Annie is a 1982 musical film based upon the 1977 stage musical of the same name, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. It was released in 1982 by Columbia Pictures.
The film version was directed by John Huston, and starred Carol Burnett, Albert Finney, Ann Reinking, Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters, Geoffrey Holder and Aileen Quinn. This was Huston's only film musical.
Background
The producer of the film, Ray Stark, wanted both John Huston as director and Joe Layton as choreographer and executive producer to work on the film, because it was too large an enterprise for one person. Carol Sobieski (the screenwriter) said: "Hiring John [Huston] is an outsider risk, and Ray's [Stark] a major gambler. He loves this kind of high risk situation."[1]
It was planned that the staging for the song "Easy Street", with Carol Burnett, Tim Curry, and Bernadette Peters, would be the biggest number in the film. A special outdoor street set, costing $1 million, was built, and it took over one week to shoot the scene. However, the final number was thought to be "overstuffed" and "sour". Nearly two months after the film had finished shooting, a new, indoor more intimate number was shot.[1]
The production filmed for 6 weeks at Monmouth University in New Jersey, which had two mansions that were used in the film.[1]
Stage to screen differences
There were major differences between the stage musical and the film. The film featured four new songs, "Dumb Dog", "Let's Go to the Movies" (which replaced "N.Y.C."), "Sign" and "We Got Annie", and cut "We'd like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover", "N.Y.C" (replaced by "Let's Go To The Movies"), "You Won't Be an Orphan for Long", "Something Was Missing", "Annie" and "A New Deal for Christmas". In addition, the song "Maybe" has 2 reprises while "Little Girls" and "Easy Street" do not.
In the stage musical, Hannigan, Rooster and Lily are caught at the Warbucks estate, thus not kidnapping Annie. In the movie, she is kidnapped, leading to Warbucks organizing a city-wide search and while escaping, Rooster chases her up the B&O Bridge. Eventually, Punjab rescues Annie by autocopter and returns her safely at the end. Miss Hannigan's heart softens and she also attempts to rescue Annie from being killed by Rooster but he knocks her out and continues chasing Annie. When Punjab saves Annie from Rooster, he kicks Rooster off the bridge where he lands on a mat being held by the police and Hannigan beats him with her purse for hitting her and kidnapping Annie. Miss Hannigan is shown joining in the celebration at the end of the movie and possibly showing a romantic interest in Punjab.
The scene used for the "Maybe" song was actually the last scene filmed for the movie, because the original opening was too long. Although the "Maybe" song was still used, Annie and Molly are sitting at the window; however, this scene was still inserted into the film, only the last part with the rest of the orphans singing, after the "Little Girls" scene and the scene with Rooster and Lily's entry, during Annie's first night at the Warbucks estate.
Punjab and The Asp, Warbucks' servants/bodyguards from the comic strip, are brought back for this film as supporting roles.
Cast
Several singer-actresses made their debuts in this movie, as Annie's fellow orphans:
[2]
According to Robert Osbourne of Turner Classic Movies, Drew Barrymore had auditioned for the role of Annie, while Bette Midler was an early choice for Miss Hannigan, and Jack Nicholson had been considered for the role of Daddy Warbucks.
Songs
- "Tomorrow" - Annie
- "Maybe" - Annie
- "It's the Hard-Knock Life" - Annie and Orphans
- "Dumb Dog" - Annie
- "Sandy" - Annie and Orphans
- "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" - Annie, Grace, and Servants
- "Little Girls" - Agatha Hannigan
- "Maybe" - Pepper, July, Duffy, Tessie and Kate
- "Let's go to the Movies" - Annie, Oliver Warbucks, Grace, and chorus
- "We Got Annie" - Grace, Mrs. Pugh, Punjab, Asp, and Servants
- "Sign" - Agatha Hannigan and Oliver Warbucks
- "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" - Bert, Boylan Sisters, Orphans join in later
- "Easy Street" - Rooster, Lily, and Agatha Hannigan
- "Tomorrow (White House Version)" - Annie, Oliver Warbucks, Mrs. Roosevelt, and FDR
- "Maybe (Reprise)" - Oliver Warbucks
- "Finale (I Don't Need Anything But You / We Got Annie / Tomorrow)" - Annie, Oliver Warbucks, Chorus, and Orphans
Critical reception
The film's reviews ranged from positive to extremely hostile, and in spite of a $57 million US box office take (making it 10th highest grossing film of the year), the film still did not turn a profit on its theatrical release. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score. Additionally, Carol Burnett and Aileen Quinn received Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical (both) and New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture - Female (Quinn). Quinn won the Young Artist Award, Best Young Motion Picture Actress.
Currently, the film has a 52% "Rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.com. The film was nominated for five Razzies for Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay, and Worst New Star, and John Huston as Worst Director, but won for Worst Supporting Actress for Aileen Quinn.
Adaptations
Television movies
- Annie 2: A Royal Adventure! (1995)
A sequel, Annie: A Royal Adventure! was made for television in 1995. The sequel starred Ashley Johnson, Joan Collins, George Hearn and Ian McDiarmid. Aside from a reprise of "Tomorrow," there are no songs in the film.
In the film, Warbucks (Hearn), Annie (Johnson), an eccentric scientist (McDiarmid) and one of the orphans travel to England, where Warbucks is to be knighted by the King. However, the kids get mixed up in the scheme of an evil noblewoman (Collins) to blow up Buckingham Palace while all the heirs to the throne are present for Warbucks' knighting, thus making her queen.
- Annie (1999)
- See main article: Annie (1999 film)
A made-for-TV movie version was broadcast on ABC on November 7, 1999. It starred Kathy Bates as Miss Hannigan, Victor Garber as Daddy Warbucks, Alan Cumming as Rooster, Audra McDonald as Grace Farrell, Kristin Chenoweth as Lily, and newcomer Alicia Morton as Annie. Produced by The Walt Disney Company in association with Columbia TriStar Television, the movie received generally positive reviews and high ratings. It also earned 2 Emmy Awards and a 1999 George Foster Peabody Award. Although truer to the original stage musical than the 1982 movie, it condensed much of the full story in an attempt to make it more viewable for children. It featured a special appearance by Andrea McArdle, star of the original Broadway production.
The film has aired on cable on Hallmark Channel, ABC Family and Starz after its premiere on ABC. Disney Channel, which had aired the original 1982 version of Annie, has not aired the 1999 version, but will do in the future.
This version is more comical than the 1982 version's slightly darker tone.
Video Releases
This film was released on VHS on December 7, 1982 by RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video. It was re-issued in 1985, 1994, and 1997 (in a "Broadway Tribute Edition" to coincide with the original play's Broadway revival that year). There were two widescreen laserdiscs, one in 1989 and another in 1994. The film was released in a widescreen DVD on December 12, 2000.
A "Special Anniversary Edition" DVD was released on January 13, 2004 (four days before producer Ray Stark's death). Despite the fact that the first DVD was widescreen, the "Special" DVD was in pan and scan (but with DTS sound). Reviewing the disc for DVD Talk, Glenn Erickson, while praising the film overall, called the pan and scan transfer an "abomination that's grainy and lacking in color." He also noted that the short retrospective featurette with Ms. Quinn contained clips from the film in the correct aspect ratio. Erickson also called the music video of "It's The Hard-Knock Life" by Play "pretty dreary" and attacked the other, child-oriented extras by saying "Musicals and kids films aren't just for tots ... and this disc is little more than a headache." [1] However, several countries in Region 2 received widescreen versions of this edition.
Trivia
In the scene where Oliver Warbucks is broadcasting on radio, there are three women singing a cappella as an introduction. They are imitating the Boswell Sisters who in reality were famous in the 1930s and 40's for similarly harmonizing on radio broadcasts and TV.
Awards
Won
Nominated
References
External links
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