Anne of Windy Poplars

Ann Shirley returns in her best known role in this sequel to ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. Indeed, it was such a hit that the former Dawn O'Day changed her name to Lucy Maud Montgomery's character. Miss Shirley comes to town straight out of teacher's college, to take a post as vice-principal, only to find out that the principal has decided she is an enemy. This dislike has penetrated to her vicious aunt, Ethel Griffies, and what Miss Griffies says goes, for the family and the town. Only at Windy Poplar, where such actors as Henry Travers and Elizabeth Patterson reside, can she find a room to lay her weary head down.

I have no idea how closely this movie hews to the book, but it -- the movie -- isn't very good. People are mean for the pure pleasure of it, various subplots are wrapped up by no effort whatsoever, and character change being out of the question apparently, we have Miss Griffies drop dead and the house burn down, with a daring rescue by James Ellison, and Miss Shirley talking to people out of dying. Miss Shirley is sweet and winsome, but I call that hooey.