Wednesday, August 29, 2007

GET THAT DON BUDGE FELLOW IF HE'S AVAILABLE: Resuscitating an argument we had here four months ago, Joe Baltake argues for the superiority of John Huston's 1982 Annie film adaptation to the 1999 version done by Rob Marshall for ABC:
The veteran director, new to musicals, had fun with the genre, instructing Carol Burnett, as Miss Hannigan, to "play it soused" throughout(which she does quite wittily) and Albert Finney as Daddy Warbucks to affect Huston's own vocal delivery (which he also does quite wittily). And a deep bow to Huston for also showcasing two stage stalwarts -- Ann Reinking, excellent as Grace, Warbucks' executive secretary, and Bernadette Peters, as the vamp Lily St. Regis.... Too bad that Huston couldn't quite convince his almost-son-in-law at the time, Jack Nicholson, to play Rooster Hannigan. He would have been a hoot, although Tim Curry, who ultimately played the role, is perfectly fine - wildly theatrical and juicily evil.

We may have to bring in Judge Brandeis to settle this.

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