Annie (1999 film)

Plot

In 1933-(during the Great Depression), 11-year-old orphan Annie was left on her own at an all girls' orphanage 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'd come back for her. The orphanage is run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan, who starves the orphans, forces them to do slave labor, and she 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 Warbucks decides to take in an orphan for Christmas, his secretary, Grace Farrell, chooses Annie. She is brought to his wealthy estate and bathes in a grand life.

Although at first uncomfortable with Annie, Warbucks is soon charmed by her. He desperately wants to adopt Annie, but Annie still wants to find her real parents, so she announces on the radio a $50,000 reward for anybody who can prove they're her biological parents. The orphans accidentally tell Miss Hannigan, and her ex-con 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). When Lily proves to be too risky for the scheme, Miss Hannigan takes over as "Annie's mother".

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 quote "WE LOVE YOU MISS HANNIGAN" as Miss Hannigan tries to run by Lily. 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 while also mentioning the aliases of the latter two. Rooster and Lily are both arrested by the Secret Service as Rooster tells Lily that she loused up. Miss Hannigan tries to convince Annie to vouch for her to avoid being arrested, but Annie says she would and states that Miss Hannigan taught her to "never tell a lie". This causes Miss Hannigan to lose her sanity and she is carted off to a lunatic asylum with Rooster and Lily also being escorted out of the mansion 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 Warbucks officially takes her in as one of his own. 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. Warbucks and Grace become engaged, and Annie lives happily with her new parents.

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.

1. "Overture"
2. "Maybe" - Annie
3. "It's the Hard Knock Life" - Annie and Orphans
4. "It's the Hard Knock Life" (Reprise) - Orphans
5. "Tomorrow" - Annie
6. "Little Girls" - Miss Hannigan
7. "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" - Grace, Annie, and Warbucks' Staff
8. "N.Y.C." - Warbucks, Grace, Annie, and Star-to-Be
9. "N.Y.C." (Reprise) - Warbucks
10. "Lullaby" - Warbucks
11. "Easy Street" - Rooster, Miss Hannigan, and Lily
12. "Maybe" (Reprise 1) - Annie
13. "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" - Bert Healy and the Boylan Sisters
14. "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" (Reprise) - Orphans
15. "Something Was Missing" - Warbucks
16. "I Don't Need Anything But You" - Warbucks and Annie
17. "Maybe" (Reprise 2) - Grace
18. "Tomorrow" (Reprise) - Grace
19. "Little Girls" (Reprise) - Miss Hannigan
20. "Finale: I Don't Need Anything But You" (Reprise) - Warbucks, Grace, and Annie

Production

The dancers' costumes and the stage set of the Broadway section of "N.Y.C." are taken directly from the "Broadway Melody" ballet in Singin' in the Rain.

Release

Annie premiered during The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC November 7, 1999. After its premiere on ABC, Annie has aired on cable channels such as ABC Family, Starz, and the Hallmark Channel.

Home media

Annie was released on VHS December 14, 1999, and DVD January 24, 2000 by Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Reception

The program was a smash during its initial airing, with an estimated 26.3 million viewers, making it the second-most watched Disney movie ever to air on ABC behind Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997).

Awards and nominations