ANNIE

Annie
Columbia, 1982, Color, 128 minutes, ****
Premiere release May, 1982
General release June, 1982


Annie is the story of a plucky, red-haired girl who dreams of life outside her dreary orphanage. One day, Annie (Aileen Quinn) is chosen to stay for a week with the famous billionaire "Daddy" Warbucks (Albert Finney). One week turns into many, and the only person standing in the way of Annie's fun is Miss Hannigan, the tyrannical ruler of the orphanage (played to hilarious perfection by Carol Burnett). Will Miss Hannigan's zany attempts to kidnap the irrepressible Annie succeed? Enjoy all the unforgettable songs, including "It's the Hard-Knock Life" and "Tomorrow."


I had the good fortune to see the road-show production of the stage play, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. But, I think the film is even better... strong cast, great sets. It's a wonderful film! Aileen Quinn holds her own among such scene-stealers as Carol Burnett and Bernadette Peters! If you haven't seen it, you're missing a great movie!

The story is based on the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie," which was syndicated in the "Sunday Funnies" for many decades (1924 to 1964). In this version of the story, Annie is an orphan living the hard-knock life until the richest man in the world, Daddy Warbucks, discovers her and invites her to stay at his home for two weeks. He comes to love her and offers to adopt her, but first he must try to find her real parents. He offers a huge award to anyone who can prove they are Annie's biological parents. Will Annie's parents show up, or will she end up living on easy street?

Producer: Ray Stark
Executive Producer: Joe Layton
Associate Producer: Carol Sobieski
Director: John Huston
Screenplay: Carol Sobieski (based on the stage musical by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, based on the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie")
Music: Ralph Burns, adapted from the stage play music by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin
Choreography: Arlene Phillips
Production Designer: Dale Hennesy
Art Directors: Robert Guerra and Dianne Wager
Set Decoration: Marvin March
Costume Design: Theoni V. Aldredge
Cinematography: Richard Moore
Editor: Michael A. Stevenson

Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Song Score (Ralph Burns, adaptation), Best Art Direction/Set Decoration

Cast: Albert Finney [Daddy Warbucks], Carol Burnett [Miss Hannigan], Ann Reinking [Grace Farrell], Tim Curry [Rooster Hannigan], Bernadette Peters [Lilly], Aileen Quinn [Annie], Geoffrey Holder [Punjab], Roger Minami [Asp], Toni Ann Gisondi [Molly], Rosanne Sorrentino [Pepper], Lara Berk [Tessie], April Lerman [Kate], Robin Ignico [July], Lucie Stewart [Duffy], Edward Herrmann [Franklin Delano Roosevelt], Lois De Banzie [Eleanor Roosevelt], Peter Marshall [Bert Healy], Loni Ackerman, Murphy Cross, Nancy Sinclair [Boylan Sisters], I. M. Hobson [Drake], Irving Metzman [Bundles], Lu Leonard [Mrs. Pugh], Mavis Ray [Mrs. Greer], Angela Martin [Mrs. McKracky], Pam Blair [Annette], Colleen Zenk [Celette], Victor Griffin [Saunders], Jerome Collamore [Frick], Jon Richards [Frack], Wayne Cilento [Photographer], Ken Swofford [Weasel], Larry Hankin [Pound Man], Kurtis Epper Sanders [Spike]

Musical Program: [0:00] Tomorrow (sung by Aileen Quinn and Chorus behind titles); [0:02] Maybe (sung by Aileen Quinn); [0:07] It's the Hard-Knock Life (sung by Aileen Quinn and Orphan Girls as they clean the orphanage house); [0:16] Sandy (Dumb Dog) (sung by Aileen Quinn); [0:20] Sandy (Dumb Dog) (continued by Aileen Quinn and Orphan Girls); [0:32] I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here (production number sung and danced by Ann Reinking, Servants and Aileen Quinn); [0:40] Little Girls (sung by Carol Burnett); [0:45] Maybe (reprised by Orphan Girls); [0:51] Let's Go to the Movies (production number sung and danced by Ann Reinking, Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney, Mens Chorus and Girls Chorus, taken up by show girls at Radio City Music Hall); [1:05] We Got Annie (sung and danced by Ann Reinking and Servants); [1:10] Sign (sung by Carol Burnett and Albert Finney); [1:18] You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile (sung by Bert Healy and The Boylan Sisters - Peter Marshall, Loni Ackerman, Murphy Cross and Nancy Sinclair - at radio station; taken up by Orphan Girls); [1:27] Tomorrow (sung a capella by Aileen Quinn, then sung by Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney, Edward Herrmann and Lois De Banzie); [1:32] Easy Street (sung and danced by Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters and Carol Burnett); [1:46] Maybe (sung by Aileen Quinn, then picked up by Albert Finney); [2:00] Finale: I Don't Need Anything But You / We Got Annie (reprise) / Tomorrow (reprise) (sung and danced by Albert Finney, Aileen Quinn and Chorus); [2:04] Tomorrow (sung by Aileen Quinn and Chorus behind end credits)