Annie

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

This made-for-TV adaptation of the hit Broadway musical (which was, in turn, based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray) stars Alicia Morton as Annie, who lives in an orphanage run by the ill-tempered Miss Hannigan (Kathy Bates). Like the rest of the children, Annie doesn't like the orphanage and hates Miss Hannigan, so she's excited when famous and eccentric billionaire Daddy Warbucks (Victor Garber) picks Annie as the lucky orphan who gets to spend Christmas at his mansion. Warbucks is charmed by Annie's spunk and good spirits and is eager to adopt her, but Annie is convinced that one day her real parents will come back to claim her. Eager to make her happy, Warbucks offers a sizable cash reward to whomever can find Annie's mother and father; Miss Hannigan, seeing the possibility of an easy payday, concocts a scheme by which her brother Rooster (Alan Cumming) and his floozy girlfriend Lily (Kristin Chenoweth) will pose as Annie's long-lost folks. Andrea McArdle, who originated the role of Annie on Broadway, has a supporting role as the Star-to-Be. The musical was previously filmed in 1982, with John Huston in the director's chair. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: 5.0, 5.1
• Screen: Pan and Scan
• Subtitle: English
• Features:
  • • WWDD trailer
    • 5.0 Surround Sound
    • 1.33:1 aspect ratio

AWARDS

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Nominated Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture M - 1999 (Kathy Bates)

• Screen Actors Guild

•     Nominated Best Female Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie - 1999 (Kathy Bates)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Director:

  Rob Marshall

• Choreography:

  Rob Marshall

• Animal Trainer/Wrangler:

  Roger Schumacher

• Re-Recording Mixer:

  Keith Rogers

REVIEW:

• This made-for-TV version of Annie is much better than the 1982 big-screen feature, and a highly effective stage-to-screen transfer. While it significantly alters some elements of the play (e.g., omitting most of the sections dealing with FDR and the New Deal, cutting several songs), the changes work well in context. Director Rob Marshall uses his resources very skillfully; he must work within the confines of a television budget (albeit a generous one) and schedule, but manages to make the production numbers exciting and to give the film a distinctive visual look. His work on "Tomorrow," the show's signature tune, is especially good. In his hands the song is quietly but determinedly optimistic, rather than overpoweringly anthemic, as it could be under another director. Marshall's cast is uniformly excellent. Alicia Morton is a treasure, genuine and real and playing her scenes with a beguiling sincerity. Victor Garber hits all the right notes; his transition from initial no-nonsense efficiency to warmth and caring is handled with aplomb, and his performance of "Something Was Missing" is lovely. Audra McDonald, her role built up substantially, is in especially fine form (and exceptional voice), and Kathy Bates is a hoot -- and not bad vocally, either. Thoroughly engaging, Annie is one of the few musicals to effectively make the transition to TV. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi