The film deviates from L.M. Montgomery’s novel, notably portraying Anne Shirley as considerably older than she was in the book, but this doesn't detract significantly from the narrative. The story follows Anne as she is taken in by the benevolent Matthew (O.P. Heggie) and his sister Marilla (Helen Westley), who had initially hoped to adopt a boy. We witness her journey through adolescence toward adulthood, including …

It’s difficult to give an unbiased assessment of this film, especially knowing there are later adaptations that have been made. The story itself seems to hold up well over time, and the actors involved do a decent job given the limited number of performers. On its own merits, it's not terrible. However, the versions starring Meagan Follows and the Canadian production from the 1980s are so prominent that this film str…