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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Sarah Wenk

In this film version of the Broadway musical about the parentless Depression-era moppet, spunky red-haired Annie (Aileen Quinn) suffers indignities from tough orphanage supervisor Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett). Ever hopeful Annie dreams of the day her parents arrive to retrieve her, often singing songs and dancing to the delight of the other orphan girls. Hoping to boost his approval rating with local voters, rich politician Oliver Warbucks (Albert Finney) takes Annie in for a week at his swanky Manhattan mansion. Annie wins her new caretakers over, but Miss Hannigan and her cronies Lily (Bernadette Peters) and Rooster (Tim Curry) see an opportunity to increase their cash flow.

Is It Any Good?

5

This film of the Broadway musical is uneven, but its charms take over by the end. The songs are a mixed bag -- "Dumb Dog" is just not all that good, but "It's the Hard Knock Life" is one you'll have stuck in your head for days, and by the time Annie sings "Tomorrow" to President Roosevelt, you'll be singing it along with her.

Some of the performances are outstanding, particularly Carol Burnett as the drunken Miss Hannigan. In the role of Annie, Aileen Quinn is a fine singer but a bit wooden as an actress. But the orphan girls are adorable, and Albert Finney is wonderfully brusque but really an old softy as Daddy Warbucks.

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