WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY, THE: ANNIE (TV)
Summary
One of this series of Disney movies presented under the umbrella title "The Wonderful World of Disney." This made-for-television production is an adaptation of the musical stage play based on the Harold Gray comic strip "Little Orphan Annie."
The program begins with Disney president Michael Eisner explaining the history of the "Little Orphan Annie" character. The narrative opens at the New York City Municipal Orphanage, Girls Annex, with eleven-year-old Annie trying to console fellow orphan Molly as she awakens from a nightmare. Taunted by the other girls, Annie maintains that she is not an orphan and that her parents are still alive. She explains, as the others mimic her, that she was left at the orphanage with a note from her parents. She also holds one half of a locket, with the other half kept by her parents. She believes she will meet them someday as she sings "Maybe."
Afterward, Annie tries to sneak out from under the mean Miss Hannigan's eye to find her folks. However, Hannigan catches her at the door. Hannigan then wakes up the other orphans, forcing them to clean the floor due to Annie's troublemaking. Annie and the upset orphans sing "It's the Hard Knock Life." By morning, Hannigan has the orphans sewing a rush order of dresses. Annie finally sneaks out of the orphanage in a laundry basket, heading onto the snowy streets to find her mother and father. Instead, a lonely Annie comes upon a stray dog that she names Sandy, then sings of her hopes for a better "Tomorrow."
That night, with police looking for her, Annie is forced to hide amongst a group of the homeless. After the police chase her, Annie lands back at the orphanage with Hannigan. The orphans play a joke on Hannigan, leading her to sing of her hatred for "Little Girls." Hannigan punishes Annie by making her scrub the floors with a toothbrush. Then, Grace Farrell, the personal secretary of billionaire Oliver Warbucks, drops by to find an orphan to spend the holidays at the Warbucks mansion. To her delight, Annie is chosen.
After getting a brand new set of clothes, Annie is blown away by the trappings of the mansion. Grace explains Annie's new life, with the girl responding in song, "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here." Afterward, Warbucks finally arrives, upset as he reveals that some of his factories are being shut down. The brusque Warbucks learns from Grace that he has "decided" to play host to an orphan at Christmas in order to improve the negative press he has been receiving. Warbucks has no idea how to treat the little girl, then learns that President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife are soon to visit for Christmas dinner.
Annie reveals that she was never let out of the orphanage by Hannigan and thus has never seen the sights of New York City. After Annie asks Warbucks what the place is like, the billionaire responds by singing "NYC" as he and Grace take Annie out on the town and to a Broadway show. Afterward, Annie runs into Sandy again and Warbucks lets her take him back to the mansion. By now, Warbucks has decided to adopt Annie, but Grace struggles to get Hannigan to sign her away.
Then, Hannigan's brother Rooster and his latest squeeze, Lily St. Regis, arrive at the orphanage. Rooster asks his sister if he could borrow some money before the three sing "Easy Street," lamenting their financial struggles. Hannigan discusses being upset that Annie's luck has changed via her new living arrangements with Warbucks. Meanwhile, Warbucks is nervous about asking Annie if she wishes to stay with him forever. He reveals that he, too, was an orphan. However, she can't fully accept him as her father knowing that her real parents may still be out there. Warbucks is thus determined to locate her real parents.
Back at the orphanage, Annie's old friends listen to Annie on the radio as Warbucks offers to pay $50,000 to anyone who can prove that they're Annie's parents. The orphans pretend they are on the radio singing "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile." Hannigan is intrigued to hear about the reward. Just then, "Ralph and Shirley Mudge" -- actually Rooster and Lily in disguise -- come by, claiming to be Annie's parents. Upon removing their getups, they reveal their scheme to Hannigan and make a deal to split up the money, kill Annie, and hit "Easy Street." However, Hannigan insists on playing Rooster's wife, rather than Lily.
Meanwhile, Grace scrutinizes everyone claiming to be Annie's parents, but it is apparent that all the candidates are fakes. Then, Warbucks gets information from the FBI that an analysis of Annie's locket didn't help narrow the search. Warbucks must admit that "Something Was Missing" from his life, until he met Annie. Warbucks asks if Annie will find a place in her heart for him. Annie agrees to have Warbucks as her father, assuming she never finds her real parents.
On Christmas Eve, Warbucks wants the adoption to occur that night, followed by a celebration and a large party. The mansion is decorated for the festivities and Annie and Warbucks sing "I Don't Need Anything But You." Justice Brandeis arrives to preside over the adoption ceremony. However, just then, Rooster and Hannigan arrive in disguise. Sandy is suspicious but Warbucks and Annie are willing to hear what they have to say. They present a birth certificate that looks legitimate but Warbucks and Grace start to become suspicious. However, the couple then shows their half of the locket, cementing their credibility. Rooster and Hannigan also pretend that they did not know about the reward.
Warbucks tells Rooster and Hannigan that they can't pick up their money and Annie until the next day, in order that she may celebrate Christmas with him. Grace sings a reprise of "Maybe" and "Tomorrow" to a crying Annie, who now wants to stay with Warbucks. The next day, Rooster and Hannigan return to retrieve Annie and their money, leaving Lily with the orphans. The daft Lily accidentally reveals the villainous scheme to the orphans, who then arrive at the Warbucks mansion with Lily in tow. Afraid that she'd be cut out of the deal, Lily rats out Rooster and Hannigan. Soon, Rooster and Lily are arrested under order of President Roosevelt, while Hannigan goes completely mad and is sent off to be institutionalized.
Roosevelt then reveals that he traced the handwriting on the note from Annie's parents and found out that they passed away years ago. Roosevelt also reveals that he will find someone to adopt all the other orphans. Then, Warbucks invites Grace to join their new family. As Sandy watches, Annie, "Daddy" Warbucks, and Grace join forces and sing "I Don't Need Anything But You." Includes commercials.
(Network varies; this series was also telecast on NBC from 1961 to 1981 and on CBS from 1981 to 1983.)
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 7, 1999 Sunday 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:56:51
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:58938
- GENRE: Musical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Musical; Children's programs; Orphans
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2008
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Annie" home video
- TV - Commercials - "Annie" soundtrack
- TV - Commercials - "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas" home video
- TV - Commercials - "Passport to Paris" home video
- TV - Commercials - "Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving" home video
- TV - Commercials - 4-H volunteer organization
- TV - Commercials - 10-10-220 calling plans
- TV - Commercials - AT&T calliing plans
- TV - Commercials - Alamo rental cars
- TV - Commercials - AmericanGirl.com
- TV - Commercials - Campbell's soups
- TV - Commercials - Cheerios cereal
- TV - Commercials - Clean and Clear face wipes
- TV - Commercials - Cottonelle toilet paper
- TV - Commercials - Discover credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Education Excellence Partnership
- TV - Commercials - Furby toys
- TV - Commercials - Jack in the Box restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Johnson's baby shampoo
- TV - Commercials - K-Bkids.com online toy store
- TV - Commercials - KFC restaurants
- TV - Commercials - L'Oreal Kids shampoo
- TV - Commercials - L'Oreal hair color
- TV - Commercials - Mario Golf Game Boy video game
- TV - Commercials - MasterCard credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Mazda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Milkfuls candies
- TV - Commercials - Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers board games
- TV - Commercials - Mitsubishi automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Neutrogena body wash
- TV - Commercials - Office of National Drug Control Policy/Partnership for a Drug-Free America
- TV - Commercials - Red Lobster restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Sears stores
- TV - Commercials - Sprint calling plans
- TV - Commercials - The Steel Alliance
- TV - Commercials - Toys "R" Us stores
- TV - Commercials - Youth for Understanding International Exchange
- TV - Commercials - annie.disney.com contest
- TV - Commercials - eToys.com online toy store
- TV - Commercials - toysmart.com online toy store
- TV - Commercials - www.playmusic.org
- TV - Promos - "All My Children"
- TV - Promos - "Boy Meets World"
- TV - Promos - "Come On, Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story"
- TV - Promos - "Disney's One Saturday Morning"
- TV - Promos - "Odd Man Out"
- TV - Promos - "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch"
- TV - Promos - "The Hughleys"
- TV - Promos - "The Practice"
- TV - Promos - "The Wonderful World of Disney: Geppetto"
- TV - Promos - "The Wonderful World of Disney: Space Jam"
- TV - Promos - "Tuesdays with Morrie"
- TV - Promos - "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"
CREDITS
- Chris Montan … Executive Producer
- Craig Zadan … Executive Producer
- Neil Meron … Executive Producer
- Marykay Powell … Executive Producer
- John Whitman … Producer
- Brad Krevoy … Co-Producer
- Rob Marshall … Director, Choreographer
- Thomas Meehan … Writer
- Irene Mecchi … Writer
- Mike Nichols … Based on the stage plan "Annie" presented by
- Charles Strouse … Music by
- Martin Charnin … Music by
- Michael Eisner … Host
- Kathy Bates … Cast, Miss Hannigan
- Alan Cumming … Cast, Rooster Hannigan
- Audra McDonald … Cast, Grace Farrell
- Kristin Chenoweth … Cast, Lily St. Regis
- Victor Garber … Cast, Oliver Warbucks
- Vic Polizos … Cast, Policeman
- Ernie Sabella … Cast, Mr. Bundles
- Erin Adams … Cast, Tessie
- Sarah Hyland … Cast, Molly
- Lalaine … Cast, Kate
- Nanea Miyata … Cast, July
- Marissa Rago … Cast, Pepper
- Danelle Wilson … Cast, Duffy
- Andrea McArdle … Cast, Star-To-Be
- Alicia Morton … Cast, Annie
- Dennis Howard … Cast, F.D.R.
- Douglas Fisher … Cast, Drake
- Kurt Knudson … Cast, Justice Brandeis
- Brooks Almy … Cast, Mrs. Pugh
- Ruth Gottschall … Cast, Mrs. Greer
- Tom Billett … Cast, Second Policeman
- Frank Cavestani … Cast, Corn Vendor
- Ellen Gerstein … Cast, Sophie
- David Pevsner … Cast, Ira
- Ed Francis Martin … Cast, Artie
- Bob Morrisey … Cast, Dog Catcher
- Eric Leviton … Cast, Assistant Dog Catcher
- Lisa Arturo … Cast, Female Dancer
- Lisa Dahmin … Cast, Female Dancer
- Melanie Gage … Cast, Female Dancer
- Denise Holland … Cast, Female Dancer
- Michelle Johnston … Cast, Female Dancer
- Jennifer Keyes … Cast, Female Dancer
- Stephanie Landwehr … Cast, Female Dancer
- Christine Langer … Cast, Female Dancer
- Kimberly Lyon … Cast, Female Dancer
- Taliva Martin … Cast, Female Dancer
- Tabbatha Mays … Cast, Female Dancer
- Diane Mizota … Cast, Female Dancer
- Tara Nicole … Cast, Female Dancer
- Elizabeth Ramos … Cast, Female Dancer
- Guadalupe Bujanda … Cast, Male Dancer
- Troy Burgess … Cast, Male Dancer
- Sergio Carbajal … Cast, Male Dancer
- Keith Diorio … Cast, Male Dancer
- Scott Fowler … Cast, Male Dancer
- Ryan Heffington … Cast, Male Dancer
- Michael Higgins … Cast, Male Dancer
- Keith Kuhl … Cast, Male Dancer
- Joe Loera … Cast, Male Dancer
- Rick Negron … Cast, Male Dancer
- Art Palmer … Cast, Male Dancer
- Nathan Prevost … Cast, Male Dancer
- Christopher Smith … Cast, Male Dancer
- Christian Vincent … Cast, Male Dancer
- Matt Zarley … Cast, Male Dancer