Savannah Smiles

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. :)

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 saw this when it first came out and enjoyed it. My oldest daughter , now 20 ,enjoyed it so much she named her favorite doll Savannah. Now my 3 yr old is in love with Savannah. Every morning she wants to watch Savannah as she eats breakfast, she has gotten to the point of reciting lines before they appear. It's a wonderful movie, fun, entertaining and you fall in love with Savannah and her 2 buddies; the gruff Alvie and clueless yet sweet Bootsie. As you watch this notice the changes that take place in the main characters, very heart warming. The music scores support the story. I find that I hum or sing them throughout the day. My 3 yr old asks me to sing the end song as I rock her to sleep each night. There are overtly funny scenes but you have to appreciate the clueless comment of Peter Graves' character.."I've heard that voice before."

Not hardly! This movie absolutely hurts to watch! Not in a bad way though as in it's not a bad movie. it is just so hard to watch that it hurts your heart to see it. each time you watch it, you are constantly wanting the ending to change.

Imagine seeing this movie when you are seven years old. it is almost traumatising. The movie is so powerful that it gets inside you and doesn't let go. I haven't seen it in years simply because it hurts to see it. It's the most heartbreaking movie ever made. I have never gotten through it without crying my eyes out. The moment that note flies under the bed, you're done for. It grabs you and pulls on every emotion that you didn't know existed.

I love this movie; it's just too bad I can't watch it but once every couple of years.

This is one of the sweetest movies you will ever see. You can watch it with the kids and never hear or see anything that will make you uncomfortable. Trust me, when Svanah Smiles, you will too. It is a real tragedy that the little girl who played Savanah passed away.