Annie / Oliver (Box Set) (DVD)

...I even named my daughter Annie (I know that's quite sad), I first saw this film when I was about 4 or 5 and I loved it, I still love it.
The musical was based on Harold Gray's Little Orphan Annie comic strip.
Annie first opened on Broadway in April, 1977, running for almost 2,500 performances - making it one the longest running musicals of the 1970s. The following year it opened at the Victoria Palace in London, where it enjoyed another ...
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Plot
Annie is set Manhattan in the middle of the Great Depression. Annie was found wrapped in newspaper on the doorstep of an orphanage when she was a baby. Spends the next 11 years living under the rules of the alcoholic, virgin, narcissist Miss Hannigan, hoping that her real mother will one day come and collect her.
Working day and nigh cleaning, cooking and looking after the home to escape miss Hannigan's beatings Annie ... more

In this life one thing counts in the bank large amounts I'm afraid these don't grow on trees you've got to pick a pocket or two…
Sorry, I got carried away, ever since I thought about writing this review I have not been able to get that song out of my head.

Oliver.
When it was first wrote Oliver Twist was not meant to be a big hit. It was a short story written by dickens for the paper he was writing for at the time. It was so popular that he wrote another and another and eventually made it into a novel, which was obviously well received and is still popular today, it has been made into many different films, plays, cartoons and musicals. The carol reed usical is by far the best in my opinion. It differs a lot from thhe book, the story is not as complex or as deep but the film captures the dickens essence. The happy ending, the fun, the music, the good bad guys. Even though it's a sad story you know ever thing will work out and that's why this is such a timeless classic

Writing credits
Charles Dickens novel
Lionel Bart book
Vernon Harris screenplay

Plot
For any one who doesn't know the story follows a young boy in the 1800's. his mother is a un married runaway who gives birth in a work house then dies with out telling any one who she is leaving her new born son alone in the world. He is brought up in the work house where he is underfed and ill treated. Finally he gets the chance to leave as he is sold to a under takers where he is to train as an apprentice but more ill treatment lead to him running away to make his fortune in London. This is where he meets dodger and Fagan and their group of thieves, Fagan she's the chance to make Oliver a thief who will steal for him but Oliver's honest face and kind nature make this a kind of work difficult. Poor Oliver is nabbed by the police for pick pocketing even though innocent. Bill Sykes, who dose some work for Fagin, is worried that Oliver will inform the police of the gang's whereabouts. He kidnaps Oliver with the help of his wife, Nancy. Eventually Oliver finds himself placed with a kindly gentleman who looks out for him. I don't want to say to much more about the story because if any one hasn't seen or read it I don't want to spoil it.

Its no wonder that this version of Oliver Twist won 6 academy awards including
Best picture, Best Director and Best Sound.
It has a great cast, I cant pin point any actors because they are all wonderful. Ron Moody is superb as is Oliver Reed and Harry Secombe, even the young boys are all wonderful.
This film is a great family classic my kids love it my mum loves it even my dear old Nan loves it, at the risk of sounding cheesy it really is a fun family film.
Oliver is rated U suitable for all and it is 144 mins long
Annie
This is my all time favourite movie.
I love it so much I even named my daughter Annie (I know that's quite sad), I first saw this film when I was about 4 or 5 and I loved it, I still love it.
The musical was based on Harold Gray's Little Orphan Annie comic strip.
Annie first opened on Broadway in April, 1977, running for almost 2,500 performances - making it one the longest running musicals of the 1970s. The following year it opened at the Victoria Palace in London, where it enjoyed another successful run.
The movie version, followed in 1982. Despite the theatre success the film was a disaster and even won a Golden Raspberries award for Worst Supporting Actress.

Plot
Annie is set Manhattan in the middle of the Great Depression. Annie was found wrapped in newspaper on the doorstep of an orphanage when she was a baby. Spends the next 11 years living under the rules of the alcoholic, virgin, narcissist Miss Hannigan, hoping that her real mother will one day come and collect her.
Working day and nigh cleaning, cooking and looking after the home to escape miss Hannigan's beatings Annie never misses a chance to escape however she is always returned until one day she finds her self in the company of Grace Farrell the secretary to Oliver Warbucks, the Billionaire. Will Mr Warbucks fall for Annies charms, will her parents collect her or will she stay at the hands or the cruel Hannigan forever?
The songs include "tomorrow,(the sun will come out)" "hard knock life" "we've got Annie" and "let's go to the Movies"
Annie didn't win academy awards; it didn't have a huge cast, a great directors or any thing Hollywood about it but it has that family feel. The happy ginger girl who wins her way into your heart, the smelly flea ridden dog who we all love and the wonderful Miss Hannigan who we all love to hate.
Annie is definitely worth watching, if you haven't seen it, get it, If you haven't seen it in ages get it out, it's a great light hearted film some thing for ever one.
In conclusion these films are all time classics, I watch them my kids do, even my grand kids will one day I'm sure (not that I have any yet but I'm hopeful one day..) very one likes these films that what makes them so great rags to riches, happy endings what's not to love. If fact I'm going to pop them on now, it feels like a duvet and film day I think.

Thanks for reading, hope this helps
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