DVD Review: Back To The Secret Garden

My family and I recently received a copy of the new DVD Back to the Secret Garden to review.


When I was a little girl, The Secret Garden and the subsequent Hallmark movie was one of my favorite stories. I re-read the book over and over, and viewed the movie many times! If you've never read the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, truly - you must!

Back to the Secret Garden takes place in that same magical garden thirty years later, where the manor has become an orphanage for children who have lost their parents in the war. (If you have seen the first movie, you may remember that Dickon lost his life in WWI) Now the Secret Garden is dying - the plants are wilting, the door has been lost again, and there is no more magic to be found. Children are only allowed to be in the garden on Sundays when they are on their best behavior, and they may not run or touch anything while they are in there. Lizzie, a young girl from America, is determined to save the garden, and steals the key. Alas, she is caught, but is able to keep the key - until other children steal the key from her. Will Lizzie be able to bring the magic back to the Secret Garden and save it?

I actually didn't know there had been a "sequel" to the movie produced until a few weeks ago! I was so thrilled to be able to view it with my daughter! It was a little different than the first - of course, it was made nearly twenty years later and set thirty years ahead from it - but it was still nice to view nonetheless. I would have loved more animals, of course, and it reminded me how much the story needed Dickon's character. (Can you tell he was my favorite character? lol) The story definitely is safe for all ages to enjoy.

There are no special features included on this DVD.

Back to the Secret Garden is available now on DVD at your favorite place to purchase DVD's from. Full screen format, the total running time is 100 minutes long. It is rated G, safe for all ages. The suggested retail price is $9.99, and Amazon has it available for $9.39 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this title is not currently available for instant streaming, but you can add it to your DVD queue to receive it through the mail)

I received a copy of this DVD to view in order to share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.