For those who don’t know, the 1919 film was directed by William Desmond Taylor, a famous Hollywood director who worked with the biggest stars of the silent film era, such as Mary Pickford, Wallace Reid and Mary Miles Minter. 

Minter was Taylor’s protégé and starred as Anne Shirley in this production.  Three years later, when the film director was murdered, Minter was caught up in the scandalous and unsolved mystery regarding his death, though there was no substantial evidence of her involvement.  The actress was the victim of sensationalized reports and though she starred in more than 50 films, she believed a shadow had been cast upon her reputation.

Acting alongside Minter in the role of Gilbert was Paul Kelly – a handsome actor who is credited with being one of the first child stars.  He went on to become a popular male lead in Broadway plays.

Taylor’s Anne of Green Gables is also held in high regard for being adapted by one of the most famous female screenwriters of the 20th century, Frances Marion.  She was a two-time Academy Award winner and the first female to win an award for Best Adapted Screenplay.  Marion wrote 300 scripts in her lifetime, including many screenplays for Mary Pickford’s films, and even appeared in some of them.

The six-reel Anne of Green Gables was made in Dedham, Massachusetts from August to October of 1919 and premiered on Nov. 23 of that year.

Today’s Powerpoint recreation of the film at Clevelands House will have live piano accompaniment and narration by husband and wife team Jack and Linda Hutton.  Here is a YouTube video of Jack, a Ragtime musician, performing the opening theme music of the film.