Anne of Green Gables Movie (1985)

In the 1985 production of Anne of Green Gables, Megan Follows plays the role of Anne Shirley. I am firmly convinced that out of all the Anne of Green Gables movies and TV shows, she will always be the best. She captures the mannerisms and attitude of Anne Shirley so perfectly, and the movies are so wonderful as a result.

The First Movie

This is my favorite of the movies, just as the first book is my favorite in the series. It’s here that we meet Megan Follows as Anne. She does a splendid job bringing the insightful side of Anne and revealing it in her thoughtful remarks and sweet smile. From what I’ve seen of other adaptations of Anne for TV, the actresses who play Anne constantly give us her talkative side, bursting in words for every occasion. But it is less often that they show us the heart behind her words and notions that make the reader fall in love with her. That’s what I love about Megan Follows’ acting. She gives us the true Anne. Foolish, funny, and most of all, terribly sincere in everything she does.

This is true for the rest of the characters as well. From quiet Matthew and stern Marilla, to opinionated Mrs. Lynde, the actors and actresses do an amazing job depicting the true personalities of their characters. At first glance it might seem bothersome that Matthew does not have the beard many of us imagine him with, or that Mrs. Lynde is not quite so ‘fat’ as Anne calls her at their first meeting, but after a few minutes of watching, those things are of less importance. Don’t get me wrong, I will always picture the true Matthew with a big bushy beard, but I am willing to let a little of my expectations slide so long as they don’t sacrifice the true meaning and heart behind the books.

The Second Movie

The second movie strays from the books just a little bit more than the first. Characters are combined or taken out altogether, timing is twisted and rearranged, and the plot itself has a few important changes to it made here and there. But despite it all, the movie is still very enjoyable and clearly based on the books. So many conversations can be found word for word in the books, and the characters continue to be well portrayed all throughout.

Something I really admire about the movies is their depiction of Anne’s growing up. Her maturity in looks and mind doesn’t happen all of a sudden, but comes about so gently and realistically that all at once you look at the screen and realize that Anne is wearing her hair up, and teaches her own class of student now instead of striving against Gilbert for first in class.

The Third Movie

I wildly wish that this movie was a powerful conclusion to these wonderful movies, but that simply is not true. As much as it pains me to say it (and it does pain me; I feel like a traitor to Green Gables!) this movie is nothing like the book, and lacks all the charm that makes the other two movies so wonderful.

The movie takes place after the first four books, when Anne has begun her new life as a married woman. But instead of her lovely House of Dreams that she finds for her in the books, the movie is full of suffering, death, and war. I would have been willing to have some things altered from the books, even a great many things like in the second movie. But to have the whole path of Anne’s life thrown drastically off track and then to have all the love and beauty squeezed out of it as if this was some historic war story instead of Anne of Green Gables? I’m sorry, it’s too much.

Perhaps it would be better on its own, apart from my beloved Anne and no longer ruining her story. I don’t know. All I know is as it is, I have no plans to watch this movie again. It turns the story into something it was never meant to be and leaves a bitter taste in your mouth regarding the movies.

Final Thoughts

It seems a shame to have ended this post with that less than great movie, so I want to wrap up by saying that these will forever be my favorite adaptations of Anne of Green Gables. They are lovely, and charming, and humorous, and perfectly wonderful.

Is this your favorite adaptation of the books? If not, I want to hear which one you like, and if so, I want to hear that too. 😉 Leave a comment below with your thoughts!