Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novel Anne of Green Gables, previously filmed in 1934, was afforded a TV-movie treatment in 1985. Megan Follows stars as 13-year-old Anne Shirley, an orphan girl sent to live with a foster family on Canada’s Prince Edward Island. Though she has great difficulty controlling her temper, impulsiveness and vivid imagination, Anne eventually wins over her new guardians, domineering Marilla Cuthbert (Colleen Dewhurst) and Marilla’s shy brother Matthew (Richard Farnsworth). Anne’s secondary adventures concern her “bosom friend” Diana (Schuyler Grant) and her supposed enemy Gilbert Blythe (Jonathan Crombie). Anne of Green Gables was offered on American television as a 3-part presentation on PBS’ Wonderworks, 1986.
Age 7+ “Faithful, sensitive take on classic novel is great for kids.” – Common Sense Media
A startling beautiful film of style an substance. – San Francisco Chronicle
Starring Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, Richard Farsnworth.
Note: Anne of Green Gables is followed by [Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (Anne of Avonlea)](http://amzn.to/1QfQW2e) which was well received and [Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story](http://amzn.to/1gphHF4), which was not. The BBC has their own [1975 version of Anne of Avonlea](http://amzn.to/1KotT54) based on the books “Anne of Avonlea” and “Anne of the Island” and is a 6-episode, 5-hour 1975 BBC mini-series. The 1972 BBC adaptation of Anne of Green Gables doesn’t appear to be available on DVD but does still air on BBC. You may also wish to check out [Anne of Green Gables (1934)](http://amzn.to/1gpi16F), called “magical family entertainment, manufactured with such genuine humanity and feeling and humor that it is equally fascinating for old and young”. – NYT
Parents need to know that this generally very faithful adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s beloved novel about red-headed orphan Anne Shirley has hardly any iffy content. Anne does accidentally get her best friend drunk in one scene, but it’s due to an honest mix-up, and there are consequences. Other scenes include some mild peril and conflict, but overall this is a lovely, leisurely, kid-friendly story of another time. In fact, some younger kids may find it a little too leisurely, but if you spread the viewing out over several afternoons or evenings, they’ll probably get sucked right in. If they do, they’ll be delighted by Anne, whose imagination, impulsiveness, and thirst for love and friendship make her a very sympathetic, relatable character. – Common Sense Media