If you’ve just finished your latest Little House on the Prairie binge, or you’re in the mood for a similar adventure in a slightly different context, one classic Canadian miniseries has been making waves on Amazon streaming channels. If you guessed the 1985 adaptation of Anne of Green Gables, then you would be correct.
Based on the classic novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the two-part miniseries (sometimes referred to as a made-for-TV movie) stars Megan Follows as the titular Anne (with an “e”!) Shirley, an orphan turned to the care of two elderly siblings — Colleen Dewhurst‘s Marilla Cuthbert and Richard Farnsworth‘s Matthew Cuthbert — on the island province of Prince Edward Island. Just like the books that inspired Little House, Anne of Green Gables has inspired countless adaptations over the years, though the 1985 version is arguably the most beloved.
‘Anne of Green Gables’ Is Perfect for ‘Little House’ Fans — Here’s Why
Part of what drew so many to those early years of Little House on the Prairie was the straightforward and spirited charm of its leading lady, Melissa Gilbert‘s Laura Ingalls. Her friendship with her sister Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson), bond with her father Charles (Michael Landon), and penchant for getting herself into trouble were part of the Midwestern drama’s charm. Of course, there was also the family-friendly and timeless (despite being a period piece) nature of the original NBC program, which was always accessible to all audiences. If those are some of the reasons that you love Little House, then you’re likely to love Anne of Green Gables as well.
Directed by Kevin Sullivan, who co-wrote the adaptation alongside Joe Wiesenfeld, this Green Gables adaptation originally aired on the Canadian network CBC for two nights in early December 1985 before airing months later in the U.S. But from the moment it aired, the miniseries was a landmark hit, even winning an Emmy for “Outstanding Children’s Program” the following year. Viewers will be instantly taken by Fellows’ take on Anne, who is a firecracker from the first moment we meet her. Her portrayal of the literary character is flawless, prattling on in every scene and stealing the show with her poetic and imaginative way of speaking and seeing the world. In many ways, she feels akin to Little House‘s leading lady mixed with Jo March of Little Women fame, though she certainly stands out as unique even beside them.
As Anne makes her home among the Cuthberts, slowly winning their love and favor (okay, Marilla’s love and favor), she finds a “bosom friend” in Diana Barry (Schuyler Grant) and a slow-burning romance with her long-time academic rival Gilbert Blythe (Jonathan Crombie). The miniseries is a delightful take on Anne of Green Gables that hits all the major highlights of the original novel with some slight deviations toward the end. It’s no wonder that many consider this to be the definitive take on Anne Shirley, as Fellows knocks it out of the park with her straightforward and earnest depiction of one of Canada’s greatest literary characters. It’s a beautiful tale of childhood, friendship, adoption, hope, love, and perserverance when things seem impossible, all the things that make Little House great too.
‘Anne of Green Gables’ Spawned Several Sequels and a Spin-Off TV Series
For those who watch Anne of Green Gables and fall madly in love with Fellows’ performance, as well as the world of Green Gables, the good news is that the story continues. In 1987, the cast and crew reunited for Anne of Avonlea (also called Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel), another miniseries often considered a TV film. Depicting the events of Montgomery’s Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, and Anne of Windy Poplars in four parts, our heroine continues her journey into the next phase of her life.
After that, the world of Avonlea was so popular that a straight-up television series, Road to Avonlea, was produced, which ran for seven seasons between 1990 and 1996. Interestingly, the series — which was based largely on Mongomery’s larger body of literary work — never brings Fellows back as Anne here, though it was Colleen Dewhurst’s final performance as Marilla before her death in 1991. While Anne herself doesn’t appear in Road to Avonlea, the show notes that she and Gilbert (who does show up) are married with children, which becomes a major continuity error.
By the next two-part installment of the miniseries franchise, 2000’s Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story, the two are revealed to be engaged over a long period of time, only to have children later. Despite the continuity error, The Continuing Story reunites the cast for the final time for this final adventureas Anne and Gilbert finally tie the knot. While a prequel to the original miniseries, Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning, was released several years later, it recast the leading role and was not as well received — not unlike the controversial Anne with an E. Still, you can’t go wrong with the original 1985 Anne of Green Gables, which remains the hallmark of Montgomery adaptations all these years later.
Anne of Green Gables (1985 miniseries) is available for purchase digitally on Prime Video.
- Release Date
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1985 – 1984
- Network
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CBC Television
- Directors
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Kevin Sullivan
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Colleen Dewhurst
Marilla Cuthbert
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Megan Follows
Anne Shirley
