- L.M. Montgomery’s novel Anne of Green Gables was published in 1908, and sold 19,000 copies in the first five months. Montgomery began the book after she wrote the following journal entry: “Elderly couple apply to orphan asylum for a boy. By mistake a girl is sent to them.”
- The year after the Sullivan film was released, tourism increased to Prince Edward Island by 30%. People still flock to the Island from around the world because of the reach of the classic Sullivan films. Interestingly, most of the film was made in and around the city of Toronto, and in studios in Toronto. Sullivan faced a high degree of criticism for this decision, but at the time, virtually no film production support was available on location in Prince Edward Island, so Sullivan chose to film limited shots on the Island using only a very small production unit.
- Kevin Sullivan auditioned more than 3,000 young actresses when searching for the perfect Anne Shirley. Schuyler Grant (who plays Diana Barry) heard about the project from her great-aunt Katherine Hepburn, who contacted Sullivan personally on Grant’s behalf. After a screen test, Sullivan was impressed with Grant’s ability, but the financing from Canadian companies meant that there was a great deal of pressure to cast a Canadian actress in the lead role.
- The CBC and CTV, the two biggest networks in Canada, were both in negotiations to broadcast the film. At a film festival, representatives from each company separately announced that they had obtained the sole right to broadcast the film—before a decision had been made!
- Sullivan was amenable to the CBC’s request that he hold a nationwide talent search, to audition young actresses from all across the country. The runner-up for the lead role was a young girl from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Erin Kuttner was an excellent actress and Sullivan came very close to casting her as Anne, even flying Kuttner into Toronto for a follow-up screen test, which included dying her hair, before she was flown back to Halifax the same day.
Anne of Green Gables: The Kevin Sullivan Restoration Collection is now available for preorder.
