Plantiana Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Colibel Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

mnpollio Any movie buff alive in 1982 will probably remember the critical lambasting directed at the big screen adaptation of the popular Tony-winning Broadway musical Annie. But watching it with an unjaundiced eye, it is difficult to understand the hatred then or now.Based on the long-running Little Orphan Annie comics and the acclaimed Broadway hit, Annie keeps the same narrative beats as its predecessors. Curly-haired carrot top Annie is a 10-year-old orphan in Depression-era New York City, whose upbeat attitude and refusal to be cowed by the obstacles thrown at her makes her a thorn in the side of boozy dictatorial orphanage matron Miss Hannigan. By luck, Annie is offered the chance to temporarily reside at the palatial estate of billionaire Oliver Warbucks, and she proceeds to melt the heart of Warbucks and his staff, while Miss Hannigan, her devious brother Rooster and his floozy Lily hatch a scheme to cash in.It is hard to see where all the carping comes from. The film retains all of the favorite songs and numbers from the stage hit, while getting rid of dead wood like "Hooverville" and adding a few of new songs that fit right in (i.e., Sandy, Dumb Dog, etc.). Director John Huston opens up the film so that it never feels like a filmed stage play, which is usually the main complaint of people in Broadway to film translations. He nicely captures the tone and spirit of the Depression-era NYC. If the number celebrating "NYC" is missing, it is more than made up for with "Let's Go to the Movies", where Annie experiences her first movie-going experience at the lavish Radio City Music Hall where period-garbed Rockettes kick with abandon. I would say that the clips of Garbo's Camille could have been cut in this segment, although it would defeat the last sight gag. Ironically, everyone had the knives out early on for Huston, claiming he was an inappropriate choice for director. I would argue that Huston is infinitely more successful here in crafting joyous musical interludes as opposed to the dead air that "acclaimed" director Clint Eastwood perpetrated in Jersey Boys.I would also venture to say that Huston's use of his lavish budget is present everywhere and used to great effect, particularly in the film's second half, which concludes with an exciting rescue that avoids the ho-hum effect that impacted the stage version's problematic second act. And while the visit with FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, with everyone singing on "Tomorrow" may seem hokey, it was no more so than in the show, and there are many highlights to counteract that saccharine bit. "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" featuring the orphans is a lovely bit and both "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here", "It's a Hard Knock Life" and "Little Girls" are all showstoppers.Aileen Quinn nicely anchors everything as an appealing Annie (although I daresay some of the other orphan girls give her a run for her money in the talent department). Carol Burnett hams it up with abandon in a scene-stealing turn as the chronically inebriated Miss Hannigan. Albert Finney walks the tightrope between stern and warm as Daddy Warbucks. Tim Curry and Bernadette Peters are a memorable Rooster and Lily (their Easy Street is also a highlight), while Ann Reinking is a delight as Warbucks' secretary Grace Farrell.Ironically, for a film declared a misfire by so many critics, I have not come across any musical fan or child who does not get caught up in its effervescent joy. Definitely a film to watch to chase away the blues and instill some hope. Steer clear of the woebegone modern remake with Jamie Foxx, whose sole saving grace was watching the same critics who trashed this film suddenly develop amnesia by pretending they originally liked it and the remake was so bad.

bkoganbing Little Orphan Annie as a comic strip ran for 86 years from 1924 to 2010 until 1968 under its original creator Harold Gray. Quite a bit is left out when you read a list of Annie's adventures in that period. But the film Annie captures the essence of what she was about. One thing though she never grew up staying a plucky and resourceful orphan with her benefactor Daddy Warbucks the Howard Hughes of the funny papers who had endless money. Young Aileen Quinn is our Annie and Daddy Warbucks is Albert Finney. The film is an adaption of the Broadway Musical that ran for six years and 2377 performances. It hadn't even finished it's Broadway run when the film came out. The film plot concerns Daddy Warbucks inviting a selected orphan out to the fabulous Warbucks estate and Annie gets to be the lucky girl. She gets to him with her innocent charm and plucky attitude.But the mean woman who runs the orphanage who is played with delicious panache by Carol Burnett wants to exploit the situation to her own advantage. Burnett enlists her conman brother Tim Curry and his wife Bernadette Peters. What they do and how Annie triumphs over all is for you to see the film.I'm not sure John Huston was the right choice to direct this, but Busby Berkeley was not available. Probably with a musical or two under his belt Huston might have made a classic. As it is it's not a bad film, just not a great one.In fact this adaption of a cartoon was really perfected by Warren Beatty when he created his Dick Tracy film. That's how you adapt a cartoon as a cartoon to film with live actors.Still Annie got a couple of Oscar nominations for adapted musical score and Art&Set Direction. I wish Burnett had been given recognition when she's on the film really takes off.A good musical with a good adaption for family viewing.

johnobvich Whenever I watch this I always smile. Both the adult and child cast really make this movie shine and its amazing how all of the cast can sing! Even little Molly who is only about 6 years old hits her notes. Sure it gets scary at the end but that's how the comics were always written. For Annie to always get into some serious trouble and gets rescued by Daddy Warbucks or one of his bodyguards. The songs were always delightful to listen to and even now I know the songs by heart and can follow along while the movie is playing. Is it as good as the Broadway production? That all depends on who is playing Annie that tour.Out of all of the Annie movies and musicals, this is the one to go see!!

carol-198-726369 I recall seeing this WAY BACK WHEN in the theater and laughing and enjoying CAROL BURNETT as well as AILEEN QUINN and her OUTSTANDING VOICE and dancing. All that brought Shirley Temple back to me with the simplicity and joy of GOOD musicals. NO BRAIN POWER needed - no SERIOUS CONSIDERATION or heavy political issues. The other wonderful dancers, who we seldom find any longer except in quality theater productions, executed all so beautifully. I think it was really nicely done - FUN - HAPPY - excellent performances - QUALITY singing and more. The song 'TOMORROW' still makes me smile and I TRY to hit the perfection of the notes and sing along whenever I hear it. The song and movie brings me hope in the 2014's. A HAPPY and POSITIVE song for these times and it gives ME hope to TOMORROW. Anyone who has not seen THIS ORIGINAL movie on TV or on a DVD is really missing the BEST. I know a brand new version is being presented with a darling little black/African American girl as 'Annie' (I don't know what is considered POLITICALLY CORRECT to call the cute little gal) just in NOT the same thing. A CUTE movie - but remakes are USUALLY not as good as the original. I can think of DOZENS of movies which in their original release was 'WOW'. They were SO scary - or SO on point - or so outstandingly sad or beautiful or deep that ALL remakes are just CRUMMY in comparison. I am not a professional critic by any means, but I recall movies from 50+ years which really made a difference to me. Some of them influenced my LIFE.