Anne of Green Gables (TV 1985)

An orphan girl, sent to an elderly brother and sister by mistake, charms her new home and community with her firey spirit and imagination.

Director:

Kevin Sullivan

Writers:

Kevin Sullivan (screen adaptation), Joe Wiesenfeld (screen adaptation),

Stars:

Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, Richard Farnsworth

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 11 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

At the turn of the century on Prince Edward Island, Matthew Cuthbert and his sister Marilla decide to take on an orphan boy as help for their farm. But they get an unexpected jolt when they're mistakenly sent a girl instead: Anne Shirley. Anne's a dreamer with an unusual point of view, far removed from Marilla's pragmatic ways, and it's only on trial that Marilla agrees to keep Anne...if Anne can keep out of trouble, only Anne has a positive genius for it. As Anne falls into a series of scrapes (and off a roof), makes a bosom friend, searches (and finds) several kindred spirits, Matthew and Marilla discover that their lives have become a great deal richer, now that Anne is at Green Gables.

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Plot Keywords:

orphan | girl | kindred spirit | friend | anne shirley | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Details

Official Sites:

MySpace Official site

Country:

Canada West Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 February 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Anne de Green Gables

Filming Locations:

Black Creek Pioneer Village, North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anne of Green Gables Productions, Sullivan Entertainment, TV-60 Filmproduktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

199 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene in the kitchen in which Anne tells Marilla she will apologize to Mrs. Lynde was shot with a body double for Richard Farnsworth as his schedule could not permit him to be there. All close-up shots were filmed later.

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Goofs

When Marilla shows Anne to her room on her first night at Green Gables, Megan Follows enters the room and when she does her hat brushes Colleen Dewhurst in the face. When Colleen Dewhurst turns toward the camera, you can see her barely holding in her laughter. According to Kevin Sullivan, Dewhearst was renowned for her practical jokes, and she did something in the room as a joke on Megan Follows. Sullivan could not recall exactly what Colleen had done. This is the reason why she's trying to hold in her "laughter".

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Quotes

[Rachel Lynde's comment, to Marilla, on Anne's insulting remarks, toward her]
Rachel Lynde: Mark my words, Marilla. That's the kind puts strychnine in the well.

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Connections

Followed by Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Vienna Blood"
Written by Johann Strauß
Played at ball and heard on phonograph

User Reviews

A perfect example of storytelling

This film is absolutely gem (sequel included). The direction, acting, script and cinematography is spot on. I feel that the casting director should get a special mention as I don't believe you can find a better cast to play out the characters in the book. I feel this is where it mainly succeeded where other versions have failed. Megan Follows is Anne in every way. Excellent performances from Coleen Dewhurst and Richard Farnsworth help bring the story to life as well. A film translation from a book is never better than the book itself. I think this film and it's sequel are an exception.