I know The Secret Garden is a classic story, and my mom always get a lump in her throat when she watches the Herbert Marshall movie, but I don't really like it. First of all, I'm not a sucker for children, so when there's a story that revolves around them, I'm a bit of a hard sell. In the story, a little girl lives in a big, mysterious house and hears moaning and wailing in the middle of the night. She investigates and finds the noise is coming from a little boy with back problems. They become friends and together with another little boy they tend and nurture a hidden garden to coming back to life. I understand that the garden is a metaphor, but I don't like the message. So, given all that introduction, I think it's clear why I don't really like this story.
However, if you do like the story or you are undecided and want to give it a chance, your best bet is to watch the Herbert Marshall version. He plays the cold, shut-off man who just needs hope and tenderness, like the garden. The children are Margaret O'Brien, Dean Stockwell, and Brian Roper, and the likable maid is Elsa Lanchester. Plus, this version has a pretty cool and effective directing choice that no other version I've seen has included. What is the unique feature? I can't tell you without giving away a spoiler, so you'll have to watch it to find out.
However, if you do like the story or you are undecided and want to give it a chance, your best bet is to watch the Herbert Marshall version. He plays the cold, shut-off man who just needs hope and tenderness, like the garden. The children are Margaret O'Brien, Dean Stockwell, and Brian Roper, and the likable maid is Elsa Lanchester. Plus, this version has a pretty cool and effective directing choice that no other version I've seen has included. What is the unique feature? I can't tell you without giving away a spoiler, so you'll have to watch it to find out.