Savannah Smiles

Savannah Driscoll (Brigette Andersen)is the 7 year old daughter of wealthy gubernatorial candidate, Richard Driscoll (Chris Robinson). Savannah, feeling terribly lonely and neglected by her self-absorbed parents, dashes a note and runs away. Two small-time crooks, Boots (Donovan Scott) and Alvie (Mark Miller), on the lam after a slapstick-style prison break, steal the car in which Savannah has chosen to hide. Savannah's "run away" note falls out of sight, so the police, with the exception of Lt. Savage (Michael Parks) immediately assume kidnapping. The police call in "ace tracker" Harland Dobbs (Peter Graves, in hilarious deadpan "dimwit detective" role). Meanwhile, Alvie, Boots and Savannah find a hideout. While Boots takes care of Savannah, Alvie, who hates children (and just about everybody else) becomes involved with Doreen (Carol Wayne, Carson's "Matinee Lady"), an attractive, spectacularly built waitress and part-time country singer. Desiring to satisfy Doreen's innocent dreams, Alvie ransoms Savannah. However, Boots' "nurturing instincts" are aroused, and he wants to reform.

Despite some thin spots in the middle, this is a surprisingly powerful movie. As we learn more about Alvie, we come to sympathize with his character, making the "near Ruby Ridge-style" climax of this movie all the more gut wrenching. I can barely think about this film without choking up. The cast is uniformly outstanding, most notable being Mark Miller (father of Penelope Ann), Pat Morita, Carol Wayne and Michael Parks (a character similar to THE X FILES Muldar). Brigette Andersen (granddaughter of child star Jackie Coogan) is adorable. Tragically, Andersen died from a drug and alcohol overdose at age 22.

The late porn star, Savannah, took her stage name from this movie, an admittedly "dubious" distinction. Apparently SAVANNAH SMILES has affected a lot of people. If you DO show it to your children, WATCH it with them. You may look at the world in a slighter brighter way when you are done.

I love this movie from the first time i saw it as a little girl, I was 8 when it came out and now i'm 25, and it still makes me laugh and cry with tears. I would suggest this movie to any little girl growing up. It is a great family movie. I give it a 10!!

This is a movie that will definitely make you smile.

All three of the main characters are terrific in this film.

This is a movie you can definitely watch with the kids, which is a rare these days.

The parents in the film are a little stereotyped in their coldness and their "seeing the error of their ways", but is intended to connect Savanah to Alphie, who wrote the film. The movie is very predictable, however like a Disney movie, although you aren't surprised by anything in it, it doesn't take away from the enjoyment.

I don't think I have ever sat through it any of the 10-12 times I watched it and not shed a few happy tears.

I watched this little gem of a film on UK television last night and enjoyed it immensely.I can only agree with what everyone else said and thoroughly recommend seeing this if You get a chance,I know I'll have to buy the DVD or Video of this film if I can find it. What a tragedy that the girl who played Savannah died at such a young age.

I remember seeing this movie , when HBO was a new cable station and I adored the film. Such a sweet film , I was mesmerized with Bridgette Anderson , as I too was a little girl at the time - but she was an actress! Unfortunately - I have only had the pleasure of seeing her in just this film - out of all that she has ever done. On that same unfortunate note - I was very upset and saddened to find out that we have lost this shiny star in May of 1997. She was only 21. Great movie for your collection of goods. :)