What to watch when your husband is away

David was in Dallas visiting his parents last weekend. So I took the opportunity to watch whatever I wanted. (WhooHooo -- I had the whole weekend without him mocking myTV viewing choices!) So I rented the 1985 Canadian Broadcasting version of Anne of Green Gables. Now, if David had been home, he would have rolled his eyes and left the room. But it was just me and Lucy, and we wanted to be transported back to the turn of the century. It was just what we girls need to help us to escape from our troubles (well, Lucy's only trouble is that she doesn't like the dinner menu most nights).
So we curled up on the couch together and were transported to Prince Edward Island, Green Gables, and the mis-adventures of the orphan Anne Shirley.

This version has the wonderful Colleen Dewhurst as Marilla Cuthbert (who reluctantly agrees to keep the orphan after the orphanage accidentally sent them a girl instead of a boy orphan who could help with the farm). Richard Farnsworth is cast at the wonderfully and loving Matthew Cuthbert (Marilla's brother), who falls in love with Anne from the beginning, despite her rough edges.

I have to admit the story paints a fairly rosy picture of Anne's life after she's adopted by Marilla and Matthew. Sure, she has her social mis-haps and kids at school tease her about her red hair, but she adjusts to school beautifully, the whole community embraces her. A few neighbors must get over the fact that she's an ORPHAN, but they always end up being charmed and won over by Anne (played by Megan Follows).

Then there's the DREAMY Gilbert Blythe, played by Jonathan Crombie. He's the original McDreamy, I think. But Anne will have nothing to do with him because he teased her once about her red hair. The whole movie you just want to shake that girl and tell her to GET OVER IT ALREADY! CAN YOU SEE HE'S IN LOVE WITH YOU? AND HE'S SO MCDREAMY!

But Anne is stubborn and leaves the audience in suspense about her romantic life until the very end where we're left with a little tiny light of hope about Anne and Gil.


David got home Sunday afternoon and I watched the last 2 hours of the movie Sunday night. During his breaks from his editing work, he caught a few scenes of the film and believe it or not, he was laughing at Anne's antics and wowed by the wonderful acting of Colleen Dewhurst. I guess he's been charmed by Anne of Green Gables as well....