MovieChat Forums > Annie (1982) Discussion > Where did this movie go wrong/right?

Where did this movie go wrong/right?

posted 9 years ago by pearlimaew
3 replies | jump to latest

This is the first experience I ever had with Annie, I've been watching it since I was younger than Molly. I think it might have been my favorite for awhile as a kid. But even back then something about it rang false for me, I couldn't shake the idea that something was wrong with it. When I saw that it had won razzies I realized I wasn't alone in this, though I always thought razzies were a bit strong. Then I saw the live action production. This also had flaws, but it was easier to see what I felt was wrong with the first movie.

Problem: Annie just doesn't stand out enough from the other orphans. In fact I always felt like she was kind of bratty, and so doesn't really stand away from girls like Pepper. I know they were going for 'tough' when they had her do scenes like "You'll have ME to deal with" "Who's next?" and "Stomp on her foot!" but as a kid I just didn't get that. There are moments when she is kind of nice, but so are the other girls. I feel like they could have taken any child in the orphanage and gotten the same results. Contrary to what Warbucks says, she isn't all that special, and "We've Got Annie" just seems forced.

Solution: Her mission of wanting to find her parents isn't stated until waaaaaay into the movie, and that lack of motivation really hurts the character. Her dreams and aspirations should have been stated earlier, and her famed optimism should have been put on even better display than in the stage version. Not to make her annoying and Shirley Temple-esque, but if they had put in some scenes where her belief in a better tomorrow affected everyone at the mansion/Warbucks/Farrell, songs like "We've Got Annie" would have made more sense. And we would have understood why we're actually rooting for her.

Problem: Who's idea was it to make Annie a "4th of July Kid"? In some sort of weird effort to make the film more patriotic they placed the story in summertime.

Solution: Have it take place during Christmas. Seriously, not to diminish the importance of Independence Day, but I think Christmas as a whole just means more to our culture. Think about it--"Santa Claus we never see", Annie running around in the ice and snow trying to find her family, orphans without presents, how is any of this comparable to Annie taking a stroll down the sidewalk in the sunshine? I know, I KNOW it's hot, but it isn't the same.

Now I want to mention the two things they did right, because there were a few things that I consider major high points.

1. "Sign" is such a great added song. I mean "Let's Go to the Movies" and "We've Got Annie" bores me now as they bored me then, but "Sign" is fantastic.

2. The casting. Oh my goodness the casting. I can't think of how they possibly could have made the casting better. To this day Albert Finney is the standard by which I judge other Warbucks, Warbucksssss, Warbucksses? Carol Burnett completely brings the humor while still be terrifying (can you imagine this woman staggering into your bedroom with curlers in her hair? Nice wake up call). Rooster, Lily, Farrell, the orphans, they were all great.

Soooo...does anyone agree with me? Yes? No?

[–] lawson14 9 years ago

I absolutely love the adult casting. Carol Burnett made a great Miss Harrigan and you absolutely knew that she was in her dream role. Peter Marshall was a nice surprise, and the other adult casting was absolutely right and true.

However, the kids were not that great. All of their musical numbers seemed a little off. Did the producers remember that they were actually working with kids and did they allow the kids to play and act like kids in between takes? Yes, the orphan's clothing was supposed be ugly, but the same colors were used in the ugly walls and furniture, and the children seemed to blend into the walls. The sets seemed to be too small. Did they remember that they were on a movie set and not a stage? None of the orphans except for one or two seemed to have individual personalities. They were just a bunch of kids singing and dancing. And yes, Annie dancing down the stairs with Daddy Warbucks seemed to be a poor imitation of Shirley Temple. I had heard that they were supposed to be celebrating Christmas at the end and not the Fourth of July. Probably editing Christmas out of the script left a lot of plot holes.

[–] shoshbat 9 years ago

Actually, if you look at the trivia for the film here, it was switched from Christmas to the 4th of July. Bc getting fake snow would have been too expensive.

[–] AmyJolamb 9 years ago

I've found it just perfect. It came out when I was about six and it was the first movie I remember going to see.

I have seen a few play versions too which is amazing to watch. I love the play way better than the movie.

But that said this movie has no flaws to me. None at all. I've watched it hundreds of times. I can recite it word for word while watching it which drives my family nuts. I can sing the songs in a horrible way that ruins it for the listener but is great for my ears. Lol

I love it and I'll always love it. I also enjoyed the remake. It's a fun movie and I enjoy the moden music. We own the movie and soundtrack but they will not get as worn out as this one.