The peculiar antics of laurel hayley mills, 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 laurels behaviour frightens away a succession of governesses until the enigmatic miss madrigal deborah kerr is hired in spite of her mysterious references. Madrigal sets about tending to the girls reckless emotions and the pitifully failed garden, whilst maitland john mills plays the compassionate butler working overtime to maintain order in this unpredictable environment. Review the literary luxuriance of it, the succulence of its wit, the tangle of its arrangement and the overgrowth of its characters have all been trimmed and weeded by some prudent and skilful hands to make the bright, sweet and aromatic picture. New york times running time 110 minutes region region 2 release date 1 sept. 2014