Annie (1981)

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Directed by John Huston.

Starring Carol Burnett, Albert Finney, Bernadette Peters, Aileen Quinn, Ann Reinking.

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This family classic is adapted from the Broadway musical, which was based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. During the Great Depression in New York City, a plucky red-haired scrapper named Annie (Aileen Quinn) is the voice of hope for her fellow orphans who live under the supervision of drunken floozy Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett). Annie's spirit is fueled by the belief that her real parents dropped her off at the orphanage with a half of a locket, promising to return for her with the other half. One day, the dingy orphanage is visited by the sophisticated Grace Farrell (Ann Reinking), personal secretary to conservative politician Oliver Warbucks (Albert Finney). In order to improve his image, Grace brings Annie to the Warbucks estate for a weeklong visit. Annie quickly wins the hearts of servants and politicians alike, eventually even bringing her song of hope, "Tomorrow," to President Roosevelt in Washington. Warbucks and Grace even go so far as to perform a public search for Annie's parents, creating an opportunity for Miss Hannigan, Rooster (Tim Curry), and Lily (Bernadette Peters) to scam their way to the reward money. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

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Reviews and discussions

The Dark Crystal
by yojimbo73 in yojimbo73 Blog

liked it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. [What do you think?]
"1982 may have been the greatest year ever. At least for a 9 year old movie geek it was. Sure, '81 brought us the births of Indiana Jones and Snake Pliskin and '83 would wrap up the Star Wars trilogy and introduce us to the glaive and Tom Cruise, but '82 gave us E.T., Fast Times, Rocky III, Conan, The Thing, First Blood, Tron, Wrath of Kahn and Blade Runner . To close out the year was a little movie called the Dark Crystal. I saw a few of these in the theatre, but as I was only 9 (and funds were slim), most would have to wait for VHS. I did get to see The Dark Crystal in the theatre however, most likely because it was from mother approved Jim Henson and company. And really, that's all I needed to know. It was by the father of the Muppets and the voice of Yoda. Does a kid need to know any more than that? For the uninitiated the Dark Crystal follows Jen and Kira as they traverse Thra on a mission to return a crystal shard to the dark crystal so balance will be ... " [More]

Lost Interest?!?! A Travesty!!!
by JakeStevens in JakeStevens Blog

liked it.

Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"This film is criminally underrated here on Spout - John Huston may have directed a flawed film, but it's a masterpiece in my opinion (and I don't even really like musicals), especially when you compare it to the homogenized Disney version that came out in 1999. For one, look at the cast - Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Tim Curry, Edward Hermann, Geoffrey Holden (better known to some as the man behind the 7-Up commercials of the early '80's - "no caffeine...never had it...never will!) and of course, the effervescent performance of Aileen Quinn as that feckless, freckled and red-headed orphan, Annie. The songs are catchy and well known, the dance sequences and choreography are top-notch, and on a personal level, this is the film that made me appreciate widescreen transfers, as I remember how crappy this looked on VHS (it was filmed in 2:20:1 aspect ratio) even back then. Don't trust the rating here on Spout - this is only version of Annie you ought to see! " [More]

Movies we loved as children
by indieabby88 in I Love Childrens Movies

hasn't rated it.

"We all had to start somewhere, right? What were movies that you really liked when you were a kid? These could be movies you liked at the time, but hate now, or movies you've always loved. Doesn't matter.My top childhood favorites (In no particular order):1. The Secret Garden2. Fairy Tale3. James and the Giant Peach4. The Princess Bride5. Labyrinth6. Beauty and the Beast7. The Lion King8. Time Bandits9. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen10. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure " [More]

Great Movie
by nanook660 in nanook660 Blog

loved it.

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"This was the best film version yet. Aileen Quinn actually could sing , dance, and act. And Tim Curry was super as Rooster. And Carol Burnett was great as Miss Hanigan. This version had a great cast and an actual cast that could act, sing, and dance. " [More]

Re: top five movies that scared ...
by paul in Top 5

hasn't rated it.

"AndyLabryn! So true. I can't believe I forgot Time Bandits. If midgets in hell aren't scary enough, the kid's parents blow up in the end. I watched this movie again last year and Terry Gilliam commented that kids laughed when the parents blew up. He must have been screening it with juvenile offenders. " [More]

Review by All Movie Guide

All Movie Guide

lost interest.

John Huston's Annie is a contemporary classic that embodies a timeless quality that few films of the 1980s have been able to accomplish. The dream casting may be its best asset, especially with Albert Finney throwing his weight around as Daddy Warbucks. Comedienne Carol Burnett is a perfect choice for the skinny, shaky Miss Hannigan, offering a complementary combination of drunken pratfalls and spinster cynicism. Even in the smaller roles that don't show up until Act III, Tim Curry's Rooster and Bernadette Peters' Lily St. Regis are dastardly comic villains. They bring a fun-filled badness into the picture when it looks like things are getting a little too sentimental. The climactic scene is a cinematic feast, employing a vertical train-bridge set piece complete with Punjab's (Geoffrey Holder) philosophical helicopter rescue. The Oscar-nominated art direction effectively re-creates Depression-era New York, of which a rascally orphan with immeasurable faith is an excellent symbol. Especially entertaining is the Bert Healy (Peter Marshall) radio show program and the orphans' gymnastic make-believe emulation of the broadcast. The wish-fulfillment theme culminates in the glorious trip to Radio City Music Hall with the actual Rockettes opening number "Let's Go to the Movies." Throughout the film, the songs are ridiculously catchy, danceable, and soaring with emotion, making Annie a well-rounded musical and ageless family favorite. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Tags: orphan , billionaire , dog , tycoon , musical
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