Anne Of Green Gables - 1985 - 2 Parts -

The 1985 television adaptation of Anne of Green Gables , produced and directed by Kevin Sullivan, is the most celebrated film version of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic 1908 novel

Part 1: The Red-Headed Orphan

The first part covers roughly the first 16 chapters of the novel. It opens in the fictional town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. We meet elderly siblings Marilla (Colleen Dewhurst) and Matthew Cuthbert (Richard Farnsworth), who live at their picturesque farm, Green Gables. Anne of Green Gables - 1985 - 2 Parts

Laina Has Too Much Spare Time provides a detailed breakdown of Part 1. The 1985 television adaptation of Anne of Green

• The Avery Scholarship: Anne wins it, beating Gilbert. But the victory is hollow.
• Tragedy at Green Gables: Matthew Cuthbert, having suffered a heart attack earlier, learns of the collapse of the local bank. He suffers a fatal heart attack. The scene of Anne finding him dead in his chair, and then kneeling beside Marilla in shared grief, is one of the most powerful in television history. Richard Farnsworth earned an Emmy nomination for his Matthew, and his death haunts the remainder of the film.
• The Sacrifice: Marilla’s eyesight is failing. Anne, offered the Avery scholarship and the chance to leave Avonlea forever, chooses to stay at Green Gables to become the local schoolteacher.
• The Reconciliation: Finally, on a golden autumn afternoon, Gilbert Blythe, who has given up his own teaching position at the Avonlea school for Anne, meets her at the bridge. He asks for her forgiveness. For the first time, Anne doesn't rage. She simply says, “I have a wonderful imagination… and I’ve always imagined that… I loved you, Gilbert.”

Part One: The “Kindred Spirit” (Chapters 1-18)

Part One of the 1985 adaptation focuses squarely on the first book, Anne of Green Gables. It opens not with Anne, but with the Cuthberts: aging siblings Matthew (Richard Farnsworth) and Marilla (Colleen Dewhurst). The gray, realistic farmyard contrasts sharply with the explosion of color that follows when Anne is mistakenly sent instead of a boy. The Avery Scholarship: Anne wins it, beating Gilbert

. Originally aired as a two-part miniseries on CBC in December 1985, it remains the most-watched television program in Canadian history. Cast and Production

7. Legacy and Cultural Impact

• Sequel: The success directly led to two sequels: Anne of Avonlea (1987, also known as Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel) and the less-well-received Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000).
• Tourism Boom: The miniseries reignited international tourism to Prince Edward Island. Green Gables National Historic Site saw a 400% increase in visitors after the broadcast.
• Definitive Adaptation: For millions worldwide, Megan Follows is Anne. The film remains a staple of family television, frequently rebroadcast and now available on streaming platforms (Gazebo TV, Amazon Prime, and often CBC Gem in Canada).
• Influence on Future Adaptations: Every subsequent adaptation (including the 2016 Anne with an E) has been compared—usually unfavorably—to the 1985 version.

The rivalry with Gilbert Blythe, the handsome boy who had teased her on her first day of school ("Carrots! Carrots!"), turned into a fierce academic competition. They were no longer just children bickering; they were brilliant minds challenging one another to be better. The chemistry between Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie sizzled with the tension of unspoken affection, a dynamic that would become the gold standard for romantic frenemies.