Annie

By VARIETY STAFF

Columbia. Director John Huston; Producer Ray Stark; Writer Carol Sobieski; Camera Richard Moore Editor Margaret Booth, Michael A. Stevenson; Music Ralph Burns (arr.) Art Dale Hennesy
 
Albert Finney
Carol Burnett
Aileen Quinn
Ann Reinking
Bernadette Peters
Tim Curry
 

Many people said John Huston was an odd choice to direct Annie and he proves them right. In an effort to be more 'realistic' Annie winds up exposing just how weak a story it had to start with [stage play book by Thomas Meehan], not helped here by the music [songs by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin]. Aside from the memorable 'Tomorrow' the show's songs weren't all that much in the first place and four new tunes penned for the $35 million film aren't any better.

In the title role, little Aileen Quinn acquits herself quite well. Carol Burnett gets most of what chuckles there are as the drunken Miss Hannigan who runs the orphanage.

Albert Finney is best of the bunch as Daddy Warbucks, but it's really not a test for his talents. Edward Herrman is acceptable as FDR, a part he has down pat. As the villainous phony parents, Bernadette Peters and Tim Curry, add little.

1982: Nominations: Best Art Direction, Original Song Score

(Color) Widescreen. Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1982. Running time: 128 MIN.