The listing, Anne of Green Gables - VHS - NEW has ended.
This rare 1934 version of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES is completely charming, and more than complements the range of miniseries done by Kevin Sullivan (with Megan Follows as Anne).
In this version Dawn O'Day (who later turned her legal name to Anne Shirley) plays the spirited orphan who comes to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert (Helen Westley and O.P. Heggie) at their Green Gables farm on Prince Edward Island.
Anne quickly makes friends with Diana Barry (Gertrude Messinger)...and makes enemies with Gilbert Blythe (Tom Brown) when she famously breaks a slate over his head! Their childhood rivalry soon turns into love, as Gilbert and Anne confess their real feelings for each other.
This version stays pretty close to the L.M. Montgomery novel...for the most part. Purists will object to certain liberties taken with the story (Anne and Gilbert's blossoming love almost reaches 'Romeo and Juliet'-style proportions with Marilla trying her best to keep them apart), and the ending seems rushed and in no way follows the timeline of the novel (for instance, Matthew dies in the book wheras he lives here).
Anne Shirley (or Dawn O'Day) gives a splendid performance as Anne, Helen Westley (best remembered for her roles in several Shirley Temple movies) is a fantastic Marilla and O.P. Heggie beautifully downplays the role of thoughtful Matthew. Tom Brown and Gertrude Messinger provide good support as Gilbert and Diana, with Sara Haden as Diana's mother Rachel (the movie combines the roles of Rachel Lynde and Mrs Barry into one character).
The lovely music is provided by the one and only Max Steiner
SHIP MULTIMEDIA
VERIFIED ADDRESS ONLY
NEW - SEALED