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Annie -- the sunny, syrupy 1977 Broadway musical wherein such optimistic anthems as "Tomorrow" and "You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" originated -- found a surprising onscreen shepherd in director John Huston. The man’s man behind such classics as The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and Prizzi’s Honor, it’s fair to say, had to stretch a bit for sweet. Perhaps the grittier elements Huston brought to the film didn’t hurt, though, as Annie ultimately overcame its critical drubbing and lackluster box-office performance to become a home-video favorite. Aileen Quinn, as the titular indefatigable carrot-topped moppet, is plucked from an orphanage to live for one week with wealthy Daddy Warbucks (a robust Albert Finney), who is desperately seeking an image upgrade. Carol Burnett is a hoot as Annie's besotted nemesis, Miss Hannigan, the tyrannical, child-hating orphanage owner who schemes to spoil Annie's happiness. The film also benefits from scene-stealing Broadway veterans Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters, and Ann Reinking. A karaoke feature on this disc allows you to sing along with the hit-and-miss score's three most beloved songs, "Tomorrow," "Maybe," and "It's the Hard-Knock Life." Even more irresistible than Annie herself is an "act-along" feature that offers starstruck viewers the opportunity to step in for Quinn in selected dramatic scenes. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

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

Product Details

• UPC: 043396095328
• Source: SONY PICTURES
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital, DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound, Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Editions: Special Edition, Subtitled
• Time: 2:07:00
• Sales Rank: 204

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Annie/Annie: a Royal Adventure

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