In 1934, Montgomery's novel Anne of Green Gables was again produced into a
film, this time by RKO Pictures. The film is black and white and
79 minutes long. Directed by George Nichols Jr., the film starred
Anne Shirley as Anne. The actress, whose real name was Dawn Paris,
assumed her character's name stage professionally (her former stage name
was Dawn O'Day) in 1934 due to her love of the character.
Helen Westley and O.P. Heggie starred as Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert,
who adopt Anne. The film also starred Sara Haden as Mrs.
Barry, Gertrude Messinger as Anne's bosom friend Diana Barry and Tom
Brown as Gilbert Blythe.
In watching the film, a number of differences between the film's plot
and Montgomery's novel are apparent. Some of the differences have
to do with casting and appearances. Anne Shirley (actress) looks
more mature than her character is in the novel. Diana Barry is a
blond rather than a raven-haired brunette. Her mother, Mrs. Barry
is a hybrid creation of Montgomery's Rachel Lynde and Mrs. Barry.
Matthew is not shy and fearful of women, and Marilla is not as
sharp and thin looking.
Instead of being loyal to the novel's plot, the film twists Anne's story
to conform to a "Romeo and Juliet" tale, where Anne rebels
and lies to Matthew and Marilla, secretly meeting Gilbert against their
wishes. The plot moves speedily along, winding quickly into a happy
ending.
A sequel to the film, "Anne of Windy Poplars," was
released in 1940. O.P. Heggie died of pneumonia soon after the first
film was
finished, so
although Matthew lived at the end of "Anne of Green Gables," his
character was dead in the film's sequel.
Credits from IMDB:
Director - George Nichols Jr. (as George Nicholls Jr.)
Writing credits:
Lucy Maud Montgomery (novel, as L.M. Montgomery)
Sam Mintz (screenplay)
Cast:
Anne Shirley - Anne Shirley
Tom Brown - Gilbert Blythe
O.P. Heggie - Matthew Cuthbert
Helen Westley - Marilla Cuthbert
Sara Haden - Mrs. Rachel Barry
Murray Kinnell - Mr. Phillips, the Teacher
Gertrude Messinger - Diana Barry
Charley Grapewin - Dr. Tatum
Hilda Vaughn - Mrs. Blewett
June Preston - Mrs. Blewett's Daughter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Margaret Armstrong - Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Frank Darien - Angus, Station Master (uncredited)
Bonita Granville - School Girl (uncredited)
Ben Hall - (uncredited)
Ann Miller - Child Extra (uncredited)
George Offerman Jr-. Herbert Root (uncredited)
Paul Stanton - Dr. Terry (uncredited)
Useful External Link (will open in new windows):
The full cast list for the film is available online at the
Internet Movie Database.
Last Updated 04.03.07
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