Anne of Avonlea (1987 film)
| Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel | |
|---|---|
DVD cover
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| Created by | Lucy Maud Montgomery |
| Based on |
Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery |
| Written by | Kevin Sullivan |
| Directed by | Kevin Sullivan |
| Starring |
Megan Follows Colleen Dewhurst Wendy Hiller Frank Converse Jonathan Crombie Marilyn Lightstone Schuyler Grant Rosemary Dunsmore Kate Lynch Geneviève Appleton James O'Regan |
| Theme music composer | Hagood Hardy |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Kevin Sullivan |
| Running time | 230 minutes (approx.) |
| Release | |
| Original release | May 19, 1987 on Disney and CBC March 5 & 12, 1988 (PBS) |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Anne of Green Gables |
| Followed by | Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story |
Anne of Avonlea is a 1987 Canadian television miniseries film. It is a sequel to Anne of Green Gables, and the second of a tetralogy of films. The miniseries dramatizes material from several books in the eight-novel "Anne" series by Lucy Maud Montgomery; they are Anne of Avonlea (Book Two), Anne of the Island (Book Three) and Anne of Windy Poplars (Book Four). As well, the TV film introduces several characters and issues not present in the books.
The miniseries aired in four hour-long installments, in May and June 1987, on the Disney Channel as Anne of Avonlea: The Continuing Story of Anne of Green Gables, and in two 150-minute installments, in December 1987 on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and in March 1988 on PBS, as Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel. The film was also shown theatrically in Israel, Japan and Europe as Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel and has been released on DVD under that title.
The film resumes the story of Anne Shirley, who at 16 had chosen to study for her college degree by correspondence in order to remain at Green Gables to help an aging Marilla, who has eyesight problems, look after the house and farm. Anne now holds a Teacher's Licence after completing the two-year post-secondary course at Charlottetown's Queens Academy in only one year.
Anne begins to teach at Avonlea School and has dreams of becoming a writer, but her story "Averil's Atonement" is rejected by a magazine. Leaving the post office one day, Anne runs into Gilbert Blythe, who tells her that her best friend Diana Barry is engaged to Fred Wright. Anne is initially bewildered by Diana's decision, calling it impulsive. Meanwhile, in the last two years, Marilla's eyesight has greatly improved. Having regained her independence, Marilla encourages Anne to resume her old ambition of attending college.
At the clambake celebrating Fred and Diana's engagement, Anne and Gilbert wander off to a bridge, where Gilbert proposes. Anne rejects his offer, convinced that their marriage would be unhappy and unsuccessful. She runs off.
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