Annie (1982)

I know most of the songs by heart, thanks to a fuzzy cassette tape of the Broadway cast from my childhood, but I'd not seen this before. And, frankly, I kind of wish I hadn't bothered! While I enjoyed the 1999 television film, this just left me cold.

Mrs. Hannigan was definitely not G-rated: she's drunk, threatening, and weirdly sexual. The childrens' musical numbers had so much choreography that the lyrics almost got lost (though most of the kids could BELT). And then there's just so much unnecessary filler. The only explanation I can think of for that trip to the theater and showing a lengthy clip of Camille -- definitely not a child-friendly movie -- is that it was to give the movie audience an unofficial intermission.

Without the wonderful songbook, this would be a D, but the numbers pull it up.

C