Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987)

Following Matthew's death, Anne Shirley (Megan Follows) has remained at Green Gables to look after aging Marilla. She's teaching young kids and writing stories. Diana Barry is marrying Fred Wright which Anne disapproves at first. Anne rejects Gilbert Blythe's marriage proposal and then again. With Marilla's blessing, she takes a teaching job at a ladies' college in Kingsport, Nova Scotia and struggles to earn everyone's respect. The snobbish ruling Pringle family do not support her appointment. Jen Pringle is the mean girl of the class. Catherine Brooke is the strict spinster teacher. Anne befriends the sweet student Emmeline Harris and her family.Anne Shirley's life keeps moving on. The sequel misses the presence of Richard Farnsworth and Colleen Dewhurst has a reduced role. Quite frankly, Anne leaves everybody and everything behind for a long stretch. The story feels a bit different as Anne becomes the teacher. Megan Follows is able to maintain the character and there are a couple of compelling girls in the class. It doesn't have quite the same charm away from Green Gables but it's a nice detour.

This is one of those rare sequels that actually surpasses the original. As wonderful as "anne of green gables" was, this production from kevin sullivan, et al, is even sweeter and more expertly done. In combining not just Anne of Avonlea but also the 3rd and 4th books in L. M. Montgomery's series Sullivan has pulled off a masterwork. it is unliklely to me that Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst and Jonathan Crombie will ever do finer work, and I mean that as the highest compliment.Not only the performances but the look of this film! Prince Edward island is gorgeous and the producers were smart enough to take full advantage of it and the surrounding provinces. Anne Shirley is a very beloved heroine, I loved her from the first moment Megan Follows embodied her and recited "the lady of shallot" in part 1, its always risk to let heroines grow up, yet here it feels so achingly bittersweet, even at 4 hours you simply wish it would never end. The return of Gilbert and Diana and all of them feels like being reunited with old friends. Never, ever has a deep, true friendship been better portrayed on screen. These Wonderworks presentations are simply beautiful. Perfect entertainment ( and that word does not do these mini-series justice) for the whole family. Highest recommendation.

Might be a few spoilers...Although it was based on at least 4 of L.M.Montgomery's novels compiled, ANNE OF AVONLEA aka ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, THE SEQUEL is a very engaging, entertaining story that proved (for me anyway) much more entertaining than having read the 4 books it came from. I'm more of a visual person and some of the "older" novels are hard for me to get into. I'd rather a swift, colorful visual spanning 4 hours than a 4 month attempt to read. Anne is growing up, teaching at the Avonlea school, taking care of Green Gables and Marilla (the beloved Colleen Dewhurst) while mourning that her "bosom friend" Diana is engaged and trying to deny to herself that she loves her "chum" Gilbert Blythe. For the first hour or so, we are treated to the good times of Anne, Diana and Gilbert as Diana prepares to get married. Then Anne's travels take her to New Brunswick, where she is given the position of a English teacher at an all girls school. The first time I watched this, I was disappointed that the story didn't revolve around Anne and Gilbert, but Anne's adventures in the Ladies' College are very entertaining. She makes fast friends with a girl who reminds her of herself as a child and fast enemies with the principal of the school, Miss Katherine with a K. Anne finds herself virtually battling a town full of gossip and feuding and ends up putting together a wonderful Christmas concert to benefit the school.As far as plot goes, this, like the prequel, is the ongoing story of a wonderful young woman who lives in an era of horsedrawn buggies, Gibson-girl hairdoes, and picnics in parks with autumn leaves laying everywhere. There is no solid, formulaic plot, except that this young lady inspires love whereever she goes, even in the most grumpy people, such as Mrs. Harris, Katherine with a K. and the sly, troublesome Pringle girls.Loved it!!!

Why isn't the movie like it was written by L.M. Montgomery? It is really well done- great acting etc, but it actually gets boring in parts. I was quite disappointed after reading the books- I expected them to be a little alike. Why couldn't we meet the girls from her college years?This movie is good, but has been changed too much for my liking.