When I first watched this show on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) it was titled Anne of Avonlea, which is the title of the second Anne book by Lucy Maud Montgomery. The movie actually encompasses three of Montgomery's books: Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, and Anne of Windy Poplars. This second Sullivan Entertainment production began Sullivan's departure from the books' storylines, whereas the first movie followed the book closely. In this instance, it worked well, as Sullivan's adaptation allowed for fewer new characters introduced, a romantic conflict for Anne, and the perfect motivation for Anne to return to Green Gables.
This DVD is part of the Anne 3-disc set my husband purchased as a gift for me one Christmas.
The Sequel picks up quickly after the first movie ends. The opening finds Gilbert Blythe (Jonathan Crombie) riding his bike all the way from Caramody to Avonlea to tell Anne (Megan Follows) that her kindred spirit, Diana Barry (Schuyler Grant) is engaged to marry Fred Wright, played by Bruce McCullough.
Anne is upset to find that things are changing and her friends are beginning to think of marriage while she is still dreaming away of her ideal suitor.
Anne accepts a teaching position at a private ladies college that is overrun with the rich Pringle family, who owns most of Kingsport. They don't like outsiders and they certainly don't plan to make Anne's life at Kingsport Ladies College easy. Neither does Katherine Brook (Rosemary Dunsmore) the sour principal at the college.
A chance meeting with Gilbert Blythe, who is now a medical student in Halifax, leads Anne to rethink her goals; and after returning to Green Gables, Anne discovers what is truly important.
I always enjoyed this installment of the Anne series from Sullivan Entertainment. While it came away from the books, I felt that Sullivan's version was the better way to bring this portion of Anne's life to the screen. There would have been too many new characters if they followed the books, and we would have missed the wonderful relationship that developed between Anne and Morgan Harris (Frank Converse) and Anne and Mrs. Harris, Morgan's mother, played by Dame Wendy Hiller. Mrs. Harris is my favorite character.
Several characters from the first movie had parts in this one; to name a few: Marilla Cuthbert (Colleen Dewhurst), Rachel Lynde (Patricia Hamilton), and Muriel Stacey (Marilyn Lightstone), who was one of Anne's teachers at the Avonlea school, and who encouraged her to take the entrance exam to Queens Academy, where she tied with Gilbert Blythe for first place.
My only disappointment with the production was that they linked Gilbert romantically to Christine Stuart (Sheila Harcourt), which was hinted at in the books, but turned out to be nothing more than rumors.
If your family enjoyed Anne of Green Gables, then they will certainly enjoy Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel.
Director: Kevin Sullivan
Writers: Lucy Maud Montgomery (novels: Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars)
Kevin Sullivan (writer)
Rated: G
Runtime: 230 min
Region: Region 1
SRP: $24.99
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