Anne of Green Gables DVD
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From Amazon.com This gorgeous adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic children’s story is well worth watching with the whole family. Produced for Canadian television, it’s one of those rare productions that actually sticks to the book and even enhances it through first-rate performances and an excellent script. Set on bucolic Prince Edward Island in the late 19th century, Anne of Green Gables is the story of Anne Shirley, an imaginative and headstrong orphan. When brother and sister Marilla and Mathew Cuthbert decide to adopt an orphan boy to help Matthew work the farm, they are astonished when Anne arrives at the train station by mistake. “What use is she to us?” grumbles the gruff Marilla. “We might be of some use to her,” answers Matthew, who has taken an instant liking to the talkative Anne. As Anne grows up, her adventures are both hilarious and moving. It’s a delight to watch as she forms a friendship with the beautiful Diana and her admirer–the dashing Gilbert Blythe–then dyes her hair green, cracks a slate over Gilbert’s head when he calls her “Carrots,” and finds a sympathetic teacher who encourages her to attend college.Richard Farnsworth is perfect as the shy and gentle bachelor Matthew, who confides to Anne that he never went courting because “I would have had to say something.” Colleen Dewhurst delivers a nuanced and powerful performance as Marilla, a seemingly cold-hearted spinster whose no-nonsense exterior conceals a warm heart. And as Anne, Megan Follows strikes the perfect note, maturing from freckle-faced orphan to elegant and poised young woman. –Elisabeth Keating
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Anne of Green Gables DVD : The Sequel (Anne of Avonlea)
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From Amazon.com This video is the sequel to the beloved children’s book and video Anne of Green Gables. It continues the story of Anne Shirley, an imaginative and headstrong young orphan in 1890s Canada, whose hot temper matches her red hair. Anne of Green Gables told of Anne’s adoption by an elderly brother and sister, Marilla (Colleen Dewhurst) and Matthew Cuthbert, and her childhood adventures in the idyllic village of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. Anne of Avonlea takes up the story soon after Matthew’s death, when Anne has graduated from college. It follows her struggles and adventures as an aspiring writer and English teacher in a private school on the mainland. Girls seven and older, as well as adults, will enjoy this intelligent and beautifully made film, first shown on PBS. It’s filled with themes parents can discuss with their daughters–including self-reliance, generosity, and perseverance. It also gives a realistic portrayal of the situation for women during this historical period, through characters that are multifaceted and human. Anne’s struggle to find her voice as a writer, to handle difficult people maturely, to stay optimistic despite setbacks, and to nurture her students are both thought provoking and entertaining. Girls will also enjoy Anne’s romantic travails, as she tries to decide between two suitors: her childhood friend Gilbert, and a rich, handsome, and mysterious widower. The film is beautifully filmed, and the costumes and settings portray an idyllic time and place. The cast is excellent. Megan Follows as the spirited Anne and Dewhurst as the gruff but tender Marilla give especially fine performances. –Elisabeth Keating
Synopsis
An Emmy-winning adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novel by the same name, this is a Canadian TV production which follows the life of a feisty young girl who is adopted by a bachelor farmer and his sister who have decided to adopt a boy and have several surprises due them when Anne arrives. Part of a series that goes through her winning a place in their hearts and home, it continues on through her youth and the blossoming of young love. This particular episodes deals with her first tentative encroachments into social functions and dealing with the loss of a loved one. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide.
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Anne of Green Gables DVD : The Continuing story
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From Amazon.com In a departure from L.M. Montgomery’s book series, this third TV movie jumps ahead to World War I and puts Anne and her beloved Gilbert smack in the middle of it. Instead of marrying Gilbert after her teaching days–as she does in the books–Anne spends a disillusioning year with him in New York City, and then the couple quickly marries before the good doctor ships out to France. (In the book Rilla of Ingleside, Anne’s sons go to war and her youngest daughter is separated from her sweetheart.) Impetuous as ever, Anne joins the Red Cross and crosses the pond to track down her husband when his letters are returned unread. What follows is an adventure that takes her through battle zones–where the bodies pile up faster than you can say Saving Private Ryan–and on to London with a half-orphaned baby, her best friend’s injured husband, and a tangle of international intrigue. Fans of the 10-book series may balk at the divergences and the fact that very little time is spent on Prince Edward Island. But the book’s unrestrained romanticism and unapologetic sentimentality remain intact, as well as the surviving cast of the prior two movies, most notably Megan Follows as Anne and Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert. This movie, produced in 2000, clocks in at 185 minutes and is suitable for ages 9 and older. –Kimberly Heinrichs
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Anne of Green Gables DVD
