Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story

Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story is a 2000 film by Kevin Sullivan. It was preceded by Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel and followed by Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning.

Plot
Departing greatly from Lucy Maud Montgomery's work, but surprisingly still appealing, The Continuing Story follows Anne and Gilbert's adventures during World War I.

Anne Shirley returns to Avonlea after five years of teaching at an orphanage in Nova Scotia while separated from her fiancé, Gilbert Blythe, who was finishing medical school. After catching up with Diana Barry and other old friends, Anne and Diana visit Green Gables, and a horrified Anne realizes that since Marilla's death the owners have treated Green Gables so poorly, that it is coming apart. Later, Anne is reunited with Gilbert on the island. However, instead of settling down immediately, Gilbert asks Anne to move to New York since he has been offered a staff position at a prestigious medical institution. Her reluctant agreement comes with the promise of being published and that they will return to Prince Edward Island to raise their family.

In New York, Anne is employed as a junior editor at a small publishing house, where she meets Jack Garrison, a writer and local sensation who becomes interested in Anne. Seeing her potential as a writer, he offers to become the editor for her new manuscript and use his influence to have it published under both their names. When the manuscript is accepted, Anne is outraged to learn that Jack has presented it as his own; she breaks off contact with Jack, who reveals he has fallen in love with her. Meanwhile, Gilbert is troubled by his work at the hospital - most of the doctors are more interested in prestige than saving lives. Disillusioned by life in New York, Anne and Gilbert return to Prince Edward Island.

Upon returning to Avonlea, Gilbert buys Green Gables from Mr. Harrison and they set about restoring the house as they plan their wedding. However, the couple find the effect of World War I to be much more present; Fred Wright, Diana's husband, eventually enlists in the war as his family life becomes increasingly strained. Increasing pressure results in Gilbert enlisting as medical officer and he convinces Anne to marry him before he leaves. When he is declared missing in action, Anne leaves for Europe as a Red Cross volunteer in hopes of finding him.

Anne's desperate search leads to a chance meeting with Jack Garrison, along with his lover, Colette, and their infant son, Dominic. Jack, involved in dangerous espionage activities, leaves suddenly and asks that Anne take Colette and Dominic to London. However, Colette is killed in an explosion while Anne briefly sees Gilbert as his troop is forced to abandon their field hospital. Anne promises Colette on her last breath to take care of Dominic and find his father. Left to care for Dominic, Anne finds an injured Fred Wright and his arm must be amputated. They leave for London and reside in Jack's apartment until they can return to Canada; in that time, Anne works for a British newspaper office and becomes acquainted with Fergus Keegan, Jack's editor, and Maude Montrose, one of Jack's contemporaries and a fellow spy. When Jack arrives to make arrangements for his family, he learns of Colette's death and asks for Anne to care for Dominic should anything happen to him. Though Anne intends to return to Canada with Fred and Dominic, her connection to Jack as well as a resurfacing chance of finding Gilbert results in taking Dominic with her to France.

Disguised as a nun and befriending entertainers Margaret Bush and Elsie James, Anne struggles to bring Dominic to Kit Garrison, Jack's aunt who has also become involved in war efforts. Reunited again with Jack, Anne travels with him in hopes for finding her husband. As Anne's search continues to be fruitless, Jack attempts to persuade her to return with him to the United States and form a family with him and Dominic; Anne refuses, determined to continue searching for Gilbert in Germany. When she encounters Margaret and Elsie again, she joins them in entertaining the soldiers; in the crowd is Gilbert and Anne is reunited with him at last. Jack arranges for them to leave immediately as the armistice to end the war approaches. However, Keegan's fear of being exposed as a traitor by Jack's group results in Jack being shot on the train; as he dies, he asks that Anne take care of his son. Once the armistice is declared, Anne and Gilbert attempt to find Dominic, but after finding Kit Garrison's cháteau empty, they are forced to return to Canada in hopes of finding the child from home.

After a year of living back in Avonlea, Anne and Gilbert arrive at the local train station to collect Dominic, whom they are adopting as their own. They decide to leave Green Gables to Diana and Fred while they "make a new life, but built on all the old foundations" and "build a good home, and raise a family, with lots of scope for the imagination."

It also leaves an opening for a return to the L.M. Montgomery storyline as the Blythes move to Ingleside.

Main cast

 * Megan Follows as Anne Shirley
 * Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe
 * Cameron Daddo as Jack Garrison

Other cast

 * Schuyler Grant as Diana Barry
 * Greg Spottiswood as Fred Wright
 * Patricia Hamilton as Rachel Lynde
 * Michael Cameron as Fred Wright Jr.
 * Rosemary Radcliff as Mrs. Barry
 * Zack Ward as Moody Spurgeon MacPherson
 * Miranda de Pencier as Josie Pye
 * Sonia Laplante as Colette
 * Janet Laine-Green as Maud Montrose
 * Shannon Lawson as Elsie James
 * Victoria Snow as Margaret Bush
 * Douglas Campbell as Dr. Powell
 * Martha Henry as Kit Garrison
 * Colette Stevenson as Mrs. Findlay
 * Scott Maudsley as Officer Findlay
 * Andrew Dinner as Brian Findlay


 * Nigel Bennett as Fergus Keenan
 * Barry Morse as Palmer Winfield
 * Dan Let as Walter Owen
 * David Gardner as Mr. Todd
 * Jill Frappier as Mrs. Todd
 * R. D. Reid as Reverend Morgan
 * Dalene Irvine as Ginny Andrews
 * Kate Hemblen as Nurse Tilda
 * Billy Parrott as Alan (Diana's Driver)
 * Toni Ellwand as Mrs. Tweed
 * Peter Graham as Mr. Tweed
 * Art Kitching as Belmont Clerk
 * David Clement as Mr. Chambers
 * Gordon Jocelyn as Dr. Stuart
 * Andrée Bernard as Gertrude

Co-starring

 * Maggie Huculak as Female V.A.D.
 * Robin Stevan as V.A.D. Driver
 * Brenda Robins as Field Nurse
 * Lisa Messinger as Front Desk Nurse
 * Diane Douglas as Bellevue Matron
 * Kyra Harper as Dishevelled Woman
 * Brad Austin as Winfield Receptionist
 * François Klanfer as Neufchateau Priest
 * David Danzon as Neufchateau Soldier
 * Carlo Rota as Cockney Driver
 * Neil Girvan as Boulogne Doctor
 * Nancy Kee as Red Cross Official
 * Meredith McGeachie as Red Cross Woman #1
 * Alexa Gilmour as Red Cross Woman #2
 * Doug Samuels as Canadian Captain
 * Patrick McManus as Canadian Lieutenant


 * Darrin Brown as Canadian Soldier #1
 * Chaz Thorne as Canadian Soldier #2
 * Matthew Edison as Embassy Clerk
 * Richard McMillan as Canadian Embassy Clerk
 * Kevin Hare as Journalist #1
 * Kevin Wall as Journalist #2
 * Jason Noël as Chauffeur
 * Donna Goodhand as Middle Aged Lady
 * Francois Byron as Le Havre Guard
 * Olivier L'Ecuyer as French Solider
 * Steve Zirnis as Park Specker
 * Paul Eves as Jack's Associate
 * Normand Bissonnette as LaCapelle Soldier
 * Timm Zemanek as Solicitor
 * Peter Langley as Peasant Farmer
 * Robert Bidaman as Senior Surgeon

Uncredited

 * Colleen Dewhurst as Marilla Cuthbert (archive footage)
 * Richard Farnsworth as Matthew Cuthbert (archive footage)

Behind the scenes

 * Gilbert‘s costume was a genuine medical uniform from the World War I.

Casting

 * Greg Spottiswood, who portrayed Fred Wright in Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story, also appeared in Road to Avonlea in role of David Hawes.
 * Nigel Bennett portrayed Fergus Keagen in Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story. In Road to Avonlea he portrayed Enoch Cain.
 * François Klanfer who portrayed Neufchateau Priest in Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story, also appeared in Road to Avonlea as Theatre Manager.