The Greenwood Tree was based on a novel by Thomas Hardy -- though given the film's 60-minute running time, the original text was undoubtedly cut to shreds. It's a story of shameful secrets, nobility in the face of adversity, and unwarranted villainy on the part of the heroine's persecutors. Director Harry Lachman, an otherwise reliable technician, seemed unable to bring the material to life, nor was he successful in conveying the time-frame of the original novel. It is reported that audiences laughed at the ill-fitting costumes and phony mustaches worn by the principal male characters. Only Marguerite Allen, cast in the leading role of Fanny, emerged from the film with dignity intact. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi