Anne Of Green Gables - 1985 - 2 Parts Portable Jun 2026

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

provides the perfect foil. Dewhurst plays Marilla not as a cold spinster, but as a woman terrified of love because she has forgotten how to express it. Her slow, reluctant thaw—culminating in the quiet tears when Anne succeeds at Queens—is a masterclass in subtle acting. Opposite her, Richard Farnsworth as Matthew Cuthbert is every viewer’s ideal grandfather. His shy, wordless devotion and the tragic weight of his death scene remain devastating. Anne of Green Gables - 1985 - 2 Parts

Crombie’s charming, patient, and intensely loyal portrayal of Gilbert made him an immediate cinematic icon and the ultimate fictional romantic standard. Production Value: A Perfect Nostalgic Vision Follows won the role out of 3,000 girls

The first half follows the spirited orphan Anne Shirley as she is mistakenly sent to elderly siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, who had intended to adopt a boy to help on their farm. It covers her early struggles to fit into the quiet community of Avonlea, her "bosom friendship" with Diana Barry, and her fierce rivalry with Gilbert Blythe. Her slow, reluctant thaw—culminating in the quiet tears

Anne finds her kindred spirit in Diana Barry ( Schuyler Grant ), leading to iconic moments like the accidental "currant wine" incident. Part 2: Growth and Ambition

When Anne of Green Gables premiered on CBC in December 1985, it pulled in unprecedented ratings, becoming one of the most-watched programs in Canadian television history. When it aired on PBS in the United States, it achieved similar massive success, cementing its place as an international phenomenon.