90'S FOCUS : ANNIE A ROYAL ADVENTURE .. 1995 ....

COLUMBIA TRISTAR
Presents
ANNIE A ROYAL ADVENTURE

Starring
JOAN COLLINS as Lady Edwina Hogbottom
GEORGE HEARN as Oliver Warbucks
ASHLEY JOHNSON as Annie
IAN MC DIARMMUID as Dr Eli Hon
EMILY ANN LLOYD as Hannah
CAMILLA BELLE as Molly
CRISPIN BONHAM CARTER as Rupert Hogbottom
PERRY BENSON as Murphy
ANTONY ZAKI as Punjab
CAROL CLEVELAND as Miss Hannigan

JOAN WITH ASHLEY JOHNSON AND GEORGE HEARN

Director of Photography - Alan Hume
 Art Director - Colin Thurston
  Music by David Michael Frank
   Teleplay by Trish Soodik
     Edited by James Galloway
       Produced by Wendy Dytmart / Ruth Slawson
               Directed by Ian Toynton

                                                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every child's favourite red head is back! Bound for London as Daddy Warbeck's is to be knighted by the king.. However sinister characters are at work, as the scheming Lady Hogbottom, along with her bumbling son Rupert hatch a plan to blow up Buckingham Palace! Lady Edwina is convinced she has royal blood running through her veins and is determined to claim her rightful place! However she does not bargain on a meddlesome red head! With Annie and her friends on their regal tails, the Hogmottoms plans are not all plain sailing. The sun will come out tomorrow.. when the title proclaims .. Annie A Royal Adventure......
(c)1995 Columbia Tristar  92mins  Reg 1/2 Columbia/Sony Dvd

This non-musical sequel to the smash hit 80's film 'Annie', was made for American television, but did good business on video and dvd. Joan is in her element here as the snooty yet totally dotty Lady Edwina Hogbottom, who is convinced she should be the Queen of England! The film was set to be called 'Sir Daddy' but was retitled 'Annie A Royal Adventure', which sounded more regal! Joan looking sensational in the film as she gets to wear a variety of over the top fifties costumes, as the film is set at that time. Joan recalled shooting the film which was during one of the hotter Bristish summers.

"We were shooting during the heatwave in July and August so it was extremely uncomfortable wearing those wintry fifties clothes. Lady Edwina is like a cross between Cruella De Ville and the sheriff Alan Rickman plays in 'Robin Hood'. She is very wicked indeed and is plotting to blow up Buckingham Palace.. Edwina Hogbottom is totally over the top and I haven't had so much fun playing a character for years! I have played weaker characters in the past, but generally casting directors and producers tend to see me in more forceful roles.

I also think the audience would find it very difficult to accept me as a victim. I think strong-willed people are far more interesting than weak-willed ones!

Filmed on location in Oxfordshire and in and around London, the film is good old fashioned family entertainment.

While the original 'Annie' was a musical, this sequel has opted to go the comedy drama route, with the exception of a reprise of the signature tune 'Tomorrow' at the end of the film.  Joan steals the show as the dotty villianess and is always good value... This is one adventure you would be mad to miss!