Anne of Green Gables, Part 2

Anne of Green Gables, Part 2
CBC
December 1, 1985?
TV-Movie
VHS
B

Again, this is mostly faithful, although Sullivan adds in Marilla disapproving of the possibility of romance between Anne and Gilbert (at a time when Anne has barely started speaking to Gilbert), and Diana having a crush on Gilbert.  There seems to be both more humor and more drama in this part, the latter especially with Matthew's death.  This part ends, as does the book, with Gilbert trading teaching jobs so Anne can stay at Green Gables, although there is more physical contact (like an arm around the waist) than in the book (where there is none).

I've put a question mark after the date because for some reason I can't find out on the Internet when Part 2 actually aired.  (However, given how uncrowded my TV collection is for the mid-'80s, it's not a huge concern in terms of chronology.)  Sullivan and Follows and some of the rest would reunite for 1987's Anne of Avonlea and 2000's Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story, neither of which I've seen.

Anne of Green Gables, Part 1

Anne of Green Gables, Part 1
CBC
December 1, 1985
TV-Movie
VHS
B

Written and directed by Kevin Sullivan, this is a mostly faithful adaptation of the classic children's book (reviewed here, http://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/2012/03/anne-of-green-gables.html).  Yes, Anne is aged up a bit and we see some of her life before she comes to Avonlea, and, yes, the timeline is simplified (so that dyes her hair green right after Gilbert teases her about its redness), but the spirit of the book is intact.  It's aided by the wonderful casting of Megan Follows as the title character (I don't think I could ever accept anyone else in the role), ably supported by Colleen Dewhurst and Richard Farnsworth as Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert.  The scenery is lovely of course, one advantage of this medium over print.  This part ends with Anne and Diana, well, parted, seemingly forever, after the "setting Diana drunk" confusion.

The rest of the cast that I'm pretty sure will be back for Part 2 (IMDB obviously isn't infallible):

• Morgan Chapman as Minnie May Barry
• Robert Collins as Mr. Barry
• Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe
• Miranda de Pencier as Josie Pye
• Schuyler Grant as Diana Barry
• Patricia Hamilton as Rachel Lynde
• Jennifer Inch as Ruby Gillis
• Christiane Krüger as Mrs. Allan
• Marilyn Lightstone as Miss Muriel Stacy
• Trish Nettleton as Jane Andrews
• Rosemary Radcliffe as Mrs. Elizabeth Barry
• Cedric Smith as Rev. Allan
• Zack Ward as Moody Spurgeon