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By Alexandra Heilbron

Source: The Avonlea Traditions Chronicle, No. 28, Summer 1999.

Graphics are named Anne3_1 to Anne3_6

There is good news and bad news for fans awaiting the premiere of Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story.

First the bad news: except for a few references made by characters, there is really nothing whatsoever resembling anything L. M. Montgomery wrote about Anne or Gilbert anywhere in this movie. Now the good news (and there's a lot of it): the movie is entertaining, exciting and heartwarming.

If you loved the first two movies and want to see more of your favourite characters, you'll really enjoy this movie. Megan Follows turns in a fine acting job as Anne. She doesn't look much older than the last time we saw her, even though it's been more than ten years. (Although the story apparently begins five years after the second movie ended).

Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert has never been better. His features have matured, as has his demeanor. Gilbert is more patient and good-natured than ever, and we see his thought process as he ponders serious problems. Gilbert supports Anne, but makes his own decisions. In short, he has fully made the transition from boy to man.

Together, Megan and Jonathan's chemistry make them completely believable as a couple who care deeply for each other.

Anne is as impetuous, spirited and fiery-tempered as ever. She hasn't matured at quite the same rate as Gilbert, but the movie takes her on a journey which changes her and forces her to grow up in a hurry.

At the beginning of The Continuing Story, Anne returns to Prince Edward Island. Both she and Gilbert have been away, and haven't seen each other, although they have been corresponding. (For readers of the books, this refers to the Anne of Windy Poplars period, wherein Anne is working as a school principal and writes letters to Gilbert).

Diana, played again by Schuyler Grant, is almost unrecognizable. Diana has thinned out, and seems to tower over Anne. Since we last saw her, she has inherited a fortune from Aunt Josephine, and lives in a huge house with servants, including a cook, a maid, and a driver. Her husband Fred, now played by Greg Spottiswood, who also played Felicity's first crush in Road to Avonlea) sullenly works at a bank in a position where he feels unfulfilled. He is disgruntled, because his family does not need him to work thanks to Diana's inheritance, and because he longs to join the army.

Diana has turned into a rich snob, something which her mother, Mrs. Barry (again played by Rosemary Radcliffe) affirms, accusing Diana of "putting on airs."

Anne is aghast when she goes to look at Green Gables. Bought by Mr. Harrison, it is now being rented out and is in a state of disarray. The paint has faded and the roof is falling apart. Gilbert joins Anne on the Island and they decide to go to New York City, where Gilbert has been offered a position at a prestigious hospital. Anne tags along, hoping to get a book published. Through a doctor friend of Gilbert's, a book publisher takes a look at Anne's book. Instead of offering to publish her book, he gives her a position as an editor, in the hope that Anne will find books which will appeal to women.

There, she meets best selling author Jack Garrison, played wonderfully by the charming and handsome Australian actor Cameron Daddo. Jack becomes enraptured by both Anne and her writing style, and the two writers collaborate on a book. When Jack gives the book to the publishers, they remove Anne's name from it, purporting that since Jack is a best-selling author, and Anne is not, it will sell better without her name.

Meanwhile, Gilbert is disappointed by the attitude of his superiors at the hospital, who put fame and money above the best interests of the patient. Disillusioned, Anne and Gilbert return to rural Avonlea.

They find that their friends in Prince Edward Island are obsessed with the war effort. Anne runs into Mrs. Lynde, who tells her Davey has enlisted. Gilbert is taunted by Josie Pye, because he has not joined in the war. He considers enlisting, but feels his expertise is needed more at home, where he has set up a practice. Gilbert volunteers his time at the Convalescent Home for Casualties, helping the returning soldiers.

Gilbert buys Green Gables for Anne, and they begin to fix it up. However, Green Gables catches fire (mirroring real life happenings, when Green Gables was the scene of a fire several years ago). Luckily, the home is saved by quick action, although it sustains quite a bit of damage.

Fred Wright loses his job at the bank, and feeling less than a man because of Diana's money and bossy ways, finally decides to enlist without telling her. Fred asks Gilbert to drive him to the station, and Diana becomes enraged when Gilbert tells her the news.

Gilbert decides to enlist as well, when he sees the status of the injured soldiers who have not had the benefit of prompt medical attention at the front. The hospital regularly receives soldiers who have not been properly cared for, and who are arriving with severely infected wounds. Gilbert realizes his medical knowledge and training would be put to better use if he could tend to the injuries right away rather than weeks later, when the men eventually arrive in Canada. Anne tries to talk him out of it, but finally respects his decision. They have a small but lovely wedding before Gilbert has to leave for Europe. However, impatient Anne soon gets tired of waiting for Gilbert to return, so she joins the Red Cross and travels with them to Europe. This is where the story gets somewhat convoluted. Gilbert is seen very infrequently for the next hour or so, and it becomes clear that the movie runs more smoothly and is more interesting when the story involves both Anne and Gilbert.

Presumably the audience gets only Anne's story in order to keep them in suspense as to whether Gilbert survives the war, but so many characters and subplots are introduced that the story becomes hard to follow.

Anne, who is supposed to be working with the Red Cross, spends more time following her own agenda, which is finding Gilbert. She's reprimanded by another Red Cross worker for not doing her job, but keeps right on searching for Gilbert rather than helping the wounded, giving viewers a less than positive look into Anne's character, although it clearly defines the difference between Anne and Gilbert. Whereas Gilbert is giving and caring on behalf of all, Anne seems to be more concerned about her own problems.

But that changes when she meets up again with Jack Garrison. Jack saves Anne from Nazi soldiers and entrusts her with his son, Dominic, while he goes off on a mission. Anne also finds Fred Wright in an army hospital, wounded and in shock. Anne works to get Fred and Dominic to safety (finally giving up on her Red Cross duties). From there on, the story gets even more complicated and in order not to give away the ending, we'll stop here. But those who love the Anne books will be happy to hear that the ending of the movie sets up a scenario that looks as if the next movie (if there is one) may follow the books a bit more closely.

Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story was televised in New Zealand in July 1999, and will be shown in January 2000 in Canada on CBC and in the United States on PBS (date to be determined). Watch your local listings for exact dates and times.

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