Annie (1999 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Annie |
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| Based on | Annie by Charles Strouse Martin Charnin Thomas Meehan and Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray |
| Written by | Irene Mecchi Musical: Charles Strouse Martin Charnin Thomas Meehan |
| Directed by | Rob Marshall |
| Starring | Kathy Bates Alan Cumming Audra McDonald Kristin Chenoweth Victor Garber Andrea McArdle Alicia Morton Lalaine |
| Composer(s) | Score: Danny Troob Songs: Charles Strouse (music) Martin Charnin (lyrics) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | John Whitman Craig Zadan Neil Meron Chris Montan |
| Cinematography | Ralf Bode |
| Editor(s) | Scott Vickrey |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Walt Disney Television Columbia TriStar Television Storyline Entertainment Chris Montan Productions |
| Distributor | Disney-ABC Domestic Television Sony Pictures Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | November 7, 1999 |
Annie is a 1999 American made-for-television musical-comedy-drama film from The Wonderful World of Disney, adapted from the 1977 Broadway musical of the same name by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, and Thomas Meehan, which in turn is based on the 1924 Little Orphan Annie comic strip by Harold Gray.
It was directed by Rob Marshall, written by Irene Mecchi, and produced by Walt Disney Television, Columbia TriStar Television, Storyline Entertainment, and Chris Montan Productions. Annie marks the first film collaboration between The Walt Disney Company and Columbia Pictures since Columbia distributed Disney's Silly Symphony film series as well as the Mickey Mouse cartoon series from 1929 to 1932. It stars Kathy Bates, Alan Cumming, Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Victor Garber, Andrea McArdle, and introduces Alicia Morton as the titular character and Lalaine as Kate.
Annie premiered on ABC November 7, 1999. The program proved to be popular during its initial airing, with an estimated 26.3 million viewers, making it the second-most watched Disney film ever to air on ABC behind Cinderella (1997). This version earned two Emmy Awards and a George Foster Peabody Award.
Contents
Plot
In 1933, during the Great Depression, 11-year-old orphan Annie Bennett was left on her own at the Hudson Street Home For Girls when she was an infant. The only two things that she received from her family was half a heart-shaped locket with a key hole, and a note from her parents saying that they would come back for her. The orphanage is run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan, who starves the orphans, forces them to do slave labor, and even makes them suffer. In the middle of the night, after getting tired of waiting for her parents, Annie tries to escape to find them, but is caught by Miss Hannigan in the process. When Miss Hannigan gets distracted, Annie hides in the dirty laundry bin and she finally succeeds in running away. While out on her own, Annie befriends a dog, whom she names Sandy. But a policeman catches her and returns her back to the orphanage. When billionaire Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks decides to take in an orphan for Christmas, his secretary Grace Farrell chooses Annie. Annie and Sandy are brought to his wealthy estate and bathe in a grand life.
Although at first uncomfortable with Annie, Daddy Warbucks is soon charmed by her. He desperately wants to adopt Annie, but Annie still wants to find her real parents, so he announces on the radio a $50,000 reward for anybody who can prove they are her biological parents. The orphans accidentally tell Miss Hannigan, and her younger con artist brother Rooster, and his dimwitted girlfriend Lily St. Regis cook up a scheme to get the reward by posing as Ralph and Shirley Mudge (Annie's "so called" parents).
Lily is left with the orphans after Miss Hannigan and Rooster leave, but Lily accidentally tells the secret. The orphans make her tell them what is going on, and she realizes that Rooster could leave her hanging as he has done before in the past. She and the orphans come to Warbucks' mansion where Lily demands her part in the cut while the orphans reveal the scheme. While fleeing from the orphans, Miss Hannigan and Rooster are intercepted upon the arrival of President Franklin D. Roosevelt along with his Secret Service. The President reads the papers that identifies Miss Hannigan, Rooster, and Lily. This enrages Miss Hannigan, who soon curses Annie for ruining her minions' chance to bring her back to her so she can punish her for escaping, only to be carted off to a psychiatric hospital for child abuse, followed by Rooster and Lily who are arrested and taken to jail.
President Roosevelt then presents the evidence to Annie that her real parents are actually David and Margaret Bennett, but sadly they both had died several years earlier which explains why they never returned for her. Although Annie is saddened that her real parents are dead, she is cheered up when Daddy Warbucks officially adopts her. The President ensures a happy ending for all as he promises that each of the orphans will be adopted by a stable and happy family. Daddy Warbucks and Grace become engaged, and Annie lives happily with her new parents and Sandy.
Cast
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- Main cast
- Victor Garber as Mr. Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks, a lonely billionaire businessman who opens his heart to Annie and becomes her adoptive father.
- Alicia Morton as Annie Bennett-Warbucks, an optimistic 11-year-old orphan searching for her biological parents. Oliver and Grace adopted her, and became their adoptive daughter.
- Audra McDonald as Miss Grace Farrell, Personal Secretary (later wife) to Daddy Warbucks. She eventually fell in love with Daddy Warbucks and becomes Annie's adoptive mother.
- Kathy Bates as Miss Agatha Hannigan/Mrs. Shirley Mudge (disguise), the cruel owner of the orphanage where Annie lives.
- Alan Cumming as Daniel Francis "Rooster" Hannigan/Danny the Dip/Mr. Ralph Mudge (disguise), Agatha's dastardly younger brother and con-artist.
- Kristin Chenoweth as Lily St. Regis/Sadie Algonquin/Phyllis the Filcher, Rooster's girlfriend.
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- The Orphans
- Erin Adams as Tessie, the orphan with mood swings. Tessie goes from being happy one minute and worrysome the next. She is known for saying, "Oh my goodness."
- Sarah Hyland as Molly, the youngest of the orphans. Molly has a habit of wetting the bed and is prone to crying. She is a victim of Pepper's bullying.
- Lalaine as Katherine "Kate", the tomboyish Mexican American orphan who is friends with Annie. Kate is shy.
- Nanea Miyata as July, the motherly orphan. July is the second oldest orphan. July is 13 years old.
- Marissa Rago as Pepper, the oldest orphan. Pepper is bossy and thinks that she's too old to be adopted. Pepper is 14 years old.
- Danelle Wilson as Duffy, the African American orphan with a talent for singing. Duffy dreams of being famous. Duffy is loud and confident.
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- Recurring cast
- Andrea McArdle as Star-To-Be (McArdle originated the role of Annie in the musical)
- Dennis Howard as Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President of the United States.
- Douglas Fisher as Drake
- Kurt Knudson as Justice Brandeis
- Ernie Sabella as Mr. Bundles, the laundry man.
- Chester and Chip as Sandy, a stray dog who Annie adopts.
- Vic Polizos as Lieutenant Ward (credited as "Beat Cop")
Musical numbers
The film's soundtrack was released on November 2, 1999, by Sony.
The songs in this version reflect those of the original 1977 production, but does not include "We'd Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover", "Tomorrow (Cabinet Reprise)", "Annie", or "New Deal for Christmas". However, it does include a reprise of "N.Y.C." and of "Little Girls" that takes place at the end of the film, rather than after the song itself.
- "Overture"
- "Maybe" - Annie
- "It's the Hard Knock Life" - Annie and Orphans
- "It's the Hard Knock Life" (Reprise) - Orphans
- "Tomorrow" - Annie
- "Little Girls" - Miss Hannigan
- "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" - Grace, Annie, and Warbucks' Staff
- "N.Y.C." - Warbucks, Grace, Annie, and Star-to-Be
- "N.Y.C." (Reprise) - Warbucks
- "Lullaby" - Warbucks
- "Easy Street" - Rooster, Miss Hannigan, and Lily
- "Maybe" (Reprise 1) - Annie
- "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" - Bert Healy and the Boylan Sisters
- "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" (Reprise) - Orphans
- "Something Was Missing" - Warbucks
- "I Don't Need Anything But You" - Warbucks and Annie
- "Maybe" (Reprise 2) - Grace
- "Tomorrow" (Reprise) - Grace
- "Little Girls" (Reprise) - Miss Hannigan
- "Finale: I Don't Need Anything But You" (Reprise) - Warbucks, Grace, and Annie
Awards and nominations
- Wins
- American Choreography Award — Rob Marshall
- American Comedy Award — Kathy Bates
- Costume Designers Guild Awards — Excellence in Costume Design for Television - Period/Fantasy (Shay Cunliffe)
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography - Rob Marshall
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction - Paul Bogaev
- Young Star Award Best Young Actress/Performance in a Miniseries/Made-For-TV Film - Alicia Morton
- TV Guide Award for Favorite TV Movie or Miniseries
- Peabody Award
- Nominations
- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film - Kathy Bates
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie - Kathy Bates
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Kathy Bates)
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special (Rob Marshall)
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie, or a Special
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie
