“ANNE OF WINDY POPLARS”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24449, 7 November 1940, Page 11

“ANNE OF WINDY POPLARS”

From the glowing pages of L. M. Montgomery’s "Anne of Windy Poplars," relating the romance and adventures of her beloved heroine, Anne Shirley, as a school teacher, comes the story for screen actress Anne Shirley’s newest starring vehicle. The film will be screened tomorrow at the State Theatre. It will be remembered that actress Anne Shirley took her screen name from Mrs Montgomery's heroine, with the author’s permission, six years ago when the 10-year-old girl then billed as Dawn O’Day played “Anne of Green Gables,” and thereby achieved stardom. In "Anne of Windy Poplars ” both Annes gre grown up. Anne Shirley, the star, recently celebrated her twenty-first birthday, and for the first time affixed her name legally to a contract. The story Anne is also grown up, engaged to marry young Dr Blythe, and occupying her time until he can afford to marry by teaching school in the small town of Pringlcton. on Prince Edward Island. Arriving in Pringleton, she is met at the depot with the hostility of the powerful family of Pringles, dominated by tyrannical old Hester, who wants Anne’s iob for her adopted niece, and intends to make life so miserable on every hand for Anne that she will resign. But Hester finds there is plenty of iron in Anne’s young soul. The girl takes up the challenge, and, finding a place to live at Windy Poplars, owned by an old salt and his kindly sister, she sets about the difficult task of winning over the Pringles and holding her job. As fast as Anne makes progress, old Hester thinks up new troubles, but, in the end, after some exciting adventures, Anne wins.