L.M. Montgomery Research Group

Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000)

Cast and Credits

Alternate title: Anne… La Maison aux pignons verts: Les années de tourmente (French-Canadian title).

Produced by Anne III Productions Inc. Produced in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Production Services provided by Sullivan Entertainment Inc. Produced with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund created by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Cable Industry: Telefilm Canada: Equity Investment Program, CTF: Licence Fee Program, and with the assistance of the Government of Canada Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit Program. Running time: 2 episodes x 95 minutes. CBC airdate: 5-6 Mar. 2000.

Megan Follows (Anne Shirley), Jonathan Crombie (Gilbert Blythe), Schuyler Grant (Diana Wright), Greg Spottiswood (Fred Wright), Janet Laine Green (Maude Montrose), Shannon Lawson (Elsie James), Victoria Snow (Margaret Bush), Patricia Hamilton (Rachel Lynde), Douglas Campbell (Dr. Powell), Martha Henry (Kit Garrison), Nigel Bennett (Fergus Keegan), Colette Stevenson (Mrs. Findlay), and Cameron Daddo (Jack Garrison).

A Kevin Sullivan Production. Executive Producers: Trudy Grant and Kevin Sullivan. Executive in Charge of Production: Ray Sager. Written by Kevin Sullivan and Laurie Pearson. Directed by Stefan Scaini.

Commentary and Synopsis

In April 1998, eleven years after both Kevin Sullivan and Megan Follows publicly vowed there would never be another Anne of Green Gables miniseries, Sullivan Entertainment announced plans to produce Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story, an original miniseries set in 1915, supposedly five years after the events depicted in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel. After teaching in Halifax for five years, Anne Shirley returns to Avonlea for the first time since Marilla’s death. She is reunited with her old friend Diana Barry Wright, who is sure their lives will be “just like old times.” In time, of course, the characters become increasingly affected by the war raging in Europe, and eventually Gilbert Blythe, now a young surgeon, decides to enlist in the war effort. When he is declared “missing in action,” Anne decides to search for her husband in Europe rather than wait for him patiently at Green Gables. As Anne travels to France, England, Belgium, and Germany (all filmed in Montreal and outside Toronto) in search of her missing husband, she becomes drawn deeper into underground efforts to end the war, to the point that the film becomes MacGyver of Green Gables.

Although more than 2.3 million Canadians tuned in for this anticipated miniseries, a number of complaints arose from readers and viewers alike, claiming that this last film broke thematic continuity with both Montgomery’s original novels and even with Sullivan Entertainment’s previous work. The film was nominated for four Gemini Awards, including Best Lead Actress in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series (Follows).

Merchandise

Soundtrack

Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story: The Original Soundtrack. Sullivan Entertainment Presents. Music Composed and Conducted by Peter Breiner. Toronto: Sullivan Entertainment, [2001].*