Anne Of Green Gables - 1985 - 2 Parts -

The 1985 television adaptation of Anne of Green Gables , produced and directed by Kevin Sullivan, is the most celebrated film version of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic 1908 novel

. Originally aired as a two-part miniseries on CBC in December 1985, it remains the most-watched television program in Canadian history. Cast and Production

The miniseries is defined by its iconic casting and lush production values: Megan Follows (Anne Shirley):

Follows won the role out of 3,000 girls for her ability to portray Anne’s fiery temper and vulnerability. Colleen Dewhurst (Marilla Cuthbert):

Initially advised against the role, Dewhurst provided a performance that humanized the stern Marilla. Richard Farnsworth (Matthew Cuthbert):

His portrayal of the shy, kind-hearted brother is widely regarded as a definitive performance. Jonathan Crombie (Gilbert Blythe):

Cast after being spotted in a high school play, Crombie’s Gilbert became a legendary "first crush" for a generation of viewers. Visual Style: Prince Edward Island

and in Ontario, the film used an Edwardian-era setting to create a "softer, brighter" visual feel. Part 1: The Arrival The first part covers Anne’s arrival at Green Gables and her struggle to belong:

The 1985 miniseries Anne of Green Gables, directed by Kevin Sullivan, is widely considered the definitive adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic novel. Spanning two parts, it captures the transformation of Anne Shirley from a "clutter of red hair" into a refined young woman, while exploring the profound impact one imaginative spirit can have on a rigid community. The Heart of the Story: Belonging and Identity

The first part of the film focuses on Anne’s arrival at Prince Edward Island. The central conflict isn't just a mistake of gender—Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert wanted a boy for farm work—but a clash of temperaments. Anne is a creature of "scope for the imagination," while Marilla represents the austere, practical roots of Avonlea. The essay of their relationship is the emotional core of the film: Anne learns to ground her dreams in reality, while Marilla learns that life without "kindred spirits" and beauty is hollow. Visual Storytelling and Atmosphere

Sullivan’s adaptation is celebrated for its painterly aesthetic. The golden-hued cinematography captures the pastoral perfection of the late 19th century, making the setting of Green Gables a character in its own right. This visual warmth mirrors Anne’s internal world, where every tree and pond is imbued with romance and tragedy. It serves as a stark, beautiful contrast to the often harsh social expectations placed on orphans at the time. Performance and Chemistry Anne of Green Gables - 1985 - 2 Parts

The success of the 1985 version rests heavily on Megan Follows’ performance. She balances Anne’s loquaciousness with genuine vulnerability, ensuring the character never feels like a caricature. Her chemistry with Colleen Dewhurst (Marilla) and Richard Farnsworth (Matthew) creates a believable family unit built on quiet gestures rather than grand declarations. Furthermore, the slow-burn rivalry and romance with Gilbert Blythe (Jonathan Crombie) provides a narrative anchor that spans both parts, representing Anne’s transition from childhood pique to adult respect. Legacy: The Power of Optimism

Ultimately, the 1985 Anne of Green Gables endures because it treats childhood emotions with dignity. It argues that being "high-strung" or "too imaginative" is not a flaw to be cured, but a gift to be harnessed. By the end of Part 2, Anne has not lost her spirit; she has simply found a home worthy of it. The film remains a masterclass in how to adapt a "quiet" book into a sweeping, cinematic experience that resonates across generations. To help you tailor this essay, let me know:

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Main Cast

| Character | Actor | |-----------|-------| | Anne Shirley | Megan Follows | | Marilla Cuthbert | Colleen Dewhurst | | Matthew Cuthbert | Richard Farnsworth | | Gilbert Blythe | Jonathan Crombie | | Diana Barry | Schuyler Grant | | Rachel Lynde | Patricia Hamilton | | Josie Pye | Jennifer Inch | | Mr. Phillips | Robert Collins | | Aunt Josephine Barry | Dawn Greenhalgh | | Mrs. Barry | Rosemary Dunsmore | | Mrs. Hammond (flashback) | Anne Gibson | | Station Master | James O’Regan |

Why Two Parts Work Better Than One

Modern streaming adaptations (looking at you, Netflix’s Anne with an E) often try to deconstruct or darken the material. The 1985 miniseries does not. It trusts the original story’s emotional gravity.

Part 1 is the story of belonging—a child finding a home. It is fast-paced, witty, and full of childish mistakes (the liniment cake, the drunken raspberry cordial).
Part 2 is the story of maturity—a young woman choosing sacrifice over ambition. It is slower, more melancholic, dealing with death, duty, and delayed romance.

Together, they form a complete bildungsroman. You watch Anne grow from a scrap of a girl who talks too much into a woman of grace, without ever losing her core spirit.

The Genius of Casting

No article about this miniseries is complete without praising the holy trinity of casting: Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, and Richard Farnsworth.

Megan Follows (Anne Shirley): She was 16 when filming began, playing an 11-year-old. The risk of a teenager playing a child is high (annoying, cutesy), but Follows delivered a raw, volatile, and deeply intelligent performance. Her Anne is not sweet; she is fierce. When she screams about her red hair or weeps over Matthew’s death, there is no acting—there is only feeling. She made Anne’s verbosity charming, not exhausting.
Richard Farnsworth (Matthew Cuthbert): The American cowboy actor seemed an odd choice for a shy PEI farmer. Yet Farnsworth’s Matthew is the heart of the film. His shy smiles, his trembling hands, and his silent, unconditional love for Anne break every viewer. When he buys her the puff-sleeve dress, you will weep.
Colleen Dewhurst (Marilla Cuthbert): Dewhurst played Marilla not as a strict spinster, but as a woman who has buried her heart to survive. Over the course of six hours, we watch that ice melt. Her Marilla is dry, sarcastic, and occasionally cruel (the “carrot” comment), yet when she finally allows herself to say “I love you” to Anne, it is earned and monumental.

4. Cast and Performances

The Legacy

The 1985 Anne of Green Gables was a ratings smash. It won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program, a Peabody Award, and the George Foster Peabody Award. It turned Prince Edward Island into a tourist mecca (visitation to the island surged over 300% after the broadcast).

It spawned a sequel (Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel, 1987, often shown as "Part Three") and a prequel (Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story, 2000), but neither captured the raw purity of the original two parts. The 1985 television adaptation of Anne of Green

Sadly, for fans in recent years, the film has become entangled in complex rights disputes. Kevin Sullivan retains control, and for a decade, the 1985 version was notoriously difficult to find on streaming services or DVD (often replaced by the inferior 2016 "remastered" cut, which changed the soundtrack and color timing). However, the original 2-part broadcast version remains a holy grail for collectors.

A Kindred Spirit Forever: Why the 1985 Anne of Green Gables (Parts 1 & 2) Remains the Definitive Adaptation

For millions around the world, the name “Anne Shirley” does not conjure the black-and-white typeface of L.M. Montgomery’s 1908 novel, but the fiery red braids, wide grey eyes, and boundless chatter of a Canadian television miniseries. Released in 1985 and split into two feature-length parts, Anne of Green Gables is more than a faithful adaptation—it is a cultural touchstone. Nearly forty years later, the sweeping score, the pastoral landscapes of Prince Edward Island, and the iconic performance of Megan Follows remain the benchmark by which all other versions are judged.

Part I: The Mistake of a Lifetime

The story began not with Anne, but with the quiet, winding roads of Prince Edward Island. The camera panned over lush green fields and red dirt paths, accompanied by a sweeping, orchestral score that felt like a breath of fresh air.

In the first installment, we were introduced to the world of Avonlea. It was supposed to be a simple transaction. Matthew Cuthbert, a shy, gentle man with a heart of gold, was sent to the train station to pick up an orphan boy to help with the farm work. But when he arrived, he found a startling sight: a skinny girl sitting on a pile of shingles, clutching a worn carpetbag and wearing a garish yellow dress that had seen better days.

This was Anne Shirley, played with electric intensity by Megan Follows. From the moment she spoke, the screen lit up.

"I’m so glad to see you," she breathed, not giving the stunned Matthew a moment to speak. "I was beginning to be afraid you weren't coming."

The drive back to Green Gables was the beginning of a cinematic journey. For Matthew, it was love at first sight. But for his sister, Marilla Cuthbert—the stern, pragmatic Colleen Dewhurst—it was a disaster.

The first part of the miniseries hinged on this tension. Would Anne be sent back? The audience watched, hearts in their throats, as Anne desperately tried to win Marilla over. We saw her lose her temper with the gossiping Mrs. Lynde ("How dare you call me skinny and homely!"), and we winced as she accidentally intoxicated her best friend, Diana Barry, with what she thought was raspberry cordial but was actually currant wine.

Yet, by the end of Part I, the ice had cracked. Marilla, seeing the loneliness in the girl’s eyes and recognizing a kindred spirit of stubbornness, made the decision. Anne could stay.

The climax of the first part was the "Cake of Kings." Anne, desperate to impress, baked a cake for the minister. But she used liniment instead of vanilla. The scene was played for comedy, but underneath was a tragic layer of Anne’s desperate need to be accepted. Yet, when the dust settled, Matthew gave her a gift—the dress with puffed sleeves she had longed for. As she twirled in the mirror, the audience knew: Anne Shirley was home. Main Cast | Character | Actor | |-----------|-------|

The Legacy: Why “Kindred Spirits” Still Matter

The phrase "kindred spirit" has entered the lexicon entirely due to the popularity of this 1985 adaptation. It describes a friend who understands your soul without explanation.

The Anne of Green Gables – 1985 – 2 Parts miniseries endures because it offers something increasingly rare in modern media: a patient, gentle, deeply moral story without cynicism. It celebrates intelligence (especially female intelligence), loyalty, and the courage to be different.

When you watch Part One, you are watching a child learn to trust. When you watch Part Two, you are watching a young woman learn to love. And by the time the final credits roll over that white cottage in Cavendish, you realize you have not just watched a story—you have visited old friends.

Whether you are a lifelong fan introducing it to a new generation or a first-time viewer curious about the hype, the 1985 two-part epic remains the essential adaptation. It is, in Anne’s own words, "ever so much more than a film." It is a piece of our shared cultural heart.

Final Verdict: If you search for only one version of L.M. Montgomery’s classic, make it Anne of Green Gables – 1985 – 2 Parts. Pour a glass of raspberry cordial (the non-alcoholic kind), find a quiet Sunday afternoon, and prepare to meet your kindred spirit. She is waiting for you on the shores of Prince Edward Island.

The 1985 television adaptation of Anne of Green Gables , produced and directed by Kevin Sullivan, is widely considered the definitive screen version of L.M. Montgomery’s classic 1908 novel. Originally aired as a two-part miniseries on the CBC in Canada and PBS in the United States, it remains one of Canada's highest-rated television programs of all time. Plot Overview

The miniseries follows the journey of Anne Shirley, a spirited and highly imaginative orphan who is mistakenly sent to the farm of Green Gables in Avonlea.

Part 1: The Arrival: Middle-aged siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert intend to adopt a boy to help with their farm work. They are shocked when a talkative, red-haired girl arrives instead. While Marilla is initially hesitant, Matthew is quickly charmed by Anne's personality, leading to her "trial" stay.

Part 2: Growing Up: The story follows Anne as she matures from an impulsive, accident-prone child into a responsible young woman. This part covers her "bosom" friendship with Diana Barry, her academic rivalry with Gilbert Blythe, and her path toward becoming a teacher. It culminates in Matthew’s tragic death and Anne’s selfless choice to stay with Marilla rather than pursue her scholarship. Iconic Cast

The production’s success is often attributed to its pitch-perfect casting: Anne Adaptations: Anne of Green Gables (1985) – Part 1