Queen’s Academy: Anne leaves Avonlea for Charlottetown. Gilbert Blythe is also there, but Anne still refuses to speak to him.
Gilbert’s Sacrifice: Gilbert gives up his own school position (Avonlea school) so Anne can teach close to home after Matthew’s death.
Matthew’s Death: Matthew suffers a heart attack after learning his bank (the Abbey Bank) has failed. The Cuthberts lose all their savings. Matthew dies alone in his room, clutching Anne’s dress. Marilla’s eyesight begins failing.
Anne’s Decision: Anne turns down the Avery Scholarship (Redmond College) to stay at Green Gables and teach, saving Marilla from having to sell the farm.
Gilbert and Anne Reconcile: Gilbert hears Anne turned down Redmond. He visits Green Gables and offers to teach in Avonlea so Anne can go to Redmond. Anne refuses, but thanks him sincerely. Their feud ends with Anne’s words: “I think I have a chance to be a very good friend.”
Final Scene: Anne and Gilbert walk along the Lake of Shining Waters (formerly the “White Way of Delight”). Gilbert asks if Anne will ever think of him as more than a friend. Anne smiles. The camera pulls back as they walk toward a bright future. Closing shot: Green Gables in autumn.
Part II shifted gears. The tone deepened. No longer was Anne just trying to fit in; she was learning to soar.
The rivalry with Gilbert Blythe, the handsome boy who had teased her on her first day of school ("Carrots! Carrots!"), turned into a fierce academic competition. They were no longer just children bickering; they were brilliant minds challenging one another to be better. The chemistry between Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie sizzled with the tension of unspoken affection, a dynamic that would become the gold standard for romantic frenemies.
Part II brought the setting of the Harvest Exhibition and the prestigious Avery Scholarship. Anne studied by candlelight, her dreams expanding beyond the borders of Avonlea to a university in Nova Scotia. We watched her grow from a dramatic child into a composed young woman.
But true to the nature of great drama, tragedy struck just as the sun seemed brightest.
Matthew died.
It was a scene that stopped the nation. The actor Richard Farnsworth played Matthew’s final moments with such quiet dignity. A heart attack in the field, found by Anne and Marilla. The loss of the one person who had loved her unconditionally from the very start shattered Anne’s academic dreams.
Marilla, her eyes failing and her spirit weary, confessed she could not run Green Gables alone. Anne, in a moment of profound maturity, made the choice to stay. She sacrificed the scholarship to teach at the local school and care for Marilla.
The final moments of Part II provided the closure the story deserved. Gilbert Blythe, hearing of Anne’s sacrifice, withdrew his application for the local school so she could have the position. It was his olive branch.
The series concluded by the Lake of Shining Waters. Gilbert walked Anne home. The bickering was gone, replaced by a quiet, steady respect.
"Anne," he said, "I think we make a pretty good team."
"Yes," she smiled, the red sun setting behind her. "I think we do."
The screen faded to black, leaving the audience with the enduring image of Green Gables—not just as a house, but as a feeling. It was a story about belonging, about finding family in the most unexpected places, and about a red-headed girl who, against all odds, found her way into the hearts of millions.
The 1985 television miniseries directed by Kevin Sullivan is widely regarded as the "Gold Standard" adaptation. It captures the "spirit" of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 novel through a two-part epic that remains a cultural touchstone. 📽️ Key Production Insights
The Search for Anne: Production involved a year-long search through 3,000 girls before choosing Megan Follows.
Creative Shifts: Sullivan moved the setting from the Victorian to the early Edwardian period (early 1900s) to create a more dynamic cinematic world. Anne of Green Gables - 1985 - 2 Parts
The "Front" and "Back" of Green Gables: The iconic house was actually two different locations near Toronto; the interior was a soundstage.
Casting Hepburn's Niece: Katherine Hepburn turned down the role of Marilla but successfully campaigned for her niece, Schuyler Grant, to play Diana Barry. ✨ Critical Analysis & Reflections
The 1985 version is considered a "kindred spirit" to the text. Anne is often highlighted as a proto-modern woman. Colleen Dewhurst's performance as Marilla is praised.
Costume designer Martha Mann won 6 Gemini Awards for using clothes to tell a story of growth. đź“Ś Notable Blog Reviews
The Film Rewind explores five reasons why it is a masterpiece.
Laina Has Too Much Spare Time provides a detailed breakdown of Part 1.
The Official Anne of Green Gables Blog features behind-the-scenes looks at production locations.
đź’ˇ Key Takeaway: This adaptation is celebrated for balancing whimsy with emotional realism while retaining intellectual depth. Consider the following for more information: Details on the 1987 sequel. A list of filming locations you can visit. Analysis of Anne vs. Gilbert's relationship arc.
The 1985 Anne of Green Gables miniseries is widely considered the definitive adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s classic novel. Critics and fans alike praise it for capturing the "spirit" of the book through a combination of perfect casting, lush cinematography, and emotional depth. Key Features
Main Performance: Megan Follows is often called the "only Anne." She portrays the character's change from an 11-year-old to a poised young woman. Queen’s Academy: Anne leaves Avonlea for Charlottetown
Supporting Actors: Richard Farnsworth (Matthew) and Colleen Dewhurst (Marilla) are praised for their performances.
Visual and Emotional Appeal: The production, filmed in Ontario and Prince Edward Island, is known for its scenery and costumes. Awards: The series won an Emmy Award and 10 Gemini Awards. Reviewer Opinions
Anne of Green Gables (TV Mini Series 1985) 8.6 | Drama, Family
Here is the complete, detailed breakdown of the 1985 television mini-series Anne of Green Gables, originally broadcast in two parts.
For those searching for the Anne of Green Gables - 1985 - 2 Parts complete version, be careful. Many streaming services and DVD releases have cut the two parts into a single movie, or worse, cropped the original 4:3 aspect ratio to widescreen, clipping faces out of the frame.
The best ways to watch it in its original glory:
In today’s streaming environment, miniseries are common, but in 1985, the six-hour runtime was a bold statement. The two-part structure serves a narrative purpose that a single film or a modern 10-episode season sometimes misses:
Part One of the 1985 adaptation focuses squarely on the first book, Anne of Green Gables. It opens not with Anne, but with the Cuthberts: aging siblings Matthew (Richard Farnsworth) and Marilla (Colleen Dewhurst). The gray, realistic farmyard contrasts sharply with the explosion of color that follows when Anne is mistakenly sent instead of a boy.
In the early 1980s, producer Kevin Sullivan (then a young filmmaker) set out to adapt Montgomery’s novel for television. Unlike previous attempts, Sullivan refused to “Hollywood-ize” the story. He insisted on shooting on location in Ontario and Prince Edward Island, and he fought for a runtime that would allow the story to breathe. The result was a 4-hour miniseries (later extended to 5.5 hours for international broadcast), split into two distinct but connected films.
Part One ends on a high note. Anne wins the Avery scholarship, earning her way to college. But she stays home to care for Marilla after Matthew dies of a heart attack. The final shot is not despair, but quiet resolve. It is a complete arc: an orphan becoming a beloved daughter. Part II shifted gears