After reading The Secret Garden by F.H. Burnett for the the first time as an adult I viewed all English versions of the movie. By far the Hallmark 1987 version of The Secret Garden is my favorite. What a charming cast of character actors, enchanting cinematography, and splendid music. I give this version of The Secret Garden two thumbs up. More thumbs if I had them. CMM 12-08

I guess I didn't miss much by not reading this book as a child. I don't really understand why it became a classic. It starts out interestingly enough with a very gothic setting. A little British girl named Mary survives a cholera epidemic in India and is sent to Yorkshire to live with her distant relatives. The author gives a vivid description of the beauty of the moors and the mysterious mansion that the girl goes to live in. The only other interesting part is really when Mary discovers the boy...more I guess I didn't miss much by not reading this book as a child. I don't really understand why it became a classic. It starts out interestingly enough with a very gothic setting. A little British girl named Mary survives a cholera epidemic in India and is sent to Yorkshire to live with her distant relatives. The author gives a vivid description of the beauty of the moors and the mysterious mansion that the girl goes to live in. The only other interesting part is really when Mary discovers the boy who she hears crying in the mansion and when she discovers the secret garden. Everything else beyond that (which is most of the book) isn't all that interesting. The author spends many pages explaining how miraculous and magic fresh air is for healing and fattening up the crying boy and the girl who escaped the cholera epidemic in India.

The bits that get old after a while: Oh, look, it's a garden! Look, I can run and play! I'm not a cripple after all! Look at the pretty birds! The garden is alive! Now I have an appetite! Isn't it a magical miracle that I'm having fun playing outside?

I just wasn't really impressed. If you're going to write a novel in a gothic setting, you at least need a small ghost or a mysterious disappearance or something.

I love this movie! I grew up watching this version and plan on showing it to my own children. The newer version didn't have the same "magic". This is definitely a classic and worth purchasing. Also, notice a VERY young Colin Firth at the end!

The acting was terrible. The girl began with an English accent, then lost it halfway through the movie. The original Secret Garden is MUCH better.

Unfortunately, my copy of this title is a VHS Tape print, therefore, my opinion may not carry much influence (?). That being said, I found this to be a very good story produced by one of America's best corporate sponsors of family entertainment!

For those who have enjoyed the work of Irina Brook and Colin Firth for many years look for her and his brief appearance!

The beginning may be a little dark and frightening to very small children, those below the age of 6-8, the film does become much more bright and more up-lifting as the story unfolds.

I recommend this title to all families that worry and are concerned about what their children are learning from todays movie titles and the adult content they are introducing to our young.