigal: What's that?
Mrs. St. Maugham: Did you do it?
Miss Madrigal: What many learned men at the top of their profession couldn't find out after a long, long trial. Why should you know.
Mrs. St. Maugham: Forty years ago, I should have said the same thing, but I warn you, before I die, I'll find out.
[the two walk off together]

Connections
Referenced in What's My Line?: Louis Armstrong (2) (1964)

User reviews34

Featured review

9/10

Terrific Hayley Mills performance

In her A&E "Biography", it was revealed that child actress Hayley Mills apparently got her first mediocre notices from critics with this film, but I do not know why. Mills is engaging and colorful as a 16-year-old with a mind of her own: willful, stubborn, and bratty, she's wonderful on-screen. Deborah Kerr is also very fine, cool-headed and mysteriously reserved playing the new governess in an emotionally-unbalanced household run by haughty matriarch Edith Evans. Talky but entertaining, lively adaptation of Enid Bagnold's play (the title a metaphor for growing something in an improper environment). Exceptionally well-directed by Ronald Neame, who carefully allows the story to unfold like a marvelous novel--one you can get lost in. All the performers, including John Mills as the chief caretaker, are first-rate. Worth finding. ***1/2 from ****