Anne of Green Gables (1985)
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An orphan girl is sent to a farm by mistake, leading to a life-changing journey of friendship and growth.
The story
Anne Shirley, an orphan, is sent to live with the Hammond family in Nova Scotia, but after Mr. Hammond's death, she is sent back to the orphanage. She is subsequently adopted by the Cuthberts in Prince Edward Island. However, the elderly siblings had originally requested a boy to help on their farm, Green Gables, and Anne arrives by mistake. Marilla puts Anne 'on trial' to decide if she will keep her. During this time, Anne navigates social challenges, meets new friends like Diana Barry, and deals with the attention of a classmate named Gilbert Blythe.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After being sent to Green Gables by mistake, Anne Shirley must prove her worth to Marilla Cuthbert. She navigates various social hurdles, including a conflict with the town gossip Rachel Lynde and a rivalry with Gilbert Blythe, who mocks her red hair. Anne eventually befriends Diana Barry and faces challenges like a tea party mishap and a school entrance exam. She saves Diana's sister's life, leading to an invitation to a Christmas ball. Anne eventually takes the Queen's entrance exam and wins the Avery scholarship. However, after Matthew Cuthbert suffers a fatal heart attack, Anne decides to decline the scholarship to stay at Green Gables and teach in Carmody. She eventually reconciles with Gilbert, who arranges for her to keep the farm while he takes a teaching position elsewhere.
- First release year
- 1985
- Runtime (minutes)
- 199
- Production countries
- Canada
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Kevin Sullivan
- Writers
- Kevin Sullivan · writer; Joe Wiesenfeld · writer
- Cast and characters
- 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
- Genres
- Drama; Family
- Themes
- Friendship; Identity; Growth; Family
- Tone and mood
- Dramatic; Whimsical
- Premise and plot tags
- Coming-of-age; Period Drama; Orphan
- Source material / true-story basis
- Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- Franchise connections
- Anne of Green Gables series
- Reception
- The film was highly successful, becoming one of the highest-rated programs of any genre ever to air on a Canadian television network and achieving high ratings in the United Kingdom.
- Awards and nominations
- Gemini Awards · Most Popular Program · 1986 · Win; Emmy Award · Outstanding Children's Program · 1986 · Win; Peabody Award · Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting in the United States · 1986 · Win; Prix Jeunesse · Best Drama · 1988 · Win; TV Guide Award · Most Popular Program · 1986 · Win; Emily Award · American Film and Video Festival · 1986 · Win; Macleans Medal of Merit · Maclean's Magazine · 1986 · Win; Chris Award · Columbus International Film Festival · 1986 · Win; Silver Hugo Award · Chicago International Film Festival · 1986 · Win; Grant Award · Best TV Program, Houston International Film Festival · 1987 · Win; Golden Gate Award · San Francisco Film Festival · 1986 · Win
- Production trivia
- The film was produced as a co-production between the CBC and PBS.; The film was released theatrically in Iran, Israel, Europe, and Japan.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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