“Anne of Green Gables” (1985)

 Anne of Green Gables

Brief Description:

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

(from IMDb)

Date: 1985

Genre: family historical fiction adventure

Running time: 3 hours 19 minutes 

Cast: 

Megan Follows (Anne Shirley)

Colleen Dewhurst (Marilla Cuthbert)

Richard Farnsworth (Matthew Cuthbert)

Patricia Hamilton (Rachel Lynde)

Marilyn Lightstone (Miss Stacy)

Schuyler Grant (Diana Barry)

Jonathan Crombie (Gilbert Blythe)

Charmion King (Aunt Josephine Barry)

Jackie Burroughs (Amelia Evans)

Rosemary Radcliffe (Mrs. Barry)

Joachim Hansen (John Sadler)

Christiane Krüger (Mrs. Allan)

Cedric Smith (Rev. Allan)

Paul Brown (Mr. Phillips)

Miranda de Pencier (Josie Pye)

Trish Nettleton (Jane Andrews)

Jennifer Inch (Ruby Gillis)

Jayne Eastwood (Mrs. Hammond)

Dawn Greenhalgh (Mrs. Cadbury)

Jack Mather (Station Master)

Samantha Langevin (Mrs. Blewett)

Vivian Reis (Mrs. Spencer)

Mag Ruffman (Alice Lawson)

Sean McCann (Dr. O’Reilly)

Roxolana Roslak (Madame Selitsky)

Robert Haley (Professor)

Robert Collins (Mr. Barry)

Morgan Chapman (Minne May Barry)

David Roberts (Tom)

Nancy Beatty (Essie)

David Hughes (Thomas Lynde)

Wendy Lyon (Prissy Andrews)

Zack Ward (Moody Spurgeon MacPherson)

Anna Ferguson (Punch Woman)

Rex Southgate (Section Head)

Julianna Saxton (Pink Woman)

Molly Thom (Lace Woman)

Jennifer Irwin (Student)

Sandra Scott (Mrs. Harrington)

Peter Sturgess (Porter)

Ray Ireland (Mr. Hammond)

Martha Maloney (Fairview Nurse)

Stuart Hamilton (Mme. Selitsky’s Accompanist)

Director: Kevin Sullivan

Production company: CBC

Based on: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Wikipedia page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

So I have known and loved Anne of Green Gables my whole entire life, read the book like 100 times, and have parts of it basically memorized. I know my AOGG. 

However, this was my first time watching this film. I promise you. I’ve seen a few pictures of it, but I have never seen the film or even clips of it. I went into this with high hopes and plenty of friends and family telling me how good it was and how much they adored it. 

And the setting was PERFECT. The sunset scenes were so amazing, but all the other nature shots were lovely. And the Green Gables atmosphere was epic. 

Characters: 4/5

Okay, Megan Follows was the most perfect Anne I think anyone could be. She did really good. I wasn’t a huge fan of Diana because she was portrayed much stupider than she actually was, and also a bit too old, maybe?? Marilla and Matthew were PERFECTION (particularly Matthew!! sobs) and while Patricia Hamilton didn’t look like Mrs. Rachel, and did’t act the way I felt Mrs. Rachel would, she did a great job and I loved her relationship with Marilla. Epicness. I was SO disappointed by Marilyn Lightstone as Miss Stacy, because she’s too old and not pretty enough; but Charmion King as Miss Barry was AWESOME. Gilbert Blythe… well, he didn’t look much like Gilbert till he slicked back his hair, but he was good-looking and I understand why so many girls had a crush on him. (Before you accuse me of crushing, I didn’t. He’s really not my type. ;P But he’s definitely cute.) However… look, don’t hate me ok? but I hated how they portrayed his character. He was so not like Gilbert from the book. What I loved book-Gilbert for is his character, and they really messed him up here and took out all his honesty and straightforwardness. :(

I haven’t time to highlight everyone else, so a few spotlights: the Allans were interesting (I feel neutral about them, mostly because I had a huge shock at beholding Mr. Allan’s sideburns); Josie Pye and Mr. Phillips were awesome; and Mrs. Blewett was good.

Plot: 4/5

So, this is the part I had problems with. I expected an adaptation. I really liked how they wove everything together. I really liked how they portrayed her earlier life. I loved how it showed Marilla dressed up, lol. The dialogue was great. I enjoyed the scenes from the book, and I didn’t mind the scenes that were added or changed. Except for three things. 

1. Ruby and Jane didn’t show up enough!!!! :(

2.  The dance scene. It was so out of nowhere and not according to AOGG at all, and really threw me off.

3. WHY IS THE DRESS BLUE?! The dress was SO UGLY and SO WRONG and I AM NOT OKAY WITH IT. 

Also this is so tiny but I can’t get over changing Nancy Spencer’s name. W H Y??? I’m so confused! 

Romance: 2/5

I adore Anne & Gilbert—in the book. Here I hated how they added romantic tension WAYY before there was any in the book, and made it a misunderstanding/pining away trope. No-nopitty-nope. 

Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

I can’t recall any quotes, but I know there were some great ones and a few good deep thoughts. 

Content: 4/5

The scene where Diana gets drunk. Also Marilla says darn twice. (THAT ALSO REALLY BOTHERED ME. MARILLA WOULD NEVER SAY THAT. REMEMBER HOW SUSAN CALLED IT SWEARING IN NINETEEN-FIFTEEN?!)

Violence: 5/5

I hated the Hammond scenes, but I appreciated seeing Anne’s earlier life. 

Overall: 4/5

I was a bit disappointed this first tine around. But I can see why people love it so much. I definitely want to watch this again and grow to love it at least a bit more. And I think they did a good job overall. It’s just hard to please me probably. ;P