Talk:Savannah Smiles

Correction
Peter Graves played the Cop who the Savannah's Dad brought in to find her, not Savannah's Father. 76.120.251.98 (talk) 17:38, 1 October 2014

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Perception of the story as a kidnapping story
Of the five or six reviews of the picture that can be found on the internet, three of them refer to it as a story about an improbable kidnapping. They are:


 * 1. The review in Rotten Tomatoes Savannah Smiles
 * 2. Chuck O'Leary in his Fulvue Drive-in piece Savannah Smiles
 * 3. A.W. Kautzer in his Blu-Ray Review Blu-Ray Review: MVD Rewind Collection's Savannah Smiles (Collector's Edition)

The story is about a little girl running away from home and falling in with two vagabonds, the relationships that form between them and how they are affected. In particular, it is about how Alvie is affected. There is no question the little girl was not kidnapped. She packs her suitcase before leaving home, she runs after Alvie and Boots when they try to leave her at the park, and when she overhears the term "abducted" and it is explained what the word means, she is clear in her response, saying: "But you didn't. I ran away."

Since viewing the story as a "happy kidnapping" is common among reviewers, it seems reasonable that this misconception be addressed in the article. One possible wording would be:


 * The story is not a kidnapping story, though it is often summarized as such. On Rotten Tomatoes the film summary claims when the ex-cons learn Savannah's parents are wealthy they "decide to hold the kid for a huge ransom." Another reviewer described the movie as a "kidnapping family film". However, the story makes it clear that Savannah ran away from her home because she was unhappy. To cast aside any doubt, when Savannah is having dinner with her new friends and overhears the news, she asks what the word "abducted" means. Alvie replies "It means they think we took you" and she replies: "But you didn't. I ran away."


 * Savannah's running away and falling in with Alvie and Boots was the means the three got to together. The story focuses on the importance of love in one's life, and the redemptive qualities that love can bring to life. At the close Alvie and Boots hide from Savannah anything unpleasant, such as the fact that they were going back to jail. Her happiness was the most important thing to them. Though he had been distant and reticent with Savannah at first, Alvie has come to have a deep affection for her. Commentator Lacey Worrell notes "Written by Mark Miller (father of actress Penelope Ann Miller), who plays Alvie, it is less about Savannah and more about Alvie, who, after a lifetime of neglect himself, finally learns to love, thanks to Savannah."

I suggest we re-introduce such an explanation into the article. If you are an editor interested in this aspect of the article, please comment. Thanks. AliciaZag13 (talk) 01:50, 21 March 2019 (UTC)

Most INCREDIBLY WARM MOVIE EVER MADE!!!
Currently, my SMILE extends from Ear to Ear remembering the very first time I saw this movie!!!! I was 14 and at the end I turned to my twin brother and stated “when I’m 30, I’m going to have a girl & name her SAVANNAH”!!! Low & behold, at 29 I became pregnant for a girl that I immediately named “Savannah”!! I had the ultrasound check (7) times during my pregnancy to MAKE SURE I was having a girl!! When she decided to make her entrance….my entire OB Team announced “ HERE’s SAVANNAH”!!!! And what a beauty!!! Actually, she thoroughly resembled her namesake!! Today, not just because I am her Mom, but she is TRULY one of the MOST AMAZING PERSON I have EVER known!!!! I couldn’t have chosen a more moving story to set a bit of a foundation for her to begin on!!! KOODOES TO ALL INVOLVED!!! Thank You for such an ENDEARING Story that continues to warm my heart!!!! Lisa My own savannah (talk) 04:44, 30 July 2021 (UTC)