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2008 Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning

CAST/CREW
IMAGES
MUSIC & VIDEO

Official Website: http://www.anneofgreengables.com/

Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning is a “prequel and sequel” to Kevin Sullivan’s film productions of Anne of Green Gables (1985), Anne of Green Gables the Sequel (1987) and Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000). The production stars child actress Hannah Endicott-Douglas as young Anne Shirley, alongside Rachel Blanchard and Amelia Thomas. The film was first screened at the Boston Film Festival on September 15th, 2008. It will premiere on CTV on December 14th, 2008 at 7pm EST, and will also be available on DVD in 2008.

The film features an older Anne Shirley - a widow in her fifties, and a playwright - reminiscing about her childhood before Green Gables. Her memories reveal that she was apparently not an orphan, but had made up stories about her irresponsible father. She was subjected to the mercies of the wealthy matriarch Amelia Thomas, to the local poorhouse and logging camps, before she came to Avonlea. A very detailed summary, containing spoilers, has been posted by a fan on the Avonlea Treasures Forums (requires free registration to view).

The plot is not related to any of the Anne books, and is also independent from the novel Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson. Director and writer Kevin Sullivan claims that he was inspired by L. M. Montgomery’s life [1], although those familiar with Montgomery’s biography will realize that Montgomery never found herself in the Dickensian scenarios of this movie.

[1] ” ‘This one goes to the heart of Montgomery because it is about her,’ he said. ‘What would happen if Anne grew up to be a writer like Montgomery?’…Montgomery had a rocky childhood and was raised by strict Calvinist grandparents. Sullivan said she often made up stories about her roots. ” Anne of Green Gables Prequel Ignites Interest in Beloved Character, Boston Herald. http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/movies/general/view.bg?articleid=1119064

Cast

Rachel Blanchard Louisa Thomas
Shirley MacLaine Amelia Thomas
Barbara Hershey Older Anne Shirley
Jayne Eastwood Mrs. Hammond
Briony Glassco Secretary
Patricia Hamilton Rachel Lynde
Hannah Endicott-Douglas Young Anne Shirley
Tim Campbell John Barry
Robert Bockstael Principal
Courtenay J. Stevens Clerk
Marc Bendavid Dominic Blythe
Jackie Brown Mary
Melanie Scrofano Brigitte
Maggie Huculak Superintendent
Vivien Endicott Douglas Violetta (as Vivien Endicott-Douglas)
Ben Carlson Walter Shirley
Chris Benson Foreman
Joan Gregson Hepzibah Leach
Hamish Robertson Doctor
Jennifer Phipps Maid
Tyler Stevenson Jock
Aiden Locke Keith

Crew

Director of Photography Yuri Yakubiw
Art Direction Raymond Lorenz
Costume Design Martha Mann
Production Manager Lynn Mallay
Location Manager Jeff Nelson
Executive in Charge of Production Ray Sager
Executive Producers Trudy Grant and Kevin Sullivan
Written and Directed by Kevin Sullivan.