Anne of GIF Gables

[Deleted]

www.cbc.ca/beta/arts/anne-of-gif-gables-celebrating-the-miniseries-30th-anniversary-internet-style-1.3339064?__vfz=tc%3DecUdZ551NiW


Thirty years ago this week, Anne of Green Gables premiered on CBC Television. If that's enough to make you go...





...then check out this interview from the CBC Digital Archives.



On Nov. 29, 1985, Vicki Gabereau interviewed Kevin Sullivan, the young producer behind the Green Gables miniseries, for CBC Radio. The TV special's big debut was still a few days away, and while Lucy Maud Montgomery's red-haired heroine hadn't disappeared from the public consciousness, there was no guarantee the program would turn into a phenomenon, one bigger than Anne Shirley's puffy sleeves.





"The whole experience was almost enchanted," Sullivan tells Gabereau, sharing the story of how his Anne of Green Gables adaptation was made.





Securing the rights to the novel, however, was another story, especially since it wasn't clear who owned them. It was a journey that was long and arduous, and Sullivan covers a few of the details in the interview.





As he explains, he spent four years persistently pursuing the rights.





The struggle didn't break him...





And though various producers were after Anne too, he ultimately "got the copyright under control."





As he puts it: "Maybe Lucy Maud Montgomery was looking down from above and said, 'Maybe it's time someone did something with my Anne.'"





There were some hiccups, even so.






During filming, for example, the cast and crew were struck by a flu epidemic.





And before cameras could roll, there were other challenges facing the production. Funding was an issue, for one. A Japanese company was initially interested in backing Green Gables, but they wanted to take the shoot to Japan.





The deal didn't succeed, so the production found new partners and Anne of Green Gables would be made in Canada.





Even so, Sullivan soon realized there was no way the entire production could film in Prince Edward Island, Montgomery's home province and the story's setting.





In the interview, Sullivan lets Gabereau in on a little behind-the-scenes secret.





A lot of the scenes were shot in Ontario, but, he says, "it's very difficult to tell the difference, believe it or not." As the producer told Gabereau, he screened the film for the Montgomery family, and they mistook the Ontario locations for the real deal.





"I've always had a feeling about Anne of Green Gables," Sullivan tells Gabereau, recalling the first time he heard the story as a child. "I remember being enchanted by the images, enchanted by the characters. It's just one of those things that always stayed with me."





For more throwbacks like this one, visit the CBC Digital Archives.

[pixy0stix]

I need to watch this again.

[sushi]

Well now I'm going to have to read all the books again

[secretlyevil]

And now I have to watch them again. I love the books so much.

[Deleted]

Always a favorite. I wanted to be Megan Follows so badly, loved the clothes in this series too. I re-read the books every few years, and it's still just charming and optimistic (though Rilla of Ingleside is sad).

[elleblue]

<3 I was so thrilled when I saw yesterday's Google doodle in honor of Lucy Maud. Her books and the Anne mini series were such an integral part of my childhood.

[2curlydogs]

PBS has been re-airing the miniseries. <3

[ESF]

Hmmmm I wonder if this is available to stream anywhere. This looks like a fun weekend activity.

[sparrowsong]

Ha, we all had the same reaction! I need to watch/read this again!

I will say that seeing Anne in Reign, looking so old, has been hard for me. Ugh, I'm not handling getting older very well.

[sparkythelawyer]

I went back and forth between this and football on Sunday.

Anne is one of my favorite "ladies of literature."

[pinkeggs]

I love that series so much. I was genuinely upset when Jonathan Crombie passed away this year.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

When it wasn't playing on PBS I would rent the videos from the library and watch them. I have a confession, I loved Morgan.

[hopecounts]

I love this, They did such a good job with it

[AJL]

I love any and all things Anne of Green Gables. For my 33rd birthday DH gave me the boxed DVD set of all the Sullivan AoGG series.

[summer]

I love Anne with all my heart. I have watched it a ridiculous number of times.

[terpsfan]

All of those GIFs took me back to a happy place :-). Love this series. Also loved Anne of Avonlea too

[mcsangel2]

Wait, what? 30 YEARS?

Fuck, I'm old.

I approve of the use of gifs in this thread.

I was thinking of Jonathan Crombie today, and I got all super sad all over again.

I <3 Anne 4EVA

[compassrose]

I read this series for the first time when I was 8. I kept a running tally in the back every time I read it for years and years. I've read it at least 3 dozen times. Rilla (the book) is my favorite as an adult.

[nsuhomer]

I loveloveloved AoGG. My sisters and I would reenact scenes.

What age is good to start reading the series? I can't remember. My 6yo is a strong reader (does Ramona and Box Car Children books easily), but I want her to really enjoy these.

[mcsangel2]

Dec 1, 2015 21:54:12 GMT -5 nsuhomer said:

I loveloveloved AoGG. My sisters and I would reenact scenes.

What age is good to start reading the series? I can't remember. My 6yo is a strong reader (does Ramona and Box Car Children books easily), but I want her to really enjoy these.

My mom gave me her copies of the books when I was 10, and it was a complete bust. I didn't fall in love with it until after the miniseries came out (when I was 15). I actually much prefer the Emily of New Moon series.

I read a lot of girl's series by 10 though. I feel like the writing style is a bit too mature for a kid.

[hopecounts]

Dec 1, 2015 21:54:12 GMT -5 nsuhomer said:

I loveloveloved AoGG. My sisters and I would reenact scenes.

What age is good to start reading the series? I can't remember. My 6yo is a strong reader (does Ramona and Box Car Children books easily), but I want her to really enjoy these.

I was a strong reader and read them just before I turned 9 and feel in love with them.
I would wait until 9/10 to try them.

[nsl]

Dec 1, 2015 21:54:12 GMT -5 nsuhomer said:

I loveloveloved AoGG. My sisters and I would reenact scenes.

What age is good to start reading the series? I can't remember. My 6yo is a strong reader (does Ramona and Box Car Children books easily), but I want her to really enjoy these.

I want to say that I read the books between 11-12 and thoroughly appreciated them in a way I wouldn't have if I'd read them when I was younger. 

Oh, and I'm blaming you all when the box from Amazon arrives later this week with the original miniseries. 

[MrsAxilla]

Yanno, I re-read the first couple earlier this year and I have to admit, I didn't love them as much. I never saw the my I-series, though.

::::ducks and runs out of post::::

[nsuhomer]

Dang! I guess we've got to wait a few more years. I'm antsy to relive the glory days.

[Miss Phryne Fisher]

Dec 1, 2015 13:36:12 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

When it wasn't playing on PBS I would rent the videos from the library and watch them. I have a confession, I loved Morgan.

I liked Roy (from the books) better. I think KS did a real disservice to the books when he made AoA. Though I still love it, there was already a really good story there. I am still mad at him for the travesty that was Anne 3 and don't even get me started on the extra piece of crap he made with Barbara Hershey. 

Aside: You should watch Wind at my Back if you like Kevin Sullivan-y stuff. He directed that as well, it was a really REALLY good series.