In 1919, "Anne of Green Gables" was produced into a silent
film by Realart Pictures, Incorporated (Paramount Pictures Corporation).
This was an American production. Today,
not a single copy of these 6 reels of black and white film is known
to exist.
Directed by William Desmond Taylor, the film starred Mary
Miles Minter as Anne Shirley. When film star Mary Pickford left Paramount in
1918, she suggested Mary Miles Minter as her replacement at the studio.
Minter was a logical choice, since by this point she held a large box
office draw and was acclaimed for her performances. She was
offered a Paramount contract, and the first picture made under it was
Anne of Green Gables.2
Filming of the movie occurred in Dedham Massachusetts in August through
October 1919.3 This film is often
noted as the best of Minter's career. It received critical acclaim
worldwide and was her own personal favorite.2 When
asked what her favorite role was she said, "'Anne of Green Gables.'
I loved Anne. Played it when I was 17 and have never forgotten it.
I write sometimes for magazines and when I do I always use the name
Anne and sometimes Anne Shirley, the heroine of Green Gables."3 In
a 1921 interview, the interviewer noted that Minter "also likes humor
mixed with sentiment, as, for instance, "Anne of Green Gables," which
she herself suggested for the
screen."3
Plot Summary and Notes from the American
Film Institute Website 4:
"Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert adopt a lively child named Anne Shirley to
live with them on their farm, Green Gables. Although Anne's whimsical nature
is at first misunderstood by her unimaginative foster mother, the two come
to love each other. Anne's antagonists are Mrs. Pie, the village gossip,
and her malicious daughter Josie. Anne is involved in many mischievous
adventures as a girl, but after her graduation, she becomes the village
schoolmistress and saves her meager earnings for an operation that will
restore her mother's failing sight. One of her pupils, Anthony Pie, claims
that Anne beat him cruelly and broke his arm. Reverend Figtree, however,
reveals to the angry townspeople that he saw Anthony break his arm when
he fell from a haywagon. Exonerated, Anne marries her sweetheart, Gilbert
Blythe."
"The film was also based on Montgomery's other "Anne" novels:
Anne of Avonlea , 1909; Chronicles of Avonlea , 1912; and Anne of the Island
, 1915.
Exterior scenes were filmed in Dedham, MA. Many contemporary sources list George
Stewart as having played the role of Gilbert Blythe, but photographs from the
production support those sources that credit Kelly with the role. RKO
remade
the film in 1934 with Anne Shirley in the lead and George Nicholls, Jr. directing,
and used the Montgomery novels again in 1940 for Anne
of Windy Poplars, directed
by Jack Hively and again starring Shirley."
Reviews:
Upon its release in November of 1919, Anne of Green Gables received many
positive reviews.
The Exhibitor's Trade Review noted "It should be hailed
as a bit of fresh and charming entertainment and serve as pleasant
relief
from
the tense tone and mood of the highly melodramatic feature pictures
of the current market. Miss Minter is, of course, the whole show..."
3
Moving Picture World commented that the film was "A simple, clean
story which is just what it claims to be, the merit of "Anne of Green
Gables" is the fidelity with which it brings out the better side
of humanity and enables its lovable heroine to enlarge greatly her
circle of great admirers."3
Motion Picture News noted that "To those who like the "Anne" series
of stories by L. M. Montgomery, and their names must be legion as these
stories enjoyed a wide vogue, this picture should suitably
entertain."3
"Anne of Green Gables November 14, 1919 VARIETY This is
the first picture made by Mary Miles Minter for Realart. William Desmond
Taylor directed,
Frances Marion devised the scenario. The whole thing is based on the
book of the same name by L. M. Montgomery. All these authors, so far
as the film making is concerned, labored with great difficulties and
came out on the whole successfully. The trouble with the picture is
that it is not drama. It is a narrative, a biography, and how to work some
suspense into it must have kept Taylor up nights. While he does not
get suspense, he does get sympathy. The thing drags admittedly, but there's
a wholesome charm to it...Miss Minter is called on merely to be a sweet
young thing. Certainly she revealed nothing approaching the Pickford
standard, though some have declared she was being prepared to supplant
that lady."
"November 22, 1919 HARRISON'S REPORTS ..."Anne of Green
Gables" is one of the cleanest, sweetest, most human pictures
the screen can boast of. It is the personification of all that is pure
and
tender in life. It is one of those pictures that sink deep. Laughs
and tears mingle in the situations, making the spectator sympathise
intensely
with the joys and sorrows, hopes, despairs, pleasures and afflications
of the characters..."3
"February 1920 Julian Johnson PHOTOPLAY Mary Miles
Minter is a bit of established popularity. So are L. M. Montgomery's "Anne" books.
The combination, ergo, was a well-advised one for the young star's
debut on a new programme. The same advised selection proceeded in the
selection
of Francis Marion as the person who could best weld four tales into
one string for the celluloids. The result is no drama to speak of,
but a
more or less biographic account of a little orphan girl who was alternately
pathetic and funny; and later, alternately fiercely tragic and meltingly
lovely. The high spots of the picture to me were Anne's black-and-
white chicken, the feeding of imprisoned Anne by the little boy, Anne's
innocent
encounter with the mephitic polecat while hunting the picnic, and--
later--adolescent Anne's tribulations as the disciplinarian of the
village school. William
D. Taylor's direction of the picture is pleasantly adequate without
being in any way original, and the best work of the long cast is done
by Marcia
Harris, as Aunt Marilla."3
"February 1920 Frederick James Smith MOTION PICTURE
CLASSIC Mary Miles Minter's "Anne of Green Gables," (Realart),
belongs to the sugar-coated Pollyanna school of realistic literature.
Miss Minter portrays a young orphan who, adopted by an aged couple, softens
their hearts and eventually wins her own happiness. Miss Minter is a
pleasant little person, but of limited technical equipment. Hence "Anne
of Green Gables," centered wholly upon her, moves along a monotonous
level of conventionality."3
"June 1920 Hazel Simpson Naylor MOTION PICTURE I have read so many adverse criticisms of this picture that I cannot
resist putting in my little oar and pulling the other way. Orphan stories
have perhaps had an overrun and so I can see where the first of this
might have benefited by a careful cutting down. But to my mind the
last two reels, where Anne grows up and carries the whole burden of the
household
on her slender shoulders, makes the whole worthwhile sitting through.
Mary Miles Minter is lovely in this episode, which augurs well for
her brilliant future. She should, however, be careful to avoid any suggestion
of affection in her portrayals; her very sincerity, for Miss Minter
is
a very sincere little girl, may have brought up this difficulty."3
Mystery and Current Film Status:
In 1922, William Desmond Taylor was found shot to death, in a mystery
that remains unsolved to this day. In the course of the
investigations, it was brought to light early on that Minter was
involved with Taylor. This caused a great scandal because of the
age difference between Minter and Taylor, especially because her movie
roles had accentuated her innocence, purity and youth. Sadly, in
spite of the fact that her name was clear in the case, the aftermath
of the scandals and allegations plagued her.2 During
this aftermath, many of Minter's films were destroyed, including
Anne of Green Gables. Unfortunately, today this film is presumed "lost."
Recently, two lithograph posters for the film were discovered in
Michigan, hidden under a carpet. They were donated to the
National Library of Canada (shown above right). Perhaps that
leaves some hope that the film too may be rediscovered some time in
the future.
Credits from IMDB:
Director - William Desmond Taylor
Writing credits:
Frances Marion
Lucy Maud Montgomery (novel)
Cast:
Mary Miles Minter - Anne Shirley
Paul Kelly - Gilbert Blythe
Marcia Harris - Marilla Cuthbert
Frederick Burton - Matthew Cuthbert
F.T. Chailee - Abednego Pie
Leila Romer - Mrs. Pie
Lincoln Stedman - Jumbo Pie
Hazel Sexton - Josie Pie
Russell Hewitt - Anthony Pie
Albert Hackett - Robert
Laurie Lovelle - Diana Barry
Carolyn Lee - Mrs. Barry
Jack B. Hollis - Reverend Figtree
George Stewart
Beatrice Allen - Bit Part (uncredited)
Harry Bartlett - Bit Part (uncredited)
Mary Hall - Bit Part (uncredited)
Useful External Links (will open in new windows):
Internet Movie
Database - full cast and crew for the film
Silent
Majority Website - photograph of Minter
with co-stars, Paul Kelly and Albert Hackett, from her personal collection
Mary-Miles-Minter.com
- An
image of the "Anne
of Green Gables" sheet music is the background of the webpage
Websites
and groups devoted to Mary Miles Minter may be found at Mary-Miles-Minter.com, Silent
Ladies and Gents, and
Faithfully Yours: Mary Miles Minter.
For more on William
Desmond Taylor, see
Taylorology, a publication centering on his unsolved murder.
A review from the New York Times
Confederation
Centre - another photo of
Mary Miles Minter as Anne Shirley, musical
score cover, slide, lithograph
poster 1, lithograph
poster 2
The
World of Anne (Cordelia) Shirley page on the 1919 Anne of Green
Gables Film
References:
1 Bennett, Carl.
The Silent Era. (2000).
http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/A/AnneofGreenGables1919.html (accessed
2001).
2 Klepper, Robert K. "Mary Miles Minter:
Beauty Wronged."
Classic Images.
http://www.classicimages.com/1997/july97/minter.html (1999).
3 Long, Bruce.
Taylorology. Issues 24, 32, 37, 76, 79.
http://www.silent-movies.com/Taylorology/ (2000).
4 AFI
Catalog of Slent Films.
http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=1&Movie=17310 (accessed
2007)
Last Updated 01.22.07
© An L.M. Montgomery Resource Page and TickledOrange.com