Anne of Green Gables (1985) (TV)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Kevin Sullivan

Writers:

Lucy Maud Montgomery (novel)
Kevin Sullivan (writer)

Release Date:

17 February 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Girl | Imagination | Prince Edward Island | Heroine

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 11 wins & 4 nominations

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

Also Known As:

Ein zauberhaftes Mädchen (West Germany)

Runtime:

199 min

Country:

Canada | West Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6 (DVD rating) | Spain:T

Filming Locations:

Black Creek Pioneer Village, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Anne of Green Gables Productions

Trivia:

Katharine Hepburn was originally approached to play Marilla Cuthbert. She declined, but suggested her relative (great-niece), 'Schuyler Grant' for the part of Anne.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During multiple scenes with Matthew in them there are shots taken from different angles around him showing us that it is a double playing the character instead of the actor Richard Farnsworth. Examples of this are when Matthew first goes to pick up Anne from the station, when he is taking her to Green Gables in the buggy, when Anne gets wet in the lake, is rescued by Gilbert, and then when Matthew puts his coat around her.

Quotes:

Anne Shirley: The fact that you rescued me, unnecessarily, hardly wipes out past wrongs.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Women of the Prehistoric Planet (#2.13)" (1990)

Funny

Highly amusing TV miniseries. It's hampered a bit by an unimaginative style and rather flat pace, but the droll performances and witty script make up for any shortcomings. Megan Follows takes a completely straight-faced approach to the occasionally ridiculous Anne, and her decision not to overplay the part keeps her from seeming irritating or unlikable. Colleen Dewhurst is ideally cast as Marilla, turning the character into a perfect balance of hard*ss and softie. Richard Farnsworth shows great charm as Matthew, and manages to find considerable eloquence in this monosyllabic character. The supporting cast is strong, too. The series has a reputation for sentimentality, but viewers who haven't seen it in a few years might be surprised by just how funny it is. It has its emotional moments, of course, and then some, but its consistent dry humor makes them palatable even to the most cynical of viewers. Recommended. 8.5 out of 10.