Emily of New Moon (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The series was developed by Marlene Matthews, who wrote or co-wrote nineteen episodes and served as a producer for the first three years.
• Additional writers included Nobu Adilman, Leila Basen, Heather Conkie, Dennis Foon, and Peter Meech.
• Echo Bridge Home Entertainment released all four seasons on DVD in the United States, while Alliance Home Entertainment released them in Canada.

Series overview

Martha MacIsaac starred as orphan Emily Starr. Susan Clark and Sheila McCarthy played aunts Elizabeth and Laura, who raise Emily after her father's death, and Stephen McHattie played cousin Jimmy. Susan Clark left after the first season when her character Elizabeth was killed off. Recurring cast included Chip Chuipka, Peter Donaldson, Richard Donat, Kris Lemche, John Neville, Jessica Pellerin, Shawn Roberts, and Linda Thorson. Guest stars included Janet Wright, Phyllis Diller, Martha Burns, Maury Chaykin, and others.

Plot

After her father dies of tuberculosis, young orphan Emily Starr is sent to live at New Moon Farm on Prince Edward Island with her aunts Elizabeth and Laura Murray and her Cousin Jimmy. She befriends Ilse Burnley, Teddy Kent, and Perry Miller, the hired boy whom Aunt Elizabeth looks down upon for his birth in Stovepipe Town. Each child has a special gift: Emily is a writer, Teddy an artist, Ilse an elocutionist, and Perry a future politician. They each face family troubles: Emily clashes with Aunt Elizabeth over her writing; Ilse's father Dr. Burnley ignores her due to a secret about her mother; Teddy's mother is jealous of his talents and friends; and Perry's Aunt Tom tries to force Emily to promise to marry him in exchange for schooling.

Other characters include the mysterious Dean "Jarback" Priest, the crusty schoolteacher Mr. Carpenter who mentors Emily, simple Cousin Jimmy who recites poetry, kind Aunt Laura, and strict Aunt Elizabeth who sometimes proves an ally.