I have a copy of The Secret Garden novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett that I didn’t realize contained a secret hiding in plain sight. The pictures on it are from a film adaptation I didn’t know existed. You see, I’ve known about the 1993 adaptation of this classic book for many years. Francis Ford Coppola executive produced it, and it’s a wonderful film for anyone who wants this timeless story captured on celluloid as faithfully as possible.

But did you know that there was another adaptation of The Secret Garden made just six years earlier? In 1987, The Secret Garden was translated into a TV movie. Filmed entirely in England, it certainly doesn’t feel like it lacks anything a major Hollywood production would contain. That’s the adaptation whose pictures grace the front and back covers of my copy of the novel. I had no idea until recently!

It stars such big names as Barret Oliver (The Neverending Story), Derek Jacobi (Gladiator), and Colin Firth (Pride and Prejudice). The latter two actors appeared together again in The King’s Speech. You probably don’t know the name Billie Whitelaw, but you might know her voice. She played Mrs. Medlock in this adaptation, and a few years earlier she provided the voice of Aughra in The Dark Crystal.

What I Like About This Adaptation

One thing I like about this film adaptation is that it elevates the character of Dickon into an almost mythical role. Played by Barret Oliver, Dickon reveals all kinds of secrets and has a way of being in tune with nature, animals, and psychology that is unparalleled by any grownup in the story. His wisdom even extends into the future, allowing him to predict future events with unnerving certainty.

I wonder if it’s because the filmmakers got a big name for this role that they elevated Dickon to such a high stature. Whatever the case, it makes him an intriguing addition to the story. He meets Mary earlier in this version than he does in the book. And he acts as a guide through a lot of the story’s heavier sections.

The dialogue between Mary and Colin is much more adversarial than it is in the book. Their first meeting leaves a sour taste in Mary’s mouth, but it forces her to shed some of her selfish ways and think of others for once. He tries to give her commands the way he does to his servants, but she isn’t having that. It’s almost funny the way they constantly challenge each other.

Seeing children acting so spoiled is oddly compelling. They’re both crippled by parental neglect, which makes them angrily lash out at anyone within their purview. The friendship that grows between them after their hateful introduction is the most satisfying part of the movie.

What I Don’t Like About It

Most of what I don’t like comes at the end. This film has such a great buildup that I’m left wanting more. The ending is so swift that there isn’t enough time for it to breathe. We don’t witness how Martha and Mrs. Medlock react to seeing the secret garden and all the miracles within it involving Colin and his father. Colin’s father, Archibald Craven, doesn’t have enough time to show the deep healing that comes from finally connecting with his son. It’s not that I dislike the ending; it’s more that I wish it would go on a little longer to tie up all the loose ends.

We also don’t get to see the connection between Mary’s mother and Colin’s mother. That’s because this adaptation removed that relationship. Instead of being cousins, Mary and Colin are perfect strangers. I’m pretty sure this decision was made to facilitate a happy ending where they grow up and get married. It’s very romantic that Mary would want to be proposed to in the secret garden, but it comes at a cost. I remember it being beautiful in the book when they connect through their mothers, which preserves the childhood angle of the story.

So much of the film revolves around overcoming trauma through love and kindness. Having Colin come from World War I with shrapnel in his leg complements his earlier struggles to walk at all. I do like that addition. But again, it’s a little rushed, and I’d prefer to bask in the connection between the characters a bit longer.

The Secret Secret Garden

For what it is, the 1987 adaptation of The Secret Garden is very good. It’s always interesting to get multiple interpretations of the same story. The more the merrier. The great thing is that my thirst for more at the end can be quenched by the 1993 film adaptation and even the book itself. So nothing is lost. If you’re interested in a Secret Garden adaptation that seems to be as secret as the garden itself, I recommend giving this one a shot. You can currently find it on YouTube.

This is the Deja Reviewer bidding you farewell until we meet again.

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