Annie (1982) Parent Guide

Seventy young actresses, chosen from thousands of applicants, auditioned for the title role in Annie. But Aileen Quinn was the 10-years-old who nabbed the lead in this 1982 theatrical version of the Broadway Musical. (The show was based on the 1924 comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray.)

Quinn plays the vivacious, strong-willed child who lives in the Hudson Street Orphanage in New York City with a houseful of other unfortunate girls under the care of the establishment’s alcoholic head mistress, Agatha Hannigan (Carol Burnett). Every day, while enduring the sharp words and endless chores handed out by her caregiver, Annie dreams of the parents she hopes will come back to reclaim her.

One day someone does arrive at the orphanage. But it’s not her mom and dad.

Hoping to improve the public image of the cold-hearted industrialist Oliver Warbucks (Albert Finney), his secretary Grace (Ann Reinking) comes to the institution looking for a ward of the state to come home with her—if only temporarily. The spunky little Annie worms her way into Grace’s heart and soon finds herself on the doorstep of one of the richest men in New York City. The curly-haired redhead instantly charms the rest of the household staff as well. But it takes a little longer for Daddy Warbucks to warm up to the spirited girl.

Full of musical numbers and rambunctious dance scenes, the best thing about Annie may be the soundtrack with catchy tunes like “Tomorrow”, “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile”. However, this adaption of the play to the big screen isn’t always seamless, and production often feels stagy. The huge cast and frequent musical interludes also seem to bog down the storyline about the little girl hoping for a family.

Still it is fun to see a bald Albert Finney take on the role of the immensely rich Daddy Warbucks. (Who knew his career would go on to include roles in movies like Amazing Grace, The Bourne Ultimatum, Big Fish and Skyfall.) While the scenes of a youngster in peril, some nasty adult characters and the worry of being orphaned makes this movie more suitable for older children, viewers likely won’t be able to keep from at least humming the tune of “Tomorrow” after watching this lively ginger brighten up a room.

About author

Kerry Bennett

Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for over 15 years. As a parent herself, she believes parents play a powerful role in teaching media literacy in their homes.