Screen

I Know a Secret (1984)

Published on:

11 August 2007

Last modified:

29 March 2025

I Know a Secret was a short film based on a 1935 short story by L.M. Montgomery. It was produced by Atlantis Films and released in 1984.

Overview
Details
Further Reading
Full Credits

Overview

I Know a Secret was a twenty-three-minute film that aired on 26 January 1984 as part of Sons and Daughters, CBC’s umbrella miniseries of six half-hour dramas that “focus on young people and the pains and pleasures of growing up” (“Programs” 13). Filmed in Prince Edward Island and set there in 1931, I Know a Secret is a sensitively-directed story of a young girl who years to know a secret so that she will win the friendship of the local children. When Dovie claims that Jane was switched at birth with the daughter of Six-Toed Jimmy, Jane must reassess her identity and learn to feel good about who she is.

The film, based on a short story of the same name that L.M. Montgomery published in Good Housekeeping in 1935, was written by Amy Jo Cooper (who would later write novelizations of two episodes of Road to Avonlea) and directed by Bruce Pittman (who would later direct two early episodes of Road to Avonlea). Fiona McGillivray, who played the protagonist in this film, appeared in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel.

Details

Company Credits

Produced by Atlantis Films Limited in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Produced with the participation of the Canadian Film Development Corporation.

Release Date

26 January 1984

Runtime

23 minutes

Cast

Fiona McGillivray as Jane Lawrence, Andrea Swartz as Dovie, Danny Higham as Eddie, Laurel Smyth as Mother, Maureen A. Hume as Aunt Helen, and Sean McCann as Six-Toed Jimmy.

Source Material

Based upon a short story by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Credits

Atlantis Films Limited presents. Screenplay by Amy Jo Cooper. Produced by Michael MacMillan, Seaton McLean, and Janice Platt. Directed by Bruce Pittman.

IMDB

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187980

Full Credits

Opening Credits

Atlantis Films Limited presents

a film based upon a
short story by
LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY

Prince Edward Island
1931

I KNOW A SECRET

with
FIONA McGILLIVRAY [Jane Lawrence]
ANDREA SWARTZ [Dovie] DANNY HIGHAM [Eddie]

LAUREL SMYTH [Mother] MAUREEN A. HUME [Aunt Helen]
and SEAN McCANN [Six-Toed Jimmy]

Screenplay by AMY JO COOPER
Director of Photography: ALAR KIVILO
Edited by MARGARET VAN EERDEWIJK
Produced by MICHAEL MACMILLAN, SEATON McLEAN, JANICE PLATT
Directed by BRUCE PITTMAN

Ending Credits

Cast
Jane Lawrence: FIONA McGILLIVRAY
Dovie: ANDREA SWARTZ
Eddie: DANNY HIGHAM
Mother: LAUREL SMYTH
Aunt Helen: MAUREEN A. HUME
Six-Toed Jimmy: SEAN McCANN
Ellen: MELISSA JOHNSTON
The Children: BARBARA MOONEY, CARL VICTOR, WAYNE MOONEY, LARRY VICTOR, JANICE MOONEY

Produced with the participation
of the
CANADIAN FILM DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION

Music Composed by LARRY CROSLEY

Production Manager: GILLIAN RICHARDSON

Assistant Director: RICHARD FLOWER

Wardrobe Master: ARTHUR ROWSELL
Properties and Sets: PETER FLETCHER
Sound Mixer: JOHN MEGILL
Boom Operator: MICHAEL LaCROIX
Assistant Camera: ELISE SWERHONE
Gaffer: JOHN ROY
Best Boy: JOHN HERZOG
Key Grip: MARK MANCHESTER
Second Grip: JIM (J.C.) CRAIG
Continuity: NANCY EAGLES
Assistant Props: AILEEN BROPHY
Assistant Editor: BRUCE LANGE
Production Assistant: ALAN BOOTH
Production Assistant: IAN HENDERSON
Stills Photographer: IAN McGEAGH
Production Secretary: BETH FANJOY
Asst. Production Secretary: CINDY HAMON-HILL
Rerecording Mixer: MIKE HOOGENBOOM
Laboratory: FILM HOUSE GROUP
Neg Cutter: MAY BISHOF
Titles: META MEDIA

The producers wish to thank the
Prince Edward Island Department
of Tourism, Industry and Energy,
Points East Productions, and the people
of Annandale, Cape Traverse
and Park Corner, P.E.I.

Produced by
ATLANTIS FILMS LIMITED
in association with the
CANADIAN BROADCASTING
CORPORATION