DVD Review: Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel

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

DVD Review: Anne of Green Gables

If it were not for Sullivan Entertainment, I may never have discovered my love for Lucy Maud Montgomery's books.

In this Canadian production, a young orphan girl named Anne Shirley is mistakenly sent to Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert on Prince Edward Island. Matthew, a bachelor, who lives with his spinister sister, Marilla, had sent word that they wished to adopt a boy to help the elderly Matthew with the farm work at Green Gables.

This "lucky" mistake changes all of them, and anyone else who comes in contact with the spirited and imaginative Anne Shirley.

Around my eleventh birthday, my sisters bought me a three-book set that included Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, and Anne of the Island. I read a bit of the first book before tucking them away, bored with the story of Anne. Years later, I saw Anne of Green Gables, the Sullivan Entertainment production starring Megan Follows as Anne, on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). I instantly fell in love with Anne and all her adventures, which inspired me to pick up the books again. From then on I was hooked. I read through the first three books of the Anne series quickly, and purchased the remaining five books and read through them. I still read them when I have time.

My husband purchased the trilogy: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel, and Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story as a Christmas gift a few years ago. I have decided to review them separately, as they can be purchased separately, and I have different thoughts on each movie.

The first Anne production will always be my favorite. Sullivan Entertainment was careful to stick closer to the books with Anne of Green Gables than with future installments of this series.

Montgomery created a sympathetic character in Anne, and Megan Follows did an excellent job of portraying the headstrong, imaginative orphan who found more than her share of trouble. The late Colleen Dewhurst played Marilla Cuthbert to perfection. She and the late Richard Farnsworth, who played Matthew, were so good at what they did that I couldn't read Anne of Green Gables without picturing them in the book. Dewhurst captured Marilla's gruff exterior that hid a warm hearted woman. Farnsworth brought out the shy warmth that is definitely Matthew.

The viewer is treated to watching Anne grow up in this film: the thrill of learning she will be allowed to stay at Green Gables, meeting her first kindred spirit in town, Diana Barry (Schuyler Grant), battling with the town gossip, Rachel Lynde (Patricia Hamilton), sticking up for herself to Josie Pye (Miranda de Pencier), and arguing with Gilbert Blythe (Jonathan Crombie), her academic rival. And as a matured Anne tells Marilla on the day of the concert benefit, "No matter where I go or what I do, I'll always be your Anne, Anne of Green Gables."

A wonderful coming of age film, Anne of Green Gables will capture your hearts and leave you begging for more of Anne Shirley.


Director: Kevin Sullivan
Writers: Lucy Maud Montgomery (novel)
Kevin Sullivan (writer), Joe Wiesenfeld (writer)
Rated: G
Runtime: 199 min
Region: Region 1
SRP: $24.99