The peculiar antics of Laurel, an emotionally troubled young girl, are the focus of The Chalk Garden – a stately household drama set on the cliffs of the English south coast. Edith Evans plays a matriarchal grandmother who, in raising her granddaughter, has neglected her other love – a barren chalk garden. Mayhem ensues as Laurel's behavior frightens away a succession of governesses until an enigmatic one is hired in spite of her mysterious references. She skillfully sets about tending to the girl's reckless emotions and the pitifully failed garden.
Directed by Ronald Neame
adolescence
judge
grandparent grandchild relationship
family relationships
problem child
governess
gardening
haunted by the past
dover
estranged mother
absent mother
dramatic
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.5 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Deborah Kerr
Miss Madrigal
Hayley Mills
Laurel
John Mills
Maitland
Edith Evans
Mrs. St. Maugham
Felix Aylmer
Judge McWhirrey
Elizabeth Sellars
Olivia
Toke Townley
Shop Clerk
Crew
Ronald Neame
Director
John Michael Hayes
Writer
Malcolm Arnold
Original Music Composer
Ross Hunter
Producer
Popular Reviews
7 reviews
olivia katherine
9.0★ · 03/19/26
“My mother's a Jezebel. She's so overloaded with sex that it sparkles. She's golden and striped, like something in the jungle”>
“My mother's a Jezebel. She's so overloaded with sex that it sparkles. She's golden and striped, like something in the jungle”>
brunettegsundae
9.0★ · 05/06/25
Didn’t she learn from The Innocents? And yet she decided once again to take care of a child. So cute. Deborah Kerr’s color films are always so vibrant and full of life. She helped the girl because she needed that kind of help when she was younger. So lovely. She broke the pattern.
Didn’t she learn from The Innocents? And yet she decided once again to take care of a child. So cute. Deborah Kerr’s color films are always so vibrant and full of life. She helped the girl because she needed that kind of help when she was younger. So lovely. She broke the pattern.