Annie (1999 film)

Annie

DVD cover
Written by Irene Mecchi
Musical:
Thomas Meehan
Charles Strouse
Martin Charnin
Directed by Rob Marshall
Starring Victor Garber
Alicia Morton
Audra McDonald
Alan Cumming
Kathy Bates
Kristin Chenoweth
Theme music composer Danny Troob
Songs:
Charles Strouse (music)
Martin Charnin (lyrics)
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Craig Zadan
Neil Meron
Cinematography Ralf Bode
Editor(s) Scott Vickrey
Running time 90 minutes
Production company(s) Walt Disney Television
Columbia TriStar Television
Release
Original network ABC
Original release November 7, 1999 (1999-11-07)
January 24, 2000 (2000-01-24) (VHS release)

Annie is a 1999 American made-for-television musical-comedy-drama film from The Wonderful World of Disney, produced by Walt Disney Television and Columbia Tri Star Television. It stars Victor Garber, Audra McDonald, Alan Cumming, Kathy Bates, Kristin Chenoweth, and introduces Alicia Morton as the title character.

It is the second film adaptation of the 1977 Broadway musical of the same name by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin and Thomas Meehan, which in turn is based on the 1924 Little Orphan Annie comic strip by Harold Gray. It is also referred to as a remake of Columbia's 1982 film. It was written by Irene Mecchi, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and directed by Rob Marshall. It aired on ABC on November 7, 1999. This version earned two Emmy Awards and a George Foster Peabody Award.

This is Disney's and Columbia's first film collaboration since Columbia distributed some of Disney's short animated Silly Symphony films from 1930 to 1932.

Plot

Eleven-year-old orphan Annie was left at a girls' orphanage when she was an infant. With her was half a heart-shaped locket with a key hole, and a note from her parents saying they'd come back for her. The orphanage is run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan, who starves the orphans and makes them suffer. Tired of waiting for her parents, Annie tries to escape to find them, but is caught by Miss Hannigan. When Miss Hannigan gets distracted, Annie hides in the dirty laundry bin and she finally succeeds in running away. While out on her own, Annie befriends a dog, whom she names Sandy. But a policeman catches her and returns her to the orphanage. When billionaire Oliver Warbucks decides to take in an orphan for Christmas, his secretary, Grace Farrell, chooses Annie. She is brought to his wealthy estate and bathes in a grand life.

Although at first uncomfortable with Annie, Warbucks is soon charmed by her. He wants to adopt Annie, but Annie still wants to find her real parents, so she announces on the radio a $50,000 reward for anybody who can prove they're her parents. The orphans accidentally tell Miss Hannigan, and her ex-con brother Rooster, and his dimwitted girlfriend Lily St. Regis cook up a scheme to get the reward by posing as Ralph and Shirley Mudge (Annie's "so called" parents).[1] When Lily proves to be too risky for the scheme, Miss Hannigan takes over as "Annie's mother".

Lily is left with the orphans after Miss Hannigan and Rooster leave, but Lily accidentally tells the secret. The orphans make her tell them what is going on, and she realizes that Rooster could leave her hanging as he has done before. She and the orphans come to Warbucks' mansion where Lily demands her part in the cut while the orphans quote "WE LOVE YOU MISS HANNIGAN" as Miss Hannigan tries to run by Lily. While fleeing from the orphans, Miss Hannigan and Rooster are intercepted upon the arrival of President Franklin D. Roosevelt along with his Secret Service. The President reads the papers that identity Miss Hannigan, Rooster, and Lily while also mentioning the aliases of the latter two. Rooster and Lily are arrested by the Secret Service as Rooster tells Lily that she loused up. Miss Hannigan tries to convince Annie to vouch for her to avoid being arrested, but Annie says she would and states that Miss Hannigan taught her to "never tell a lie". Miss Hannigan is driven insane and is carted off to an asylum as Rooster and Lily are also escorted out of the mansion.

President Roosevelt then present the evidence that Annie's parents are really David and Margaret Bennett and had in fact died several years earlier which was why they never returned for her. Although Annie is saddened that her real parents are dead, she is cheered up when Warbucks officially takes her in as one of his own. The President ensures a happy ending for all as he promises that each orphan will be adopted by a stable and happy family. Warbucks and Grace become engaged, and Annie lives happily with her new parents.

Cast

  • Victor Garber as Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks, a billionaire businessman who opens his heart to Annie and becomes her adoptive father.
  • Alicia Morton as Annie, an 11-year-old orphan searching for her biological parents.
  • Audra McDonald as Grace Farrell, Personal Secretary to Oliver Warbucks.
  • Alan Cumming as Daniel "Rooster" Hannigan/Danny the Dip, Agatha's brother and con-artist.
  • Kathy Bates as Miss Agatha Hannigan, the cruel owner of the orphanage where Annie lived.
  • Kristin Chenoweth as Lily St. Regis/Sadie Algonquin/Phyllis the Filcher, Rooster's girlfriend.
  • Erin Adams as Tessie
  • Sarah Hyland as Molly
  • Lalaine as Kate
  • Nanea Miyata as July
  • Marissa Rago as Pepper
  • Danielle Wilson as Duffy
  • Andrea McArdle as Star-To-Be
  • Dennis Howard as Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President of the United States.
  • Douglas Fisher as Drake
  • Kurt Knudson as Justice Brandeis
  • Ernie Sabella as Mr. Bundles
  • Chester and Chip, as Sandy, a stray dog (later Annie's pet)

Musical numbers

The film's soundtrack was released on November 2, 1999 by Sony.

The songs in this version reflect those of the original 1977 production, but does not include "We'd Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover", "Tomorrow (Cabinet Reprise)", "Annie", or "New Deal for Christmas". However, it does include a reprise of "N.Y.C." and of "Little Girls" that takes place at the end of the film, rather than after the song itself.

  1. "Overture"
  2. "Maybe" - Annie
  3. "It's the Hard Knock Life" - Annie and Orphans
  4. "It's the Hard Knock Life" (Reprise) - Orphans
  5. "Tomorrow" - Annie
  6. "Little Girls" - Miss Hannigan
  7. "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" - Grace, Annie, and Warbucks' Staff
  8. "N.Y.C." - Warbucks, Grace, Annie, and Star-to-Be
  9. "N.Y.C." (Reprise) - Warbucks
  10. "Lullaby" - Warbucks
  11. "Easy Street" - Rooster, Miss Hannigan, and Lily
  12. "Maybe" (Reprise 1) - Annie
  13. "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" - Bert Healy and the Boylan Sisters
  14. "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" (Reprise) - Orphans
  15. "Something Was Missing" - Warbucks
  16. "I Don't Need Anything But You" - Warbucks and Annie
  17. "Maybe" (Reprise 2) - Grace
  18. "Tomorrow" (Reprise) - Grace
  19. "Little Girls" (Reprise) - Miss Hannigan
  20. "Finale: I Don't Need Anything But You" (Reprise) - Warbucks, Grace, and Annie

Production

The dancers' costumes and the stage set of the Broadway section of "N.Y.C." are taken directly from the "Broadway Melody" ballet in Singin' in the Rain.

The program was a smash during its initial airing, with an estimated 26.3 million viewers, making it the second-most watched Disney movie ever to air on ABC behind Cinderella.[2][3]

After its premiere on ABC, Annie has aired on cable channels such as ABC Family, Starz, and the Hallmark Channel.

Awards and nominations

Wins
Nominations

Home media

Annie was released on VHS and DVD on January 24, 2000 by Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Michael Scheinfeld. ""Annie" (1999) review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2007-11-02. ...the conniving Hannigan and her unscrupulous brother pose as Annie's parents...
  2. ↑ 'ANNIE' HELPS SEAL TOTAL VICTORY FOR ABC FAMILY VIEWERS PROVIDE NET WITH NIELSEN EDGE New York Daily News, Retrieved May 17, 2015
  3. ↑ NEW 'ANNIE' SWEEPS UP ABC GETS NO HARD KNOCKS: 'MILLIONAIRE' IS ALSO TOPS Retrieved, May 17, 2015
  4. ↑ 59th Annual Peabody Awards, May 2000.

External links

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