Country: Canada

Language: English

Runtime: 23 min.

Release date: 26 January 1984

Production Companies: Atlantis Films Ltd., Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Funding Agency: Canadian Film Development Corporation

Director: Bruce Pittman

Producers: Michael MacMillan, Seaton McLean, Janice Platt

Screenplay: Amy Jo Cooper

Cinematography: Alar Kivilo

Editor: Margaret van Eerdewijk

Music: Larry Crossley

Source Material: Based upon a short story by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Tag: Atlantis Films Limited Presents

Principal Cast: Fiona McGillivray (Jane Lawrence), Andrea Swartz (Dovie), Danny Higham (Eddie), Laurel Smyth (Mother), Maureen A. Hume (Aunt Helen), Sean McCann (Six-Toed Jimmy)

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187980/

Based a short story by Montgomery published in Good Housekeeping in August 1935, this award-winning dramatic program aired as part of Sons and Daughters, CBC’s umbrella miniseries of six half-hour dramas that “focus on young people and the pains and pleasures of growing up” (“Programs” 13). Filmed in Prince Edward Island and set there in 1931, I Know a Secret is a sensitively-directed story of a young girl who years to know a secret so that she will win the friendship of the local children. When Dovie claims that Jane was switched at birth with the daughter of Six-Toed Jimmy, Jane must reassess her identity and learn to feel good about who she is.

Fiona McGillivray, who played the protagonist in this film, would later have a small role in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel. Amy Jo Cooper would eventually write two novelizations of episodes of Road to Avonlea. Bruce Pittman would later direct two early episodes of Road to Avonlea.

Further Reading

“Programs aim for children’s minds.” Globe and Mail Broadcast Week, 24 September 1983, 13.

Credits

Opening Credits

Atlantis Films Limited presents

a film based upon a
short story by
LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY

Prince Edward Island
1931

I KNOW A SECRET

with
FIONA McGILLIVRAY [Jane Lawrence]
ANDREA SWARTZ [Dovie]   DANNY HIGHAM [Eddie]

LAUREL SMYTH [Mother]   MAUREEN A. HUME [Aunt Helen]
and SEAN McCANN [Six-Toed Jimmy]

Screenplay by AMY JO COOPER
Director of Photography: ALAR KIVILO
Edited by MARGARET VAN EERDEWIJK
Produced by MICHAEL MACMILLAN, SEATON McLEAN, JANICE PLATT
Directed by BRUCE PITTMAN

Ending Credits

Cast
Jane Lawrence: FIONA McGILLIVRAY
Dovie: ANDREA SWARTZ
Eddie: DANNY HIGMAN
Mother: LAUREL SMYTH
Aunt Helen: MAUREEN A. HUME
Six-Toed Jimmy: SEAN McCANN
Ellen: MELISSA JOHNSTON
The Children: BARBARA MOONEY, CARL VICTOR, WAYNE MOONEY, LARRY VICTOR, JANICE MOONEY

Produced with the participation
of the
CANADIAN FILM DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION

Music Composed by LARRY CROSLEY

Production Manager: GILLIAN RICHARDSON

Assistant Director: RICHARD FLOWER

Wardrobe Master: ARTHUR ROWSELL
Properties and Sets: PETER FLETCHER
Sound Mixer: JOHN MEGILL
Boom Operator: MICHAEL LaCROIX
Assistant Camera: ELISA SWERHONE
Gaffer: JOHN ROY
Best Boy: JOHN HERZOG
Key Grip: MARK MANCHESTER
Second Grip: JIM (J.C.) CRAIG
Continuity: NANCY EAGLES
Assistant Props: AILEEN BROPHY
Assistant Editor: BRUCE LANGE
Production Assistant: ALAN BOOTH
Production Assistant: IAN HENDERSON
Stills Photographer: IAN McGEAGH
Production Secretary: BETH FANJOY
Asst. Production Secretary: CINDY HAMON-HILL
Rerecording Mixer: MIKE HOOGENBOOM
Laboratory: FILM HOUSE GROUP
Neg Cutter: MAY BISHOP
Titles: META MEDIA

The producers wish to thank the
Prince Edward Island Department
of Tourism, Industry and Energy,
Points East Productions, and the people
of Annandale, Cape Traverse
and Park Corner, P.E.I.

Produced by
ATLANTIS FILMS LIMITED
in association with the
CANADIAN BROADCASTING
CORPORATION

© 1982 Atlantis Films Limited. All Rights Reserved.