Search - Lantern Hill on DVD

Another winner from Lucy Maud Montgomery and Kevin Sullivan

Eric Pregosin | New Carrollton, Maryland United States | 10/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you enjoy, the Anne of Green Gables Trilogy, you will wanna buy this hard to find dvd. This film was produced by the same people as Anne, written by the same author and shown here originally on PBS' Wonderworks and then The Disney Channel. Mairon Bennett plays Jane Stuart who has been living a sheltered life with her Grandmother and mother when her father "allegedly" died. When she learns he is still alive, she does everything she can with the help of a mystic (Colleen Dewhurst of Anne of Green Gables 1 and 2 fame) to reunite her family. Sam Waterston (The Great Gatsby [1974] and Law and Order (1994 to the present) is great as her long last father, and future star of the Road to Avonlea (just Avonlea here) Sarah Polley stars as a young tramplike jill of all trades named Jody who helps Jane in her quest. This is enjoyable piece of work that you may have to order from the manufacturer themselves (Sullivan Boutique: the online home of all Kevin Sullivan films) but I was lucky to get it in the mail from an Amazon "client" today. If you own the Annes, the Avonlea Series, or any of Kevin Sullivan's stuff on dvd, order it now before it gets away."

Kevin Sullivan brings another L. M. Montgomery novel to life

Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 12/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was always rather surprised that when Kevin Sullivan decided to turn to another Lucy Maud Montgomery novel after doing the first four Anne of Green Gables novels in a couple of celebrated mini-series he turned to "Jane of Lantern Hill." I would have thought the "Emily of New Moon" trilogy would come up next (it is currently a Canadian television series) and would not have minded seeing "Magic for Marigold" adapted, but Sullivan selected "Jane of Lantern Hill" instead.

Montgomery's novel is distinct from all of the others because both of the heroine's parents are still living. However, Jane Stuart is an emotional orphan because her overbearing maternal grandmother (Zoe Caldwell) has psychologically battered Jane's mother, Robin (Patricia Phillips) into submission and the family has led Jane to believe her father is dead. However, Andrew Stuart (Sam Waterston) is not only alive, he is insisting on his parental rights and wants Jane sent to him on Prince Edward Island. Despite the chasm between them, father and daughter quickly bond, and Jane begins to question why her parents having been living apart. Meanwhile, Jane becomes involved with the spunky young vagrant, Jody Turner (Sarah Polley), and old Hepzibah (Colleen Dewhurst), the local "witch" lady.

The adaptation of Montgomery's novel by Fiona McHugh holds true to the emotional center of the story while collapsing the narrative's period of time and jettisoning most of the domesticity as well. Unfortunately this means that one of my favorite scenes from the novel, where Jane finally gets in the face of Grandmother Kennedy, is lost. The performances in the production are so wonderfully understated except for Polley, who pours it on thick with the accent, although Dewhurst does get to ham it up a little bit at Hepzibah. Bennett gives a quiet performance that speaks to the fragility of Jane's relationship with her family while Waterston exhibits a simple, natural charm from start to finish with his estranged daughter that cannot help but win her over. In the end, it is Jane's simple determination to set her world in order that brings all the plot threads together in a satisfactory conclusion. Fans of Montgomery and/or Sullivan will not be disappointed by this quiet little film.

Note: Young Mairon Bennett did the audiotape version of "Jane of Lantern Hill" and did an exceptional job. Given how restrained her performance necessarily was in the film to suit Jane's character, Bennett shows marvelous interpretative range for someone who, at the time, was so young. If you enjoyed the television movie and stumble across the audiotape, then make a point of picking it up so you can give it a listen."

Lover of Books

D. S. Van Antwerp | 04/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A rich film unusually well done.
Shows the potential harm of trying to dominate children, but a young girl overcomes
it.
Same producers as those who produced Anne of Green Gables.
Story keeps you involved throughout.
Well acted and good cinematography.
Don't miss seeing this film. It's a keeper. It makes you think about the high
importance of relationships."