Anne of Windy Poplars (1940)

Anne Shirley reprises her earlier role from Green Gables in 1934. This time she has grown up to become a schoolteacher who travels to "Pringletown" on Prince Edward Island to take up a position as Vice-Principal of the local school. Her arrival is not met with universal acclaim, however, and before she realises it (or why) she has fallen foul of what passes for the local aristocracy - the "Pringle" family - lead by the bitter old matriarch "Aunt Hester" (Ethel Griffies). Gradually, she does manage to find a few useful allies and has more than enough wits - and a particularly kindly nature with which to combat this hostility. It's a gentle, feel good film that shows both the best and worst of human nature as well as taking a swipe at the pointlessness of old family grudges. The performances are fine, as is the story and it passes 90 minutes effortlessly.