Annie

Developed from a stage play based on Harold Gray's "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip and originally directed on Broadway by Mike Nichols, Huston's direction of the film version was generally criticised but there's a likeable tongue-in-cheekiness to the whole thing that is eminently appropriate to its cartoon origins.

Annie is essentially a family film with some heavy duty but enjoyable mugging from Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters, Carol Burnett with Aileen Quinn, who plays Annie carrying her small weight well amongst the illustrious company.

Set at the height of the Great Depression years our pint-sized heroine is in a girls' home for orphans run by a tarty alcoholic named Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett).  As luck would have it she is chosen to spend a weekend at the home of  billionaire, Oliver Warbucks (Albert Finney), a turn of events which eventually leads Miss Hannigan and her disreputable cohorts (Tim Curry and Bernardette Peters) to try and collect on the big reward Daddy Warbucks offers for the parents of Annie to come claim her.

Annie is far from being a great musical. The songs are less than outstanding (even the most memorable “Tomorrow” as sung by Quinn is approaching chalk on slate) but everyone involved gives it their all and it’s all the more enjoyable for its homely accessibility.

 

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