FAQ

Fourteen-year-old Anne Shirley (Anne Shirley) is mistakenly sent by an orphan asylum to Avonlea on Prince Edward Island to live with farmer Matthew Cuthbert (O.P. Heggie) and his sister Marilla (Helen Westley). It's a mistake because the Cuthberts were expecting a boy to help with the farm work. Rather than transfer Anne into a home with a woman looking for a babysitter for her numerous children, the Cuthberts decide to keep her, for which Anne is duly appreciative. Extremely imaginative, Anne quickly worms her way into the Cuthberts' hearts as well the hearts of local villagers, including that of her 'bosom friend' Diana Barry (Gertrude Messinger) and fellow schoolmate Gilbert Blythe (Tom Brown), whom Anne instantly despises when he makes fun of her red hair.

Anne of Green Gables is a 1908 novel, the first of a nine-book series by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. The novel was adapted for the movie by Russian-born screenwriter Sam Mintz. A sequel, Anne of Windy Poplars (1940), followed in 1940. A particularly popular subject, especially in Canada, Anne of Green Gables has been made into several movies, including Anne of Green Gables (1919) (1919), the made-for-TV movie Anne of Green Gables (1985) (1985), a TV musical Anne of Green Gables (1956) (1956), a TV miniseries 'Anne of Green Gables (1972)' (1972), and two animated series, 'Anne of Green Gables (1952)' (1952) and 'Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series (2001)' (2000).

When Anne first lays her eyes upon the Cuthbert house, she notices that it has gables painted green, so she immediately names it 'Green Gables,' finding that more 'euphonious' (pleasant-sounding) than just calling it 'the house.'

Now grown up, Anne is away at Queen's Normal School in Charlottetown when she hears from diana that Matthew is seriously ill. She hurries back to Green Gables to find that Dr Tatum (Charley Grapewin) recommends calling in Dr Terry (Paul Stanton), a specialist from Nova Scotia, but the cost will be great and the Cuthberts have sold off everything and even mortgaged the house to pay for Anne's schooling. It turns out that Gilbert Blythe is studying medicine under Dr Terry and has already sent for him. In the final scene, Anne kneels at Matthew's bedside after Dr Terry and Gilbert have left the room. Matthew says, 'Fine young man, that Gilbert Blythe. He might have been my boy...once.' Marilla smiles and begins to leave the room. 'Where are you going?' Anne asks. 'To get Gilbert Blythe and bring him right back here,' Marilla replies.