Anna to the Infinite Power
Encyclopedia
Anna to the Infinite Power is a 1983 science fiction
/thriller film about a young teenager who learns that she was the product of a cloning
experiment. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Mildred Ames
. It was produced by Kandell Enterprises & Film Gallery, previously responsible for the popular American syndicated kids' series Big Blue Marble
, and many alumni from that program worked on the film. The film was never released theatrically, but was shown on pay cable, and later appeared on home video. The film's signature score "Anna's Reverie" was composed by Paul Baillargeon
, who wrote the music for the film and has a cameo scene in which he plays the music teacher of Anna's brother Rowan.
desperately afraid of flickering lights, and with strange prophetic dreams. Simultaneously, several strange things begin to happen. A mysterious neighbor named Michaela Dupont (a piano teacher who has been watching Anna, and has kept photos of her and of another girl taken in 1970 who much resembles Anna) moves in next door to the Harts. And, most frightening of all, Anna sees her exact double on television one night (and learns that her double has the same family setting as hers).
As her investigation of the other Anna—Anna Smithson—progresses, she begins to learn the truth: the truth about a woman named Anna Zimmerman who has been dead for twenty years, and most important, the truth about herself: that she was part of a cloning experiment by Zimmerman to create the perfect girl, one who would grow into a duplicate of Zimmerman herself, right down to the traits that Anna indeed shares with her. It also turns out that her mother volunteered for the cloning project but the father wanted nothing to do with it. We also learn, through Anna's dreams, of Zimmerman's past; growing up during World War II
as a Jew in Nazi-controlled Germany
, where she, like the present Anna, was a pianist and child prodigy
who would play a part in the Nazis' plans for the genetic engineering of humans.
But, just as the current Anna is beginning to act normal and learn more about her background—thanks in part to her brother Rowan and to secret assistance from Micheala—we also learn of six other Annas, this after her mother told her that they (the people involved with the cloning project) wanted to re-evaluate Anna for a few days at a facility at Albacore Island. While there, Anna becomes suspicious when the phone in her room is blocked. Also, as she snoops around she notices the experiments they are performing. When Rowan has not heard from Anna, he sneaks into the facility to see his sister. Anna and Rowan confront Dr. Henry Jelliff, the person who kept Zimmerman's genetic cloning experiments alive at Albacore Island, who tells her that she is now a 'normal' person and suggests that she should change her name as a way to start a new life. But, after Anna and her brother were free to go, Jelliff reveals to Michaela, whom he suspected was not following her assignments, that he is secretly grooming yet another Anna to grow up to become the future Zimmerman; they plan to kill the remaining five Annas, including Hart and her family, shortly.
Jelliff's plans to eliminate the girls backfire when Michaela reveals herself to him as Anna Parkhurst, the original product of Zimmerman's cloning experiment (she was the other girl that resembled Anna in the 1970 photo from the beginning of the film); and, like her Mother/Creator, she knows how to create the replicator. Because Jelliff had her parents killed and because she is enraged by the experiments, the adult Anna turns the table on him by offering him the plans for the replicator in return for the safety of all of the Annas. The film ends with Jeliff considering Michaela/Anna's offer.
can also be seen in the film; the show's production company also co-produced this film.
On April 27, 2010, Scorpion Releasing released the fim on DVD, with an interview with Martha Byrne.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/thriller film about a young teenager who learns that she was the product of a cloning
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
experiment. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Mildred Ames
Mildred Ames
Mildred Ames was a US writer of children's literature, for older children, and some science fiction. Her science fiction works often concern issues of paranoia or questions of identity...
. It was produced by Kandell Enterprises & Film Gallery, previously responsible for the popular American syndicated kids' series Big Blue Marble
Big Blue Marble
Big Blue Marble was a half-hour children's television series that ran from 1974 to 1983 in syndication. Distinctive content included stories about children around the world and a pen-pal club that encouraged intercultural communication...
, and many alumni from that program worked on the film. The film was never released theatrically, but was shown on pay cable, and later appeared on home video. The film's signature score "Anna's Reverie" was composed by Paul Baillargeon
Paul Baillargeon
Paul Baillargeon is a Canadian composer, known for his music for television shows. He contributed music to 41 episodes of Star Trek shows, and won the 2002 ASCAP Award for Enterprise, shared with the series' other regular composers....
, who wrote the music for the film and has a cameo scene in which he plays the music teacher of Anna's brother Rowan.
Synopsis
Anna Hart was always an odd child—a geniusGenius
Genius is something or someone embodying exceptional intellectual ability, creativity, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of unprecedented insight....
desperately afraid of flickering lights, and with strange prophetic dreams. Simultaneously, several strange things begin to happen. A mysterious neighbor named Michaela Dupont (a piano teacher who has been watching Anna, and has kept photos of her and of another girl taken in 1970 who much resembles Anna) moves in next door to the Harts. And, most frightening of all, Anna sees her exact double on television one night (and learns that her double has the same family setting as hers).
As her investigation of the other Anna—Anna Smithson—progresses, she begins to learn the truth: the truth about a woman named Anna Zimmerman who has been dead for twenty years, and most important, the truth about herself: that she was part of a cloning experiment by Zimmerman to create the perfect girl, one who would grow into a duplicate of Zimmerman herself, right down to the traits that Anna indeed shares with her. It also turns out that her mother volunteered for the cloning project but the father wanted nothing to do with it. We also learn, through Anna's dreams, of Zimmerman's past; growing up during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a Jew in Nazi-controlled Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where she, like the present Anna, was a pianist and child prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
who would play a part in the Nazis' plans for the genetic engineering of humans.
But, just as the current Anna is beginning to act normal and learn more about her background—thanks in part to her brother Rowan and to secret assistance from Micheala—we also learn of six other Annas, this after her mother told her that they (the people involved with the cloning project) wanted to re-evaluate Anna for a few days at a facility at Albacore Island. While there, Anna becomes suspicious when the phone in her room is blocked. Also, as she snoops around she notices the experiments they are performing. When Rowan has not heard from Anna, he sneaks into the facility to see his sister. Anna and Rowan confront Dr. Henry Jelliff, the person who kept Zimmerman's genetic cloning experiments alive at Albacore Island, who tells her that she is now a 'normal' person and suggests that she should change her name as a way to start a new life. But, after Anna and her brother were free to go, Jelliff reveals to Michaela, whom he suspected was not following her assignments, that he is secretly grooming yet another Anna to grow up to become the future Zimmerman; they plan to kill the remaining five Annas, including Hart and her family, shortly.
Jelliff's plans to eliminate the girls backfire when Michaela reveals herself to him as Anna Parkhurst, the original product of Zimmerman's cloning experiment (she was the other girl that resembled Anna in the 1970 photo from the beginning of the film); and, like her Mother/Creator, she knows how to create the replicator. Because Jelliff had her parents killed and because she is enraged by the experiments, the adult Anna turns the table on him by offering him the plans for the replicator in return for the safety of all of the Annas. The film ends with Jeliff considering Michaela/Anna's offer.
Connections
The opening credits of the television series Big Blue MarbleBig Blue Marble
Big Blue Marble was a half-hour children's television series that ran from 1974 to 1983 in syndication. Distinctive content included stories about children around the world and a pen-pal club that encouraged intercultural communication...
can also be seen in the film; the show's production company also co-produced this film.
In popular culture
The rock band AnnAtotheInfinitePower took their name from the book. They played and recorded music in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, from 1995 to 2000 and were best known for their song "When the World Ends".DVD releases
In 1986, RCA/Columbia Pictures secured home video rights and released the film on VHS.On April 27, 2010, Scorpion Releasing released the fim on DVD, with an interview with Martha Byrne.
Cast
- Dina MerrillDina Merrill-Early life:Merrill was born Nedenia Marjorie Hutton in New York City, New York, the only child of Post Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her second husband, Wall Street stockbroker Edward Francis Hutton...
- Sarah Hart - Martha ByrneMartha ByrneMary Martha Byrne is an American actress, singer and screenwriter.In 2008, she left CBS's As the World Turns as the passionate role of Lily Snyder. In 2009, she was featured on ABC's General Hospital as Andrea Floyd...
- Anna Hart - Mark PattonMark PattonMark Patton is a former American actor who starred in 3 films in the 1980s.-Movie career:He is perhaps best known for his role in the 1985 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge as Jesse Walsh, a teen whose body becomes possessed by Freddy Krueger...
- Rowan Hart - Donna Mitchell - Michaela Dupont/Anna Parkhurst
- Jack Ryland - Graham Hart
- Loretta DevineLoretta DevineLoretta Devine is an American stage, film and television actress known for her roles on Boston Public, Grey's Anatomy, and Eli Stone. She also provided her voice for the stop motion animated television series The PJs. Devine is a NAACP Image Award and Emmy award winning actress.-Early life:Devine...
- Ms. Benson (Schoolteacher) - Jack GilfordJack GilfordJack Gilford was an American actor on Broadway, films and television.-Early life:Gilford was born Jacob Aaron Gellman on the lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City, and grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn...
- Dr. Henry Jelliff - Gail Weed - Clara
- Virginia Stevens - Nurse Grap
- Marilyn Rockafellow - Mrs. Smithson
- John Wardwell - Farmer
- Susan Lowden - TV Newscaster
- Warren Watson - Dr. Barrett
- James Louis Fleming - Dr. Randall
- Julie Araskog - Nurse
- Kent Cottingham - Furniture Mover
- Stuart Cole - Albacore Security Guard
- Paul BaillargeonPaul BaillargeonPaul Baillargeon is a Canadian composer, known for his music for television shows. He contributed music to 41 episodes of Star Trek shows, and won the 2002 ASCAP Award for Enterprise, shared with the series' other regular composers....
- Music teacher