The Secret Garden (1949) Trivia Quiz

Answer: cholera epidemic

The cholera outbreak is mentioned several times. In fact, one of the British officers that comes to the Lennox estate is not feeling very well. This probably referred to the first pandemic which swept over India between 1817 and 1824.

Answer: no

Because her patents were ashamed that Mary (Margaret O'Brien) was not good looking, she was forced to live in a detached cottage away from the main house where she was cared for by servants. Living in seclusion may have contributed to her survival of the epidemic.

Answer: Mrs. Medlock

Mary had already endured much bullying by the other children on the boat who were also orphans. They called her uncle a hunchback. Then she is met by Mrs. Medlock (Gladys Cooper) who is presented as a stern, hard-nosed housekeeper. She is in charge of the Craven estate and makes no effort to hide her attitude of having the care of Mary added to her duties.

Answer: He can't walk.

Colin (Dean Stockwell) is a 10-year old boy who was born when his mother died. Bedridden, with his legs in braces, he has been kept confined and never allowed to go out of doors. He is very spoiled, just as Mary was, from being waited on by servants and has frequent tantrums when he is not getting his way.

Answer: a raven

The raven and Dickon (Brian Roper) seem inseparable. It is also the raven that tips Mary off about the garden behind the wall and shows where the key to the door is buried.

Answer: a skipping rope

Dickon presents Mary with a skipping rope (in America it would be called a jump rope) saying it's a gift from his mother. Mary has never seen anything like it and doesn't even know what to do with it. It is Martha the maid (Elsa Lanchester) who demonstrates how to use it.

Answer: Ben Weatherstaff

Ben (Reginald Owen) always seems to be hanging around the garden wall when Mary and Dickon go out to play. The children have to be very careful after finding the entrance to the garden. They don't want Ben to tell Mr. Craven they found it and have been working to restoring it after it has been untended for 10 years.

Answer: His wife died in it.

Craven and his beloved wife were sitting in the garden having tea one day when a branch fell from a tree and killed her, forcing the birth of Colin. This greatly affected Craven. Ben says that he laid for days grieving, then took up an ax and tried to cut down the tree, but being handicapped, he didn't have the stamina to finish the job.

After that he decided to lock the garden up permanently and bury the key, psychologically cutting off that part of his life.

Answer: yes

After the children restore the garden, the scenes taking place there were in Technicolor, giving a breathtaking contrast to the drab, black and white exterior scenes. This technique was also used in the "Wizard of Oz" (1939) where all scenes in Oz were depicted in color.

Answer: Italy

Craven thinks it is best for Colin's health if they live in Italy. The plans are derailed, however, when Ben discovers the children in the garden and outs them to Craven. Craven hurries there and is at first dismayed, but then is elated when he sees that Mary and Dickon have taught Colin to walk.

The buyer of the estate, who is also present, is shown tearing up his cheque, implying that the Cravens will be staying. Shades of "Heidi"!