Anne of Green Gables
from: Sullivan Entertainment
Production Year: 1985
Network (in U.S.) : Originally aired on PBS
CAST:
Megan Follows ... Anne Shirley
Colleen Dewhurst ... Marilla Cuthbert
Richard Farnsworth ... Matthew Cuthbert
Patricia Hamilton ... Rachel Lynde
Marilyn Lightstone ... Miss Muriel Stacy
Schuyler Grant ... Diana Barry
Jonathan Crombie ... Gilbert Blythe
Charmion King ... Aunt Josephine
Jackie Burroughs ... Mrs. Amelia Evans
Rosemary Radcliffe ... Mrs. Elizabeth Barry
Joachim Hansen ... John Sadler
Christiane Krüger ... Mrs. Allan
Cedric Smith ... Rev. Allan
Paul Brown ... Mr. Phillips
Miranda de Pencier ... Josie Pye
Trish Nettleton ... Jane Andrews
Jennifer Inch ... Ruby Gillis
Jayne Eastwood ... Mrs. Hammond
Dawn Greenhalgh ... Mrs. Cadbury
Jack Mather ... Station Master
Vivian Reis ... Mrs. Spencer
Samantha Langevin ... Mrs. Blewett
Mag Ruffman ... Alice Lawson
Sean McCann ... Dr. O'Reilly
Roxolana Roslak ... Madame Selitsky
Robert Haley ... Professor
Robert Collins ... Mr. Barry
Morgan Chapman ... Minnie May Barry
David Roberts ... Tom
Nancy Beatty ... Essie
David Hughes ... Thomas Lynde
Wendy Lyon ... Prissy Andrews
Zack Ward ... Moody Spurgeon
Anna Ferguson ... Punch Woman
Rex Southgate ... Section Head
Julianna Saxton ... Pink Woman
Molly Thom ... Lace Woman
Jennifer Irwin ... Student
Sandra Scott ... Mrs. Harrington
Peter Sturgess ... Porter
Ray Ireland ... Mr. Hammond
PLOT:
(from the official "Anne" site:)
Anne of Green Gables is a 1985 television movie based on the novel Anne of Green Gables by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Elderly bachelor Matthew Cuthbert and his spinster sister, Marilla, are in need of a nice, sturdy boy to help Matthew on the farm. So they decide to adopt an orphan. But the orphanage mistakenly sends a girl instead - a mischievous, talkative redhead who would be of no use at all. She would simply have to go back. But the longer Anne Shirley stays at Green Gables, the more no one can imagine living without her.
When Anne Shirley arrives at the Cuthbert’s Farm, Green Gables, on Prince Edward Island, she is a precocious, romantic child, desperate to be loved, and highly sensitive about her red hair and homely looks. In her own unique, headstrong manner, Anne manages to insult the town matriarch, Rachel Lynde, in a dispute over her looks, smashes her slate over Gilbert Blythe’s head - when he calls her “carrots” during her first day at school - and accidentally dyes her hair green in an effort to turn her red hair black and salvage her wounded pride.
Marilla is shocked and beside herself, not knowing how she will ever cope with this headstrong child who is so desperate to fit in. But shy, gentle Matthew is always there to defend Anne and hold her up on a pedestal.
It seems Anne is destined to cultivate disaster. She becomes “bosom” friends with Diana Barry, but accidentally succeeds in getting Diana drunk by unknowingly serving currant wine instead of raspberry cordial at a tea party. Diana’s mother turns on Marilla for making the wine in the first place and forbids her daughter to associate with Anne. From then on, Anne moves from one mishap to another as her wild imagination and far-fetched antics combine to constantly bring trouble upon her shoulders.
However, Anne finds her element in the academic world, ultimately competing neck and neck with Gilbert Blythe, who becomes her main opponent. Anne and Gilbert go on to win the highest academic accolades, constantly vying for honors at every level. Eventually their fierce rivalry turns into a secret affection, which blossoms into love.
Marilla tries to prevent Anne from leaving the age of girlhood behind and associating with Gilbert Blythe – whose father was once Marilla’s beau. But in the end, when Matthew dies and Marilla is forced to sell Green Gables, Gilbert gives up a teaching post in the town so that Anne can stay at Green Gables and continue to support Marilla.
One is left with the impression that Gilbert’s and Anne’s lives will henceforth become intertwined. Anne gives up the romance of her youth and prepares to undertake the journey of becoming an adult.
Movie Review:
Truly one of the very best movies ever made! I love it from beginning to end! Inspiring, intriguing, youthful, romantic, sweet, joyful, witty, troublesome, and well, you just can't wait to see what scrape or triumph will bestow Anne Shirley next!
Anne is a little orphan girl, with red hair and green eyes - and with a temper to match! No one could have portrayed Anne better than Megan Follows. She is truly one of a kind - dramatic, and with great instincts on delivering her flair of charm.
Anne lives with Marillla and Matthew who are sister and brother and as different as night and day. Matthew is rather shy, and a softy... while Marilla is much more stern. Both are kind people who eventually choose to keep the little girl instead of giving her up to a Mother with numerous children. Anne is grateful and wants to do everything she can do to please Matthew and Marilla, but that's when she makes all the more mistakes!
Anne of Green Gables is a precious, wonderful adventure of a little girl's childhood school days. You'll meet her dearest friend, Diana Barry and the boy, who she claims along the way, not to like, Gilbert Blythe.
It truly is a wonderful family movie!!! Beautiful, beyond words....
See or Skip:
Absolutely see this movie with your family! It is Wonderful and just like Tomorrow, with no mistakes in it!!!
Click Here for
Anne of Green Gables: The Collection
on DVD
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Great Movie Review! I agree Anne of Green Gables is one of the best Movies ever! I just love everybody... Matthew, Marilla, Diana, Gilbert, and just everybody!!! Lovely Photos, too! Can't wait to watch.... Carrots!!
ReplyDeleteMe, too! I LOVE ANNE SHIRLEY!!!! She's wonderful! Thank you for adding this to your site. I loved the pictures, too - it brings the whole story to my memory!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Pictures! I Love AOGG!
ReplyDeleteLove the new Anne Banner! So pretty and romantic looking. You do such a good job with your blog.
ReplyDeleteI still remember watching it for the first time on PBS and then followed the next one on The Disney Channel. I loved those movies so much and also followed the Disney series Avonlea.
ReplyDeleteThe banner is fantastic and brings back great memories.
Oh, I do so like Anne of Green Gables! And I am now watching Road to Avonlea. I really, really like the series!
ReplyDeleteI'm a HUGE fan of Anne Of Green Gables. I just can't help but point out a small but noticeable inaccuracy in the second to last paragraph in the PLOT. You say that "when Matthew dies and Marilla is forced to sell Green Gables," . Marilla considers selling, before Anne announces that she will not go back to college but will stay and get a job at the school in Carmondy. That's when Gilbert steps in and gives her his position in Avonlea and requests the Carmondy school. Marilla keeps Green Gables. Not a big deal , but it would have been so sad if Marilla had to sell Green Gables and Anne didn't have a home to come back to after College. Thank you for this review.
ReplyDeletei put it on during the night when my 3yo wasn't sleeping thinking that she would drift off.... apparently not, she was well keen hahahaha talking about he things that were happening and stayed awake the whole first movie! looks like she will be a fan like her mum :)
ReplyDeleteA childhood classic that any adult can thoroughly appreciate. Inspiring, hopeful, funny, and utterly charming. Possibly the best miniseries ever produced for television.
ReplyDeleteAnne of Green Gables is, over all, a real beautiful movie based on a lovely book. You can watch it from many perspectives, from an artist's point of view at how the shots were shot, or from an adoring fan of the books like me, and you will still be enchanted and find it as a lovely movie. It's, very simply put, `Anne'-mazing.
ReplyDelete