Savannah Smiles
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Mark Miller |
| Products | Family film |
Savannah Smiles is a 1982 family film created and produced by Mark Miller, who also took on one of the leading male roles. Directed by Pierre De Moro, the movie stars Bridgette Andersen as the titular character, alongside Mark Miller and Donovan Scott, portraying two drifters who form a bond with her.
Plot
Savannah, a six-year-old girl and daughter of a wealthy Salt Lake City businessman campaigning for the U.S. Senate, feels overlooked by her preoccupied parents and decides to run away. She secretly climbs into the vehicle of Alvin "Alvie" Gibbs and Boots "Bootsie" McGaffee, two fugitives on the run. To protect his political aspirations, Savannah’s father destroys her runaway note and conceals her absence. When Alvie and Boots learn about a $100,000 reward for Savannah’s safe return, they see an opportunity to benefit financially without drawing suspicion or risking capture. Over time, however, they develop genuine affection for Savannah, who finally experiences the care she had been missing. Alvie confesses that he too had escaped an abusive home. The pair plan to reunite Savannah with her family with assistance from the family’s priest, but she becomes lost in Utah’s Uinta Mountains. Choosing loyalty over freedom, Alvie and Boots locate her and safely return her home, surrendering themselves in the process. The story concludes with a flashback revealing Alvie finding the family he had longed for.
The film earned around $10.4 million at the box office, indicating modest commercial success within the early 1980s family film genre.
Production
Mark Miller was the driving creative force behind this project—he developed the concept, penned the script, starred in it, and produced the film. Inspired by his daughter Savannah’s curly blonde hair and radiant smile, he believed these characteristics could serve as a strong foundation for a film. Miller shaped the narrative drawing influence from the 1937 French film La Grande Illusion, which features an escaped prisoner softened by the presence of a young widow’s daughter. He named the movie after his daughter Savannah and secured funding from Texas oil magnate Hal Clifford. Although there was initial doubt about its target demographic, Miller aimed at young female audiences and ultimately proved successful.
Out of sixty child actresses auditioning for Savannah’s role—including Drew Barrymore—the selection was narrowed to twelve finalists. Bridgette Andersen stood out when she captivated Miller with her rendition of Br'er Rabbit, which he then incorporated into the screenplay. For comic elements, Miller cast Donovan Scott as Boots McGaffey, Alvie’s companion.
Filming occurred on-site in locations such as Salt Lake City, Provo Canyon, and near Sundance in Utah. A memorable gondola sequence was filmed at Bridal Veil Falls.
Due to limited marketing resources, Miller collaborated with Eunice Shriver of Special Olympics, agreeing to donate opening weekend proceeds to their cause in return for promotional support. Following a short theatrical release, Savannah Smiles gained broad visibility through cable channels like HBO.
Reception and influence
Lacey Worrell observes that Savannah Smiles, authored by Mark Miller (father of actress Penelope Ann Miller), centers largely on Alvie—portrayed by Miller—who overcomes a lifetime of neglect to discover love through his connection with Savannah.
For her performance in the film, Bridgette Andersen earned a Youth in Film Award nomination for Best Actress.