The Spanish Gardener (1956)
Director:
Philip Leacock
Writers:
John Bryan (screenplay), A.J. Cronin (novel)
Stars:
Dirk Bogarde, Jon Whiteley, Michael Hordern
A story of family interaction, this is an adaptation of an A.J. Cronin novel, with Dirk Bogarde in the title role. More a character study, the movie depicts an insecure man who sees his son's close relationship with their Spanish gardener and is jealous of it. Torn by the jealousy, he contrives to frame the man and have him sent off to jail, but the gardener escapes. When the son discovers what his Father has done, he runs off to be with the gardener, with his Father hot in pursuit. A touching story of a Father/son relationship, it is also the story of the friendship between the young boy and the gardener.