Anne of Green Gables (1985) is a two-part television adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s classic 1908 novel, produced for television and directed by Kevin Sullivan. Set on Prince Edward Island, it follows the spirited, imaginative red-haired orphan Anne Shirley after she’s mistakenly sent to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, an elderly brother-and-sister who intended to adopt a boy to help on their farm, Green Gables. The series captures Anne’s coming-of-age as she transforms the quiet Avonlea community with her warmth, mischief, and fierce imagination.
Why it stands out
Anne of Green Gables (1985) was a ratings juggernaut, drawing over 13 million viewers in Canada (one-third of the population) and becoming a PBS staple in the United States. It launched Megan Follows’ career, made Prince Edward Island a pilgrimage site, and gave the world a shared vocabulary: “kindred spirits,” “the depths of despair,” and “bosom friends.” Anne of Green Gables - 1985 - 2 Parts
No article about this miniseries is complete without praising the holy trinity of casting: Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, and Richard Farnsworth. Anne of Green Gables (1985) is a two-part