- This page was last modified on 13 June 2025, at 18:36. Suggest an edit.
Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure facts for kids
| Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure |
|
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Richard Williams |
| Produced by |
|
| Screenplay by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Joe Raposo |
| Cinematography |
|
| Editing by |
|
| Studio |
|
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | April 1, 1977 |
| Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $4 million |
| Money made | $1.35 million (Rentals) |
Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure is a 1977 American live-action and animated musical fantasy film. It was directed by Richard Williams. The movie was made by the Bobbs-Merrill Company and released by 20th Century Fox.
This film features the famous Raggedy Ann and Andy characters. These characters were created by Johnny Gruelle. A shorter film about them was made in 1941.
Contents
The Story of the Movie
The movie begins when a girl named Marcella comes home from school. She goes to her playroom to put away her favorite doll, Raggedy Ann. When Marcella leaves, her toys come to life! Raggedy Ann tells them about the exciting world outside.
She also shares that it's Marcella's seventh birthday. The toys then spot a big present. Raggedy Andy, Ann's brother, is stuck under it. After he's freed, he complains about all the "girly" toys.
A New Doll Arrives
Marcella opens her present. Inside is a beautiful bisque doll from France named Babette. Raggedy Ann and the other toys welcome Babette. But Babette is very homesick for Paris and doesn't want to join them.
Captain Contagious's Plan
Soon, trouble starts. Captain Contagious, a ceramic pirate from a snow globe, sees Babette. He immediately falls in love with her. He tricks Raggedy Ann into freeing him. Then, he kidnaps Babette and jumps out the window with his crew!
Raggedy Ann decides she must rescue Babette. Andy volunteers to go with her. They leave the playroom and head into the woods. There, they promise to be brave and stick together.
Meeting New Friends
As they travel, the dolls meet the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees. He is a blue stuffed animal who was left behind by his old owners. The Camel wishes he had a home. Raggedy Ann promises he can come home with them after they find Babette.
Thinking about a home makes the Camel very excited. He rushes off a cliff, taking the dolls with him! They land in the Taffy Pit.
The Greedy's Lair
In the Taffy Pit lives an enormous, living blob of candy called the Greedy. The Greedy explains that he eats candy all the time but is never full. He wants a "sweetheart" to feel complete. He tries to take the candy heart sewn inside Raggedy Ann. But the toys manage to escape his sticky lair and continue their journey.
Looney Land Adventures
Next, the trio meets Sir Leonard Looney. He is a knight who loves playing mean tricks. Looney chases them, trying to prank them. He lures them into Looney Land. This is a strange place with weird buildings and laughing robot people.
While trying to avoid the knight, Ann, Andy, and the Camel end up in the throne room. Here they meet King Koo Koo, the tiny ruler of Looney Land. King Koo Koo is sad about being so small. He says he can only grow by laughing at others' bad luck. He plans to keep the toys as prisoners forever. This way, he can play tricks on them and grow bigger.
The dolls escape by starting a big cream pie fight. They then sneak away and leave Looney Land in a boat. The angry King Koo Koo follows them with a huge sea monster named Gazooks.
Pirate Ship Mutiny
While sailing, Ann, Andy, and the Camel spot Captain Contagious's pirate ship. They eagerly board it. But they find that Babette has taken over the ship! She has made herself the new captain. She wants to sail back to Paris. Captain Contagious is locked up below deck with his parrot, Queasy.
Ann tries to tell Babette she needs to go back to Marcella. Babette gets very angry. She has Ann, Andy, and the Camel tied to the ship's mast. Meanwhile, Queasy frees Captain Contagious. The Captain comes back on deck, frees the other dolls, and tells Babette he loves her.
The Final Battle
Before Babette can answer, King Koo Koo and Gazooks attack the ship. They capture everyone except Ann, Babette, and Queasy. The King starts to tickle them, making himself grow huge. Babette realizes her selfishness has put everyone in danger. She begs for forgiveness.
Then, she and Ann are captured too. The dolls realize King Koo Koo's huge size is "full of hot air." They tell Queasy to pop him! This causes a giant explosion that sends them flying through space.
Back Home Again
The next morning, Marcella finds her dolls and toys in the backyard. They were likely blown there by the explosion. She takes all of them back to the nursery, except for the Camel.
In the nursery, Babette says sorry for what she did. She accepts Ann's friendship and Captain Contagious's love. The heroes are happy to be back home. Ann sees the Camel looking in through the window. The dolls excitedly welcome him to their family. They are joyful to be together again. The next day, Marcella finds the Camel with her dolls. After a moment of surprise, she hugs him tightly, accepting him as her newest friend.
Meet the Characters
Here are some of the main characters and the actors who played them:
- Claire Williams as Marcella
- Joe Raposo (uncredited) as the Bus Driver
- Voices
- Didi Conn as Raggedy Ann
- Mark Baker as Raggedy Andy
- Mason Adams as Grandpa
- Allen Swift as Maxi-Fixit
- Hetty Galen as Susie Pincushion
- Sheldon Harnick as Barney Beanbag / Socko
- Ardyth Kaiser as Topsy
- Margery Gray and Lynne Stuart as the Twin Pennies
- Niki Flacks as Babette
- George S. Irving as Captain Contagious (The Captain)
- Arnold Stang as Queasy
- Fred Stuthman as the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees
- Joe Silver as the Greedy
- Alan Sues as Sir Leonard Loony (The Loony Knight)
- Marty Brill as King Koo Koo
- Paul Dooley as Gazooks
Songs from the Movie
| Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
|
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by
various artists
|
|
| Released | 1977 |
| Recorded | February 8, 1977 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Label | Columbia Records |
| Producer | Joe Raposo |
The Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure soundtrack was released in 1977. It came out on vinyl records, cassette tapes, and 8-track tapes. Columbia Records released it.
Here are the songs from the movie:
Side 1:
- "Main Title" – Rag Dolly
- "Where'd You Go?" – Twin Penny Dolls
- "I Look, And What Do I See?" – Raggedy Ann and the dolls in the nursery
- "I'm No Girl's Toy" – Raggedy Andy and the dolls in the nursery
- "Rag Dolly" – Raggedy Ann, Raggedy Andy and the dolls in the nursery
- "Poor Babette" – Babette
- "A Miracle" – Captain and the Parrot
- "The Abduction & Yo-Ho!" – Captain, Parrot and the Pirates
- "Really Scary!" - Twin Penny Dolls
- "Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers" – Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy
Side 2:
- "Blue" – The Camel
- "Camel's Mirage" – The Camel and the Camels in the Sky
- "I Never Get Enough" – The Greedy
- "I Love You" – The Loony Knight
- "Hail to Our Glorious King!" – The Loonies
- "It's Not Easy Being King" – King Koo Koo
- "Hooray For Me!" – Babette and the Pirates
- "You're My Friend" – Captain and the Parrot
- "The Plot Thickens" – The entire cast and Gazooks
- "The Tickling and the Last Laugh" – The King, et al.
- "Home" – Raggedy Ann, Raggedy Andy, The Camel, et al.
From Screen to Stage
The movie has been turned into a stage play two times.
The 1981 Play
In 1981, Patricia Thackray, who wrote the movie's story, changed it for a play. This play is called Raggedy Ann & Andy. Schools and community theaters can perform it. This version has some differences from the movie. For example, it only has two sets. Also, Prince Leonard-the-Looney-Hearted takes the place of The Captain.
The 1984 Musical
In 1984, songwriter Joe Raposo and playwright William Gibson created a different, darker version. It was first called Raggedy Ann, then briefly Rag Dolly. Raposo kept two songs from the movie: Rag Dolly and Blue. He also changed the movie's opening music into a new song called Gingham and Yarn.
The story was completely new. It followed a sick young Marcella. She goes on a journey with Raggedy Ann and her friends. They want to find the Doll Doctor, who can fix her broken heart. This version was shown in three theaters, including one in Moscow. It then opened on Broadway in 1986.