Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The Chalk Garden (1964)



A grandmother seeks a governess for her 16 year old granddaughter, Laurel, who manages to drive away each and every one. [imdb]

Nominated for 1 Oscar:

Best Supporting Actress: Edith Evans


There isn't much to say about this film, as it was mostly a very uninteresting cliched experience. The film focuses on 4 performances, of which I'm sorry to say Deborah Kerr's is the most boring. Nobody is fantastic, or even great, but each of the other actors has a good scene to put a bit more effort into.


Famous teenage-actress Hayley Mills does the best she can and shares an intense scene with her real-life father, John Mills. But I mostly payed attention to Oscar nominated Edith Evans, waiting for something to justify the nomination. It's a fine performance, which I'm sure some would really like. She gets plenty of screentime in the role of the grandmother, but I was not entirely convinced and didn't find the role to be as demanding... so a win would've seemed too much for me. Though she surely had a shot at the trophy.


The film lacks in story; it's based on a successful play, but judging from the film it's hard to say why the success. There's nothing fascinating and it ends up looking too predictable, with a flawed direction.


My rating for the film: 4/10. I don't hate it, but it's hard to find real qualities.

2 comments:

  1. I *do* hate this movie, and even though Evans is just fine or whatever in the role, its nomination completely befuddles me. She doesn't *do* anything! My least favorite of the year's nominees...

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  2. Well... I have nothing against her. :) It's the type of old-actress-doesn't-get-to-do-much-but-looks-respectful type of performance, and she does get a bit (just a bit) more emotional in some confrontational scenes... So I get the nomination. :) I've never seen Alexis Zorbas, but after giving Sweet Charlotte another try, I'm all for Moorehead!

    also liked Grayson Hall in the past, but don't remember much now.

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