Movie #1947 ........................."Anne of Green Gables" (the Megan Fellowes' one) DVD

Movie #1947 "Anne of Green Gables" (with Megan Fellowes)  Parts 1 and 2 .  I borrowed the DVD  from an alum so I could see the Megan Fellowes' rendition of this famous book (that I never read) to compare it to "Anne with an E"that I so raved about in an earlier blog. First big  comparison of the two is that for this one I watched her growing up in 3 hours and 19 minutes, so  I felt that the director (Sullivan) went too fast  from one event (probably from the book) to the  next----  there was very little down time just to spend time talking to the Cuthberts, making friends with her circle of friends, spending time with the townspeople, the teachers, Gilbert Blythe and her best  friend Diana and building those relationships.  In "Anne  with an E" there was so much more time to see her grow and develop into the woman that is covered in Parts 3 and 4 in the 1985 mini series.  Let's think about that -- the viewer spends 27 episodes at 50 minutes each watching Anne with an E grow, so it makes sense that we might like that little girl a little better than Meghan Fellowes.  But then fans of "Anne with an E"  are robbed from seeing her grow and develop into the woman that is shown in Parts 3 and 4 (in the 1985 version), and that is too bad.  But back to blogging on this one --- I have to say, this Anne looks older from the get go, and she approaches the character as an old soul, whereas the Anne with an E little girl comes across young and immature --- her fits of passion come through loud and at times annoying --- and that was missing in this version.   Two different ways to play the character, but I preferred the latter.  Then, if you  compare the two Marilla Cuthberts, I found them both competent --- but  Colleen Dewhurst, who has always been a favorite of mine, usually shows her complexity with a twinke in her eye --- ie. she is mean at first, but you can tell by studying her that she isn't really.  The one in the Anne with an E scared the heck out of me at first,  and it took a long, slow process to break her down.  And still she was stern on the outside far more than Colleen Dewhurst, but once again, it could be the amount of screen time  they have to play with the character.  I love Richard Farnsworth --- the steady gaze, the smile --- but that was all they asked him to bring to that character; whereas, the actor playing Matthew Cuthbert in Anne with an E was the most charming, unassuming, precious male character I've seen in a long long time.  I couldn't take my eyes off of him whenever he was in a scene with her.  Once again, amount of screen time is helpful --- Anne and he had a lot more moments shared together, esp. in the episode where Anne was writing love notes to his  old, lost love in the dress shop.  Jerry and her gay friend were missing in this version, and it took me sooooo long to warm up to Gilbert and Diana, and still I  prefer them in Anne with an E than in this version.  So overall, I still prefer "Anne with an E" the modernized version for the above reasons, and would give this 3.5 out of 5.  If I hadn't seen the other first, and hadn't spent so much time getting close to that cast, I am sure I would feel differently. But I am glad I saw this one because I have a feeling it follows the book so much more.

"ANNE OF GREEN GABLES"    1985     3 hours and 19 minutes , t.v.  miniseries

An orphan girl, sent to an elderly brother and sister by mistake, charms her new home and community with her fiery spirit and imagination.

Stars:

 Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, Richard Farnsworth