Anne Of Avonlea (BBC Mini-Series)
Picture: C Sound: C Extras: D Episodes: B
Despite
the numerous adaptations of L. M. Montgomery’s Anne Of Green Gables, we have yet to review any adaptation of that
tale. However, we have before us a
really good adaptation from the BBC of the follow-up Anne Of Avonlea from 1975.
Kim Braden is Anne Shirley, now a schoolteacher in the farm areas of the
country and she has a whole new set of obstacles ands characters to deal
with. This includes an affair about a
cow or two, two new orphans showing up and her desire (rarer at the time) to go
to college.
Joan
Craft does a fine job of directing this mini-series, which is based on both Anne Of Avonlea and Anne Of The Island, she is the right person at the right time, with
the right cast, production, teleplay and energy that makes these six parts flow
well. The comic timing is as good as
anything and it is yet another gem form the last golden period of British TV. Cheers also go to Elaine Morgan, who adapted
the books into a fine example of literature on television. This set should give it the new audience it
deserves.
The 1.33
X 1 image was taped in the analog PAL format and shows its age, but has some
style and is nicely produced. The Dolby
Digital 2.0 mono shows its age and the volume is a little lower than one might
like, so just be careful when playing it back and switching to other audio
sources. There are no extras, but the
episodes run 5 hours, 12 minutes. That
leaves plenty to enjoy.
- Nicholas Sheffo
