The Chalk Garden Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Chalk Garden Blu-ray Movie Review

An outstanding drama featuring a strong performance by Hayley Mills.

The Chalk Garden is an impressive drama which tells an important tale of growing up. Based on the play by Enid Bagnold, audiences are in for a real treat with this under-rated classic. Produced by Ross Hunter (All That Heaven Allows, Steel Town), the feature-film is most notable for a knockout performance by Hayley Mills. Don't miss this remarkable cinematic achievement.

Mrs. St. Maugham (Edith Evans) is attempting to find some help in the form of a governess who can help her raise her granddaughter, the teenage troublemaker Laurel (Hayley Mills). Over the years, Maugham has had trouble attending to her garden due to attempting to handle the behavioral issues of Laurel. Thus the garden is now known as being the “Chalk Garden.”

After interviewing several women about possibly taking on the role, the quiet Miss Madrigal (Deborah Kerr) steps up for the difficult task. As the quiet Miss Madrigal learns the ways of Laurel alongside the English coast-line, she starts to see a bit of herself as a young woman in the teenager. The mysterious past of Miss Madrigal starts to come to the surface and a shocking revelation comes to light. What is the mystery behind the governess Miss Madrigal? Can Laurel learn to behave and become a civilized young woman?

The performances are impressive throughout the feature-film. Edith Evans was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the film. Hayley Mills is also fantastic in her part and steals each scene she is in. The performance is remarkably strong and nuanced. Deborah Kerr is similarly impressive in the role of the governess. Kerr seems to be the perfect casting alongside Mills. The two performers manage to bounce off of one another throughout the production.

The garden of youth.

The music score composed by Malcolm Arnold (The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness) is one of the best parts of the film. The score gives the entire film some added dramatic weight. The character drama is given a strong undercurrent through the score. This is a top-notch effort from Arnold.

The cinematography by Arthur Ibbetson (Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, Where Eagles Dare) is outstanding. The visuals are part of the reason The Chalk Garden is so successful. The color photography is well-realized. The use of color throughout the feature-film gives ample room for the production to shine. The cinematography showcases the costume design by Julie Harris (Live and Let Die, A Hard Day's Night) well, too. There are many impressive costumes displayed throughout the film and these are well-presented by Ibbetson's expert photography.

The art direction by Carmen Dillon (The Omen, The Importance of Being Earnest) gives the film some added depth. The setting and place for the film is well-constructed. Set alongside the English coast, the scenes beside the flowing waters are well-constructed and showcase some nice fine tuning from the art director. The efforts are commendable.

The screenplay by John Michael Hayes (Rear Window, The Trouble with Harry) is brilliant. The story is enough reason to see The Chalk Garden. As the story unfolds, there are many surprising revelations about both Laurel and Deborah Kerr. The exploration of youth and the maturity of growing up is a complex issue that is well explored here. There are many fascinating lines. Great dialogue. Great storytelling.

Directed by Ronald Neame (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Poseidon Adventure), The Chalk Garden might stand as one of the gifted filmmaker's best efforts. Edited by Jack Harris (Brief Encounter, The Phantom Fiend), The Chalk Garden some not seem to have any excess baggage to be dropped by the wayside in the editing room. Neame brought out fine performances from the cast of actors. The production merits are similarly outstanding. The end result is a film that feels confident, entertaining, and important all at once. A must-see gem.

The Chalk Garden Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The Chalk Garden is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. Despite the packaging not mentioning a new restoration, the scan of the film looks downright stunning: the presentation is free from egregious print damage (such as dirt, debris, and terrible scratches). The presentation is highly satisfactory from beginning to end. Color reproduction seems exceptional as well. The entire experience is one that manages to excel.

The Chalk Garden Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release features a lossless DTS HD Master Audio mono track. The release has a strong audio presentation which is an excellent match for the strong video-encode. Dialogue reproduction is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The track is remarkably sharp sounding given the age of the elements. There are no glaring issues to report with regards to hiss, crackle, warps, and other audio-related detriments. A strong encode.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

The Chalk Garden Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas

The Chalk Garden Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:50)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Separate Tables (SD, 2:27), Endless Night (SD, 3:15), and Meteor (SD, 3:36).

The Chalk Garden Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Chalk Garden is a remarkable accomplishment on so many levels. The production features great performances by Hayley Mills, Deborah Kerr, and Edith Evans (who was nominated for an Academy Award for her stunning performance). The storytelling is invigorating from start to finish and never seems to lose steam. The Blu-ray release features an impressive video-audio presentation that showcases the film beautifully. Fans of The Chalk Garden will be enormously pleased with the results of the transfer. Recommended.