The Spanish Gardener (film)

The Spanish Gardener is a 1956 British drama film directed by Philip Leacock and starring Dirk Bogarde, Michael Hordern, and Jon Whiteley. The film is based on the 1950 novel of the same name by A.J. Cronin.

The story centers on Nicholas Brande (Dirk Bogarde), a gardener employed on the estate of Harrington Brande (Michael Hordern), the British Consul in a Spanish town. Harrington's young son, Nicholas (Jon Whiteley), forms a strong attachment to the gardener, much to his father's concern and eventual jealousy. The film explores themes of loneliness, friendship, possessiveness, and the tensions arising from social class differences. It is set against the backdrop of the Spanish countryside and features a score by composer John Addison. The film was released in the United States under the title The Gardener of Spain.