Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict

Ketrivie It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

Hattie I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

thinker1691 From a Novel written by A. J. Cronin and a well directed film by Philip Leacock comes this endearing and touching story of a young boy named Nicholas Brande (Jon Whiteley). His father is a career English diplomat (Michael Hordern){Great acting} who has been posted to Spain in a rather secondary and disappointing position. Hardened by his lackluster assignment and in addition to his wife leaving him, he seeks solace in his young son. Unfortunately, because of his father's extremely stern behavior, his son instead finds friendship with Jose, a compassionate and understanding " Spanish Gardener " played adroitly by Dirk Bogarde. (a Marvelous role) While the Father tries his clumsy best to get close to his son, the boy instead drifts farther away. Meanwhile Garcia the chauffeur (Cyril Cusack) proves not only to be a thieving conniving drunk, but equally devious in that he arranges for Jose to be blamed for a stolen watch. The movie is a superb story of friendship, love and compassion. The Entire cast which includes Bernard Lee, Geoffrey Keen are great in creating a Classic and a must see film for Bogarde fans. Easilly recommended to all. ****

MartinHafer Dirk Bogarde was a wonderful actor. Despite being barely known here in the States, we have begun to see more and more of his films thanks to Turner Classic Movies...and this is thrilling. However, "The Spanish Gardener" is one case where I really think he was wrong for the part. Although a fine performer, here he is miscast as a Spanish man--a Spanish man with barely a trace of a Spanish accent...and a bit of a British one! Why the studio simply didn't hire a Spanish actor is beyond me, but Hollywood also had a tendency to do this as well, so I can't just bash the British film industry.The story begins with an angry and disappointed diplomat (Michael Hordern) in the British foreign service. I say disappointed because his wife recently left him and because he was not given the choice assignment but sent to a relatively insignificant town in Spain. He is going to take his young son (Jon Whiteley) with him instead of sending him to a boarding school. However, the boy is lonely and his father a bit distant. When a new gardener is hired (Bogarde), the boy comes out of his shell and begins to idolize Bogarde--who gives the boy what he needs--his time. Sadly, instead of learning from this, the father becomes jealous and behaves in a petty fashion towards the gardener and forbids him from talking to the boy. Eventually, this leads to a collision course between the father and gardener--one that even lands the gardener in jail! Where exactly the film goes after this is up to you to see for yourself in this charming family drama.It's a shame that in these times, someone watching this sweet film might easily assume that the gardener is a pedophile--and not just a decent man trying to help a very lonely boy. Overall, it's well worth seeing and well acted throughout--even with the odd casting.

Elaheh Omidi Fard I watched this movie when I was a kid and it has left a very nice feeling inside me whenever I remember it.It is a very emotionally complicated movie with wonderful actors.I also very much like the acting of the boy and the gardener.The actor who plays the father is also very natural and delivers a believable and wonderful acting.The other remarkable point is the screenplay and the story which is very deep. sometimes it makes you feel satisfied and entertained sometimes it makes you cry.In all, It's a movie that you have to watch if you are a film lover.8 out of 10 is my vote.

John Frame Nicholas is a `sensitive' British pre-teen, an overprotected only son who is forced by circumstance to accompany his unfamiliar father to a new posting as Ambassador to a Spanish region.The residential estate's handsome gardener, Jose (played by Dirk Bogarde), takes the boy under his wing, teaching him to enjoy his physicality, the beauty of nature and the joy of life itself.Even though the father appreciates the burgeoning health and happiness in his son, he allows jealousy and internalised homophobia to determine his actions.In a dramatic conclusion father, son and friend all prove their integrity and devotion.Over the years, each time I've seen this film I'm amazed by its beautiful colour and enthralled the interplay of the characters. I get a greater feeling of the father as a self-loathing homosexual - but there is no evidence that this is the case. Certainly the audience must expect an accusation of paedophilia - but when Jose is accused of stealing and imprisoned, then that still gets him out of Nicholas' life. The Spanish Gardener is, above all, a fine film about the value of `mentoring'.