Take 3: The Little Match Girl (1987) Review (Golden Double Double Feature Part 4)

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Thanks for joining me for the fourth part of my Golden Double Double Feature! The majority of my review of The Little Match Girl is spoiler-free. If you’d like to learn more about why I chose this year’s double feature theme, you can check out the introduction in the link below.

Announcing The Golden Double Double Feature!

The Little Match Girl (1987) poster created by NBC Productions and National Broadcasting Company (NBC).

1. Out of the movies from Rue McClanahan’s filmography, why did you select The Little Match Girl?

Unlike my decision to review Mask and Mame, I knew Rue starred in The Little Match Girl before selecting the movie for the Golden Double Double Feature. However, similar to when I wrote about Mame and Mask, I had heard of The Little Match Girl, but hadn’t seen it prior to this double feature review. I also knew the 1987 film was an adaptation of one of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories. When it comes to The Little Match Girl, though, I was surprised to learn how many times that story was adapted, including in the 1980s. Throughout my eight-year blogging journey, I have covered my fair share of Christmas movies, especially those of the made-for-TV variety. With all that said, I decided to give The Little Match Girl a chance!

2. In The Little Match Girl, Rue portrays Frances Dutton. How is Frances Dutton similar or different from Blanche?

From what I remember, Blanche Devereaux came from a wealthy, Southern background. This fact was brought up from time to time on The Golden Girls. Rue’s character in The Little Match Girl, Frances Dutton, comes from a wealthier background as well. However, Frances and Blanche possess a major difference. While Blanche is sassy, bold, and even flirty, Frances is the complete opposite. In The Little Match Girl, Frances is not only soft-spoken and tender-hearted, she also has a gentler persona. So, it was interesting to see Rue portray a very different character in the 1987 Christmas film.

3. According to The Little Match Girl’s poster, the movie is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story of the same name. Is there any story from Hans’ bibliography you wish had received a film adaptation?

As I mentioned in answer number one, I was surprised to learn how many times The Little Match Girl was adapted, including in the 1980s. But there have been other stories from Hans’ bibliography that received adaptations, with The Little Mermaid being a notable one. Therefore, I’d like to see an adaptation of one of Hans’ more overlooked titles. For example, The Bell revolves around the mystery of a bell that only rings at sunset. With nature playing a major role in The Bell, an adaptation of this story could be presented as live-action, with the cinematography of natural landscapes stealing the show. However, I think The Bell could also work as an animated project.

4. Was there anything about The Little Match Girl you liked or didn’t like?

Screenwriting, including the dialogue, in made-for-TV movies can be hit or miss. In 1987’s The Little Match Girl, however, I found some of the dialogue cleverly written. One example is when Neville meets the titular little match girl, Molly. When he orders a coffee, Neville adds alcohol from his flask. After Molly asks Neville about the flask, he tells her its “courage”. Molly then responds by telling him, “It doesn’t come in a bottle”. Later in the film, Police Chief Murphy threatens to shut down a local newspaper if there are any reports of Fennel Street’s residents being forced to leave their homes before Christmas. Joseph, the newspaper’s editor, tells Murphy, “Why don’t you crawl back in my father’s pocket where you belong”? Murphy spats out his response to Joseph when he says, “Cause I’m too big”. Because of how clever these responses were, it made these interactions (and the scenes themselves) memorable.

Like I just mentioned in this review, Police Chief Murphy threatens to shut down a local newspaper if there are any reports of Fennel Street’s residents being forced to leave their homes before Christmas. Joseph wants to report this injustice in order to save the homes of Fennel Street’s residents. One tactic is placing Molly’s picture on the newspaper’s front page to draw empathy for the intended cause. But the movie’s viewers don’t know if this tactic worked. That’s because the viewers never see the newspaper with Molly’s picture on the front page in circulation. This is an example of telling instead of showing. It’s also an example of how the movie prioritizes the stories of the grown-up characters despite The Little Match Girl being the movie’s title.

5. As I mentioned in my review of 1974’s Mame, there were two Christmas episodes of The Golden Girls; ‘ ‘Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas’ and ‘Have Yourself a Very Little Christmas’. If the show had created more Christmas episodes, what type of story would you have proposed?

In The Golden Girls’ sixteenth episode from the fourth season, ‘Two Rode Together’, Dorothy and Sophia take a trip to Walt Disney World. This creative decision was part of a trend where various sitcoms would set aside a special episode showing their characters taking a Walt Disney World trip. Based on what I recall, I don’t think any of these episodes take place around Christmastime. So, I would propose an episode of The Golden Girls where the “golden girls” spend Christmas in Orlando. Walt Disney World at Christmastime has been known for its beautiful decorations. Plus, I can think of hilarious antics that could be written into a story like this. Since three of Walt Disney World’s parks were open during the lifespan of The Golden Girls, there are a variety of attractions that could be featured in the episode.

Adorable Santa image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/christmas-background-with-funny-santa_1324597.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

6. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

For this part of my review, I will spoil The Little Match Girl. If you have not seen this movie and are planning on watching it, skip ahead to question number seven.

Whenever Molly uses one of her matches, the flame sparkles. A snow angel she makes toward the beginning of the movie sparkles as well. In one scene, Molly explains to Joseph’s son, Jamie, that angels ride on shooting stars directly from Heaven if anyone in the world is in trouble. When Molly is discovered missing by Jamie’s grandpa, Haywood, it’s implied Molly was an angel the entire time. While this was an interesting plot twist, it’s a creative decision that left me with more questions than the movie was willing to provide answers for. Did Molly pass away prior to the events of The Little Match Girl or was she an angel that always existed in Heaven, similar to the angels from Touched by An Angel? How long has Molly been an angel? Has anyone known about Molly’s angel identity? The more I think about this plot twist, I more I believe there’s important lore missing from the script.

7. Throughout The Golden Girls, cheesecake became an iconic staple of the show. What would you say is the iconic staple of The Little Match Girl?

You would think I’d choose Molly’s matches, as the 1987 film is titled The Little Match Girl. But I’m selecting a candle instead. The residents of Fennel Street organize a protest at the Dutton family house, in an effort to save their homes. During the protest, they carry candles, with one of the protesters’ candles being lit by Molly herself. Toward the end of The Little Match Girl, Molly lights the candles of an angel themed Christmas decoration. But beyond the movie itself, candles are sometimes associated with Christmas décor; from candles in windows to candles placed on Christmas trees. Light is also a major theme of the Christmas holiday, such as the season of Advent and the Nativity Star. I’d even say light is a major theme of The Little Match Girl.

8. The Little Match Girl is a made-for-TV film. How does this movie compare to other Christmas television movies you’ve seen and even reviewed?

Looking back on the Christmas television films I’ve seen and reviewed, some of those titles featured at least one younger protagonist. But if I had to compare The Little Match Girl to another made-for-TV movie I’ve covered, it would have to be the 1999 film, If You Believe. Both stories possess a younger protagonist whose actions significantly impact the life of at least one of the story’s key characters. If You Believe and The Little Match Girl contain a sense of magical realism. These movies share the flaw of telling instead of showing as well.

9. The Little Match Girl was released on December 21st, 1987 (within the third season of The Golden Girls). Do you think the show had any impact on the movie?

In my review of Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, I speculated why the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection may not have cast any of the “golden girls” (Rue, Bea, Estelle, and Betty) in their movies during The Golden Girls’ lifespan. One of those speculated reasons was how Hallmark Hall of Fame and The Golden Girls were broadcast on separate networks. According to IMDB, 1987’s The Little Match Girl was not only produced by NBC Productions, it was also distributed by National Broadcasting Company (NBC). As I mentioned in my Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine review, The Golden Girls aired on NBC. With that said, I don’t believe it was a coincidence for The Little Match Girl’s creative team to consider casting Rue in their movie.

10. After watching The Little Match Girl, is there anything you can take away from your movie-viewing experience?

Like I said in answer number one, I have covered my fair share of Christmas movies throughout my eight-year blogging journey, especially those of the made-for-TV variety. When it comes to 1987’s The Little Match Girl, I found the movie fine and serviceable. While there were strengths within the film, such as the acting performances and the cleverly written dialogue, the movie’s flaws held it back from being a stronger presentation. Despite the movie’s title being The Little Match Girl, the script prioritizes the stories of the grown-up characters. This creative decision kind of makes the title seem misleading, as I expected the story to focus more on the titular little match girl, Molly. Even though the plot twist was interesting, it left behind more questions than the movie was willing to provide answers for. In my opinion, it feels like important lore may have been omitted from the script. Reflecting on The Little Match Girl, as well as other Christmas films I’ve seen and reviewed, I can think of titles that are stronger than the 1987 picture. However, I can also think of movies that are weaker than The Little Match Girl.

The Golden Double Double Feature banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original image created by Touchstone Television, Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions, 20th Television, and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Thank you for being a friend!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Sailor Moon Comes to Hollywood for Universal Studios’ Fan Fest Nights

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This spring, Sailor Moon will be doing more than just fighting evil by moonlight and winning love by daylight. She’s making her debut at Fan Fest Nights from Universal Studios Hollywood! The California event that “focuses on adventure, fantasy, and sci-fi” will feature “a subtitled version” of Sailor Moon’s “Japanese language CG anime short film” that first premiered during the Cool Japan event at Universal Studios Japan. According to Universal Studios Hollywood’s website, themed dining and merchandise based on Sailor Moon will be offered at Fan Fest Nights as well. Stephen Siercks, who is Universal Studios Hollywood’s Senior Director of Entertainment Production, explained the decision to incorporate Sailor Moon into the park’s second year event, saying “Sailor Moon is such a multi-generational fan favorite anime brand, that it made natural sense”. He also said it “has been really exciting” to see “the support and the energy” for Sailor Moon’s inclusion “since its announcement”. Fan Fest Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood is currently running until May 16th.

Since this Word on the Street story is about Sailor Moon, I thought including a picture of these VHS tapes was appropriate. Screenshots taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

As I already mentioned in this article, the Sailor Moon short film featured during Fan Fest Nights first premiered during Universal Studios Japan’s Cool Japan event. Now, Sailor Moon is making her first appearance at one of Universal Studios’ American parks. With that said, it makes me wonder if Universal Studios is considering creating a theatrically released Sailor Moon movie, similar to when Warner Bros. released their billion-dollar grossing Barbie movie? On paper, it seems like an idea that could work for Universal Studios. Like Stephen Siercks said, Sailor Moon is “a multi-generational fan favorite anime brand”. Plus, Sailor Moon is not only a very marketable IP (intellectual property), there’s also international appeal. However, as of the publication of this Word on the Street story, Universal Studios’ plans for the Sailor Moon IP have primarily been related to the California park’s Fan Fest Nights event. If Sailor Moon’s reception at Universal Studios Hollywood is positive, I wonder if she’ll, someday, come to Universal Orlando Resort?

What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Would you like to see Universal Studios create a theatrically released Sailor Moon movie? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

References:

https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/hhn/en/us/things-to-do/entertainment/ffn-sailor-moon

https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/new-events-universal-studios-hollywood-fan-fest-nights-2026

Need to Know: A Guide to Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood

Take 3: Witness for the Prosecution (1957) Review

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April’s theme for the Genre Grandeur blogathon is “Courtroom Dramas”. Upon researching eligible titles for this review, I came across one I have heard of before. That title was 1957’s Witness for the Prosecution! Though this adaptation was recommended to me by Emily (from The Flapper Dame) and Eric Binford (from Diary of a Movie Maniac), it’s not the first time I’ve seen (and reviewed) any Witness for the Prosecution adaptation. Back in 2022, I wrote about 1982’s version from the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. In that review, I criticized Wilfred (the film’s protagonist) spending more time on the story’s court case than the mystery wrapped around it. I believed that creative decision decreased the audience’s engagement. This is one of the reasons why I thought Hallmark Hall of Fame’s adaptation of Witness for the Prosecution was just ok. But will I feel similarly about the 1957 version of this story? In order to solve this mystery, you’ll have to read my review!

Witness for the Prosecution (1957) poster created by Edward Small Productions and United Artists

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: When I wrote about the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of Witness for the Prosecution, I praised the acting performances of Diana Rigg, Deborah Kerr, and Beau Bridges. Not only did Beau and Deborah utilize a variety of expressions and emotions, Diana’s portrayal of Christine was consistent. The acting performances in the 1957 adaptation of Witness for the Prosecution were also a highlight! But if I could use one word to describe them, it would be “animated”. Throughout 1957’s Witness for the Prosecution, Wilfrid (the movie’s protagonist) is a grumpy man who stubbornly likes to do things his way. However, the strength of Charles Laughton’s portrayal prevented Wilfrid from becoming a one-dimensional character. In a scene where Wilfrid rides on an elevating stair chair, Wilfrid smiles with a sneaky look in his eyes, scheming a way to foil Miss Plimsoll’s plans. Meanwhile, Tyrone Power gave a very well-rounded portrayal of Leonard Vole! One of the best examples of this statement is when Leonard finds out about his inheritance from the murder victim, Emily Jane French. Leonard’s eyes become very wide as he excitedly reacts to his new-found wealth. This excitement can also be heard in his voice. Then, without hesitation, Leonard’s face falls as he realizes this recently discovered information gives him a motive for murder. Concern replaced excitement in Leonard’s voice and fear even found a reason to exist in his eyes.

As I just mentioned in this review, Diana Rigg’s portrayal of Christine in Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Witness for the Prosecution was consistent. This was also the case for Marlene Dietrich’s portrayal of Christine in 1957’s Witness for the Prosecution. But like I said in this review, the cast’s performances in the 1957 movie were “animated”. That animation was woven into Marlene’s portrayal as well. Throughout Witness for the Prosecution, Christine carried herself with a poised confidence, refusing to let anything get to her. A perfect example is when she outsmarted Wilfrid’s “monocle test”. During Leonard’s trial, however, Christine’s emotions burst into the courtroom. Sometimes, she yelled out her answers with an intensely serious look on her face. There was even a scene where tears spilled from her eyes. Marlene’s performance added enjoyment to my movie-viewing experience!

The set design: One of the strengths from 1982’s Witness for the Prosecution was the set design. In my review of that film, I described the court room as well as Wilfred’s office, with the latter being my favorite set in the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. But in the 1957 version of Witness for the Prosecution, my favorite set was Emily Jane French’s living room! The room consisted of two closely situated spaces; a sitting area by a large window and a sitting area by a fireplace. The sitting area by the window featured at least one wicker chair, a hanging plant, and a magazine rack. Meanwhile, the sitting area by the fireplace proudly displayed African artifacts on the walls. The white walls surrounding the living room and the décor’s lighter hues helped the artifacts stand out. Mosaic tiles with a flower design added daintiness to the fireplace itself. Two matching wicker cabinets and a transparent shelf provided storage to the living room. The lower ceiling in the living room helped incorporate a sense of coziness. With everything I described, I wish Emily’s living room was featured more in 1957’s Witness for the Prosecution.

Showing as well as telling: A flaw I talked about in my review for Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Witness for the Prosecution was how dialogue heavy the story was. The emphasis of telling over showing left me disappointed. But this flaw was remedied in Witness for the Prosecution from 1957! Flashbacks presented how Leonard met Emily and Christine, which added context to the dialogue. Later in 1957’s Witness for the Prosecution, Wilfrid discovers evidence that could impact Leonard’s case. This discovery is actually shown on screen, with the mystery surrounding who gave Wilfrid the evidence and where that person got the evidence from providing intrigue. A handful of Wilfrid’s pills cleverly show the progression of time during Leonard’s case. Though the 1957 version of Witness for the Prosecution relies on dialogue, the creative decision to show and tell made the movie more engaging than Hallmark Hall of Fame’s adaptation!

Sketch of London image created by Archjoe at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-houses-of-parliament_1133950.htm’>Designed by Archjoe</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Archjoe – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Prolonged involvement: In my review of Hallmark Hall of Fame’s adaptation of Witness for the Prosecution, I was critical of Wilfred’s inactive detective role. The 1982 film placed more emphasis on showing Wilfred resolving Leonard’s case than solving the mystery surrounding the case. Witness for the Prosecution from 1957 still places emphasis on showing Wilfrid resolving Leonard’s case. But this time, he doesn’t officially get involved in Leonard’s case until about forty minutes into the hour and fifty-six-minute film. I understand any mystery movie, let alone a courtroom drama, requires build-up. However, in my opinion, the build-up in 1957’s Witness for the Prosecution lasted too long.

An underutilized character: Before Wilfrid officially becomes Leonard’s solicitor, Leonard meets Wilfrid with his solicitor, Mr. Mayhew. If Mr. Mayhew hadn’t given Wilfrid the information about Leonard’s case, Wilfrid would have never known about Leonard’s case. But after Wilfrid becomes Leonard’s solicitor, Mr. Mayhew disappears from the story. I was disappointed by his underutilization because he could have, somehow, continued contributing to Leonard’s case. This underutilization also does a disservice to the actor who portrayed Mr. Mayhew, Henry Daniell.

A predictable detail: Leonard is questioned about Christine when he first meets Wilfrid. During this questioning, Leonard shares an important detail about her that affects the movie’s later events. But as soon as Leonard brought this detail up, I knew how it would impact the story’s outcome. In fact, I saw a plot twist coming because that aforementioned detail about Christine was revealed earlier in the movie. Due to how soon Wilfrid (and the audience) found out about Christine’s detail, it kind of made the movie’s ending predictable.

Courtroom image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/isometric”>Isometric vector created by macrovector – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

In the introduction of this review, I asked if I’d feel similarly about 1957’s Witness for the Prosecution as I did Hallmark Hall of Fame’s version of the story. Now that I’ve seen (and reviewed) both adaptations, I can honestly say I like the 1957 film over the one from 1982! One improvement was the creative decision to show as well as tell, which added intrigue and engagement to the movie. It also helps how the purpose of Wilfrid’s “magical monocle” was brought up in the dialogue. Witness for the Prosecution from 1957 shares some of the same strengths as the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, such as the acting performances and the set design. However, the 1957 version of the story has its flaws. Because of how soon a detail about Christine was revealed, it kind of made the film’s ending predictable. I not only wasn’t a fan of how underutilized Mr. Mayhew became, I also didn’t like how Wilfrid got involved in Leonard’s case about forty minutes into the hour and fifty-six-minute movie. I’m glad I was recommended the 1957 production of Witness for the Prosecution! It gave me another chance to witness a different approach to one of Agatha Christie’s stories.

Overall score: 7.3-7.4 out of 10

Have you seen 1957’s Witness for the Prosecution? Are there any adaptations of Agatha Christie’s work you’d like to see me review? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Mame (1974) Review (Golden Double Double Feature Part 3)

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Thanks for joining me for the third part of my Golden Double Double Feature! My review of 1974’s Mame is spoiler-free. If you’d like to learn more about why I chose this year’s double feature theme, you can check out the introduction in the link below.

Announcing The Golden Double Double Feature!

Mame (1974) poster created by Warner Bros. and American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

1. Out of the movies from Bea Arthur’s filmography, why did you select Mame?

Similar to what I said about my decision to review Mask, I had no idea Bea starred in Mame until I saw the movie listed on her IMDB filmography. While I have heard of Mame prior to selecting it for the Golden Double Double Feature, I had never seen the film. But as I researched Mame before publishing this review, I learned the movie’s reception was mostly negative. Even though I watch every film I write about with an open mind, including Mame, the aforementioned reception led me to approach Mame with low expectations.

2. In Mame, Bea portrays Vera Charles. How is Vera Charles similar or different from Dorothy?

If I could choose one word to describe Dorothy Zbornak, it would be “honest”. In fact, her brutal honesty helps her achieve distinctiveness on The Golden Girls. I remember one scene on the show when Rose asks Dorothy if she can ask her a question. Dorothy matter-of-factly responded to Rose by saying, “Better than anyone I know”. Bea’s character in Mame, Vera Charles, shares this brutal honesty with Dorothy. The musical number, “Bosom Buddies”, perfectly highlights this characteristic. But there is a major difference between Dorothy and Vera. Because Vera is a stage actress, her personality is more dramatic. Meanwhile, Dorothy carries herself with a “tell it like it is” attitude. Though some viewers could perceive this type of attitude as rude, it has become appreciated not just by the other characters on The Golden Girls, but by the show’s fans as well.

3. According to Wikipedia, Mame was the Easter attraction at Radio City Music Hall. Yet, on The Golden Girls, it doesn’t seem like there was an Easter themed episode. Why do you think The Golden Girls didn’t capitalize on the Easter holiday?

Radio City Music Hall choosing Mame as their Easter attraction is a surprising decision. This is because, according to Wikipedia, Disney’s adaptation of Alice in Wonderland (a movie with more family-friendly appeal and a rabbit as one of the main characters) was re-released in March of 1974. To answer question number three, I believe the creative team behind The Golden Girls just never found an Easter themed story that was worth telling on the show. This belief is similar to my answer for the fifth question of my Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine review, where I speculate why The Golden Girls never received a television film.

4. Was there anything about Mame you liked or didn’t like?

As I said in answer number two, Vera was a brutally honest woman with a dramatic personality. These qualities, along with a drier sense of humor, allowed Vera to add some comic relief to Mame. One of the film’s funniest scenes is when Vera wakes up in Mame’s bathtub after Mame throws an extravagant party the previous evening. To help Vera become more awake, Mame turns on the shower. Vera just stands in the middle of the bathtub, providing no reaction to the shower’s water. I found that lack of reaction hilarious because I wasn’t expecting Vera to just stand in the middle of the bathtub and simply appear irritated due to the interruption caused by the shower’s water. In my opinion, Bea’s portrayal of Vera stole the show!

According to IMDB, Mame has a run-time of two hours and twelve minutes. This run-time could be felt, especially after Mame’s nephew, Patrick, grows up. The second half of Mame was drawn-out, which caused the film’s pace to slow down. In fact, the overall pace of Mame was inconsistent because of how drawn-out the second half was. Had the movie been trimmed to about an hour and forty minutes, Mame’s pace could have been a bit faster.

5. Mame is an adaptation of its respective Broadway musical. Several musical moments were featured on The Golden Girls, from the song about Miami I mentioned in my Mask review to “The Sky Is Falling” number from the episode, ‘Henny Penny – Straight, No Chaser’. What Broadway musical do you wish had been referenced on the show?

Like I said in my third answer of my Mask review, the overarching story of The Golden Girls is grounded in reality, meaning the situations depicted on the show seem realistic, more often than not. Though I haven’t seen any performances of Cats, I have heard it’s a musical that prioritizes performance and presentation over the story, forcing the audience to suspend a lot of their disbelief. I’m not sure if Cats was ever referenced on The Golden Girls. But if it wasn’t, I wonder how a show like The Golden Girls would have incorporated a musical like Cats into the story?

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6. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

If you look at Mame’s poster, you’ll notice the bright colors sprinkled across the plain white background. This poster is such a good representation of the movie because Mame is a colorful film! The set and costume design adopts bold hues that nicely burst on screen. A great example presents itself during the musical number, “Mame”. All the men in that number, including Mame’s love interest, Beau, wear red riding jackets. Meanwhile, all the women, especially Mame, wear black riding jackets. These two colors effectively contrasted against the green foliage of the Burnside family plantation. While we’re still on the subject of the musical number, “Mame”, I want to talk about the choreography. As I just mentioned, the “Mame” number takes place at the Burnside family plantation. This sprawling space provided plenty of opportunities to showcase impressive dance sequences. Multiple groups of three men each leaped over hedges lining a walkway. These leaps felt reminiscent of horses jumping, which makes sense because, prior to the number, the characters participated in a fox hunt. Later in the number, both men and women leaped around a circular fountain. This creative choice was a simple yet visually appealing way of utilizing the landscape Mame’s creative team had at their disposal.

7. Throughout The Golden Girls, cheesecake became an iconic staple of the show. What would you say is the iconic staple of Mame?

Similar to when I reviewed Mask, there are several good answers I could choose for this question. Since I can pick only one “iconic staple” for Mame, though, I’ll select Vera’s telescope. In Mame, Vera portrays an astronomer in one of her plays. During the musical number, “The Man in the Moon”, Vera carries a beautiful telescope prop covered in gold glitter and pearls. Telescopes are typically associated with exploring, especially when it comes to space. This particular tool can help people see places and objects clearer, as well as discovering new possibilities. Mame’s musical number, “Open a New Window”, stresses one of the film’s major themes of opening your heart and mind to new opportunities, possibilities, and experiences in order to make life more fulfilling. What I said about the telescope perfectly correlates with this major theme from Mame!

8. Christmas plays a role in Mame, as “We Need a Little Christmas” is one of the movie’s musical numbers. Meanwhile, there are two Christmas episodes of The Golden Girls; ‘‘Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas’ and ‘Have Yourself a Very Little Christmas’. When it comes to Christmas stories, do the aforementioned episodes and Mame share any similarities?

Based on the “We Need a Little Christmas” musical number from Mame, as well as the synopsis for both Christmas episodes of The Golden Girls, I’d say a major similarity is how the events of each story affect a small group of characters to varying degrees. Though it’s a week before Thanksgiving, according to Patrick, Mame makes the decision to celebrate Christmas early. Because she, as well as the other characters in Mame, have been impacted by the Great Depression, she attempts to create joy during a time of hopelessness. Meanwhile, the “golden girls” not only discover Stan’s situation while volunteering at a soup kitchen together, they are also held hostage together by “Santa Claus”. Each Christmas episode of The Golden Girls emphasizes the characters working together to deal with the events affecting them.

9. Mame was released in 1974 (11 years before The Golden Girls premiered). Was there any element from the movie you think could have impacted the show?

I already brought up in this review how the musical number, “Bosom Buddies”, perfectly highlights Vera’s brutal honesty. However, this musical number also highlights how Mame can be brutally honest. The purpose of “Bosom Buddies” is to stress how, despite the brutal honesty among Mame and Vera, their friendship remains valued by each woman. As I was watching this musical number, I was reminded of the friendship between Sophia, Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose on The Golden Girls. There have been times where, at least, one of these women has been so honest, it catches the others off-guard. But, at the end of the day (or by the end of an episode), the friendship among the “golden girls” is cherished, even over a serving of cheesecake. So, to answer this question, I’d say the honest friendship in Mame could have impacted the friendship on The Golden Girls.

10. After watching Mame, is there anything you can take away from your movie-viewing experience?

When I answered question number one in this review, I brought up how I learned Mame’s reception was mostly negative. On IMDB, the film received a score of 5.9. Personally, I think the negativity toward Mame is a bit harsh. Yes, the movie has its flaws, such as its two hour and twelve-minute run-time. But, in my opinion, Mame is fine and entertaining-enough. The set and costume design clearly showed the film’s creative team had a strong vision and consistently stuck with it. The choreography was executed well, especially during the musical number, “Mame”. Bea’s portrayal of Vera was such a highlight, I wish she was featured in the movie more. Vera’s brutal honesty, dramatic personality, and drier sense of humor helped her steal the show! I’m honestly glad I approached Mame with low expectations. Those expectations were surpassed, allowing me to enjoy this film.

The Golden Double Double Feature banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original image created by Touchstone Television, Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions, 20th Television, and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Thank you for being a friend!

Sally Silverscreen

Comparing with the Critics – Worst of 1980 – When Time Ran Out…

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This review is from my series, Comparing with the Critics. If you’d like to learn more about the series, click on the link below.

Introducing my new series, Comparing with the Critics!

My first review for my Comparing with the Critics series was the 1976 picture, Network. Not only is this one of William Holden’s films, I reviewed Network for the 6th Golden Boy Blogathon: A William Holden Celebration. Two years later, I’m doing it again; participating in the 7th Golden Boy Blogathon: A William Holden Celebration and selecting one of William’s movies for my Comparing with the Critics series. As the title states, that film is 1980’s When Time Ran Out…. I had heard of this movie because it was featured in Sneak Previews’ ‘The Worst Movies of 1980’ episode. In this episode, the overarching theme, according to Gene Siskel, was examining “some of the year’s lousiest films in terms of what they reveal about what’s wrong with the American film industry”. When it came to When Time Ran Out…, the problem was “some producers, Irwin Allen being one of them, who have a very low opinion of the audience. They think they can fool the audience and rope them into the same story over and over again”. I will admit I don’t watch as many “disaster” movies as Gene and Roger Ebert did when they were hosting their show. But based on the “disaster” films I’ve seen (and even reviewed), I don’t believe When Time Ran Out… should be considered one of the worst movies of 1980.

When Time Ran Out… poster created by International Cinema and Warner Bros.

A Lifetime movie I remember liking is 2009’s The Christmas Hope. Though it’s been years since I’ve seen the film, I do recall the interconnectivity between the characters, with each connection becoming more intriguing as the story went on. Interconnectivity between characters is an aspect from When Time Ran Out… I liked. When the story starts, the cast of characters are introduced living their own lives and dealing with their own situations. William Holden portrays Shelby Gilmore, a man who owns multiple hotels, including the Kalaleu Gilmore. Paul Newman also stars in When Time Ran Out… as Hank Anderson, whose work on oil rigs leads him to suspect a local volcano may erupt. Hank’s story connects with Shelby’s story because Hank warns Shelby, as well as Shelby’s business partner, Bob Spangler, about the volcano’s potential eruption. Each character’s connection, along with the cast’s on-screen chemistry, kept me invested in the movie while waiting for the eruption of the volcano. I was not only interested in how each character’s path crossed, but also how the volcano and its aftermath would affect the characters.

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Gene claims the problem with When Time Ran Out… is how “some producers” “think they can fool the audience and rope them into the same story over and over again”. As I admitted in this review’s introduction, I don’t watch as many “disaster” movies as Gene and Roger Ebert did when they were hosting their show. However, based on my experience watching When Time Ran Out…, I noticed how the story prioritized the characters’ reactions to the disaster instead of the spectacle of the disaster itself. While the erupting volcano is shown on screen, it isn’t sensationalized like one might expect from a “disaster” movie. The decision to prioritize characters’ reactions shows viewers how natural disasters can indeed have consequences. Some characters get hurt and even die, stressing how no one is invincible while nature has a mind of its own. The threat of a volcanic eruption alone can impact multiple industries, ranging from hospitability, natural resources, and scientific. When the story of When Time Ran Out… progressed, various responses to the eruption were on display. One example is how some of Kalaleu Gilmore’s guests are so desperate to leave the island, they board a helicopter and try to fly it themselves. Everything I just said made this “disaster” picture feel realistic.

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During the segment about When Time Ran Out… in Sneak Previews’ ‘The Worst Movies of 1980’ episode, Roger says “the whole movie is made out of basic scenes we’ve seen dozens of times before”. Meanwhile, Gene criticizes the repetitive nature of When Time Ran Out…’s script as “cruel manipulation”, elaborating by saying “when the audience walks into a film like this and they see that there’s nothing there but that same old formula, I think they feel burned, I think they feel bad about movies in general.” While I agree with Gene and Roger that When Time Ran Out… possesses flaws, I disagree about the types of flaws the movie contains. I understand witnessing the connectivity between characters gave the script build-up to the inevitable volcanic eruption. However, the eruption itself took place at about the film’s halfway point, forcing the audience to wait half the movie for the eruption to happen. This creative decision also caused some of the characters’ resolutions to be wrapped up a little too conveniently for the sake of the run-time. I wish some more of the characters’ reactions to the eruption’s aftermath had been included in the script.

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In When Time Ran Out…, Shelby talks to Bob about “son of a famous father syndrome”, sharing how he always felt like he was under his father’s thumb. When his father passed away, Shelby says he felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. But when he found success, he believed it was hollow because his father wasn’t there to witness his success. Bob disagrees with Shelby’s view of success, saying how sweet success is. I find this discussion between Shelby and Bob ironic, as it takes place in a film Roger claimed was “a major box office flop”. When it comes to When Time Ran Out… itself, I found the film fine, intriguing, and interesting-enough. Due to the connections between the characters, I was invested in how they responded to the eruption and its aftermath. I also appreciate the creative team’s decision to adopt a more realistic approach to the eruption. That creative choice provides a strong reminder how unpredictable nature can sometimes be. Yes, When Time Ran Out… has its flaws. But because I don’t consistently watch “disaster” films, I didn’t pick up on the repetitiveness Roger and Gene did. Similar to when I reviewed Network, the 1980 picture is one I disagree with Gene and Roger on.

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Take 3: Mask (1985) Review (Golden Double Double Feature Part 2)

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Thanks for joining me for the second part of my Golden Double Double Feature! My review of 1985’s Mask is spoiler-free. If you’d like to learn more about why I chose this year’s double feature theme, you can check out the introduction in the link below.

Announcing The Golden Double Double Feature!

Mask (1985) poster created by Universal Pictures

1. Out of the movies from Estelle Getty’s filmography, why did you select Mask?

I had no idea Estelle had starred in Mask until I saw the movie listed on her IMDB filmography. Prior to selecting it for the Golden Double Double Feature, I had heard good things about the movie. In fact, I learned about Rocky’s story as I researched the film before this review. By choosing it for this year’s double feature, I found the perfect excuse to finally check Mask out!

2. In Mask, Estelle portrays Evelyn Steinberg. How is Evelyn Steinberg similar or different from Sophia?

In Mask, Estelle portrayed Evelyn Steinberg. Evelyn is not only Rocky’s grandmother, but also the mother of Rusty (Rocky’s mom). While Evelyn is the mother of a main character like Sophia on The Golden Girls, she isn’t as outspoken or a storyteller like Sophia. Instead, Evelyn tries to keep the peace within her family and doesn’t get involved in family conflicts. She ended up receiving less screen-time in Mask than Sophia did on a typical episode of The Golden Girls.

3. Mask is based on the real-life story of Roy L. “Rocky” Dennis. Can you think of a time on The Golden Girls when real-life stories, themes, or ideas were woven into the script?

Though The Golden Girls is classified as a sit-com, the overarching story is grounded in reality, meaning the situations depicted on the show seem realistic, more often than not. One classic example is the sixth episode from the third season, ‘Letter to Gorbachev’. Because the episode aired on Halloween in 1987, that could have given The Golden Girls’ creative team an excuse to make a Halloween-themed episode. Instead, the creative team crafted a story where Rose writes a letter to both President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev sharing her thoughts on nuclear war. Because nuclear war, as well as The Cold War, were two of the most discussed issues during the 1980s, fans of The Golden Girls were probably comforted by one of their favorite characters being just as concerned as they were about these real-life subjects. Rose’s decision to write the aforementioned letters also shows viewers how anyone, no matter their age, can make a difference.

4. Was there anything about Mask you liked or didn’t like?

I said in the past how I typically don’t gravitate toward “slice of life” stories. In my opinion, these types of stories are not as intriguing as other story types. But the “slice of life” approach to storytelling worked in Mask’s favor. It presented Rocky’s story as a glimpse into his life instead of the chronological presentation most biopics adopt. This creative decision brought something different to the biopic genre. What also worked in Mask’s favor was the strength of the acting performances. Each cast member, from Cher’s portrayal of Rusty or Eric Stoltz’s portrayal of Rocky, put genuine emotion behind their performance, finding the heart of the people they’re portraying and bringing the humanity to their names. That genuineness made me feel like I was watching people living their lives instead of actors portraying another person.

As I said in answer number two, Evelyn ended up receiving less screen-time in Mask than Sophia did on a typical episode of The Golden Girls. I was disappointed by her limited amount of screen-time, as Estelle is one of the reasons why I chose to watch Mask. According to Wikipedia, Evelyn “tries to mediate the tension between her husband and her daughter”. This statement made me believe she’d play a bigger role in the story. But as I already mentioned, Evelyn received a limited amount of screen-time. Her limited involvement in the story disappointed me as well.

5. Looking back on 1985’s box office, several movies, including Mask, feature younger protagonists (children, teenagers, young adults). Yet younger characters don’t often appear on The Golden Girls. If a younger character had been included within one of the show’s scripts, what kind of story would you have pitched?

One of the sweetest moments in Mask is when Rusty, her boyfriend, Gar, and their motorcycle friends help Rocky in his time of need. Rocky is worried about not having the appropriate attire for his upcoming junior high graduation. After hearing Rocky’s concern over what to wear, Gar tells Rocky to get him a beer from the refrigerator. When Rocky opens the refrigerator, he finds a brand-new suit his mom, Gar, and the rest of the motorcycle friends pitched in to pay for. Inspired by this moment, I would have advocated for a story on The Golden Girls where Dorothy helps one of her students attend either their graduation or prom by funding one of their expenses, whether it’s attire, a ticket, or a ride to the event. Blanche, Rose, and Sophia could also help Dorothy in her effort to assist her student.

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6. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

Rocky volunteers at a summer camp for blind and visually impaired youth called Camp Bloomfield. While there, he falls in love with a camper named Diana. They attend a New Year’s Eve themed camp party, which was officially called ‘New Year’s Eve in July’. While I’m familiar with the concept of ‘Christmas in July’, I’ve never heard of ‘New Year’s Eve in July’ before. This makes me wonder why the concept of ‘New Year’s Eve in July’ didn’t catch on in pop culture, let alone entertainment media?

7. Throughout The Golden Girls, cheesecake became an iconic staple of the show. What would you say is the iconic staple of Mask?

There are several good answers I could choose for this question. But, if I can select only one “iconic staple” for Mask, it would have to be Rocky’s map of Europe. Throughout the film, Rocky dreams about taking a motorcycle trip across Europe with his friend, Ben. He even places pins on the map to keep track of which cities he’d like to visit. Rocky’s map of Europe is a perfect visual representation of why dreams are important. However, the map is also a good representation of a lesson Rocky learned from one of Rusty’s motorcycle friends, Red. Rocky shares with Rusty how Red said a person’s spirit is everywhere after they pass away. This lesson, along with the map, show just how powerful the human spirit can be, even long after a person’s death.

8. The Golden Girls takes place in Miami, Florida. This location has been referenced throughout the show, from mentions within the dialogue to an entire song about the city. Does the setting in Mask impact the film’s story like Miami impacted The Golden Girls? If so, how?

Mask not only takes place in California, it was also filmed there. But this location doesn’t impact the story like Miami impacted The Golden Girls. That is because the script prioritized the connections Rocky had with the people in his life. This creative decision was reminiscent of home being more about who you share it with.

9. Mask was released on March 22nd, 1985 (six months before The Golden Girls premiered). Was there any element from the movie you think could have impacted the show?

Throughout Mask, Rocky is concerned about Rusty’s addiction to drugs. He not only places pamphlets about the subject in his home, he also directly confronts his mom about her addiction. The topic of drug addiction was woven into Mask in an honest way, realistically showing viewers how it can affect the person with the addiction as well as their family. As I mentioned in this review, the overarching story of The Golden Girls is grounded in reality, with several episodes incorporating real-life topics into the script. One example is the eighth episode from the first season, ‘Break In’. In this episode, Rose is shaken after a burglary takes place in the home she shares with Dorothy, Blanche, and Sophia. It not only gets to the point where Rose’s sleep schedule is impacted, the other “golden girls” (Blanche, Sophia, and Dorothy) encourage Rose to seek counselling. To answer question number nine, I believe Mask showed the creative team behind The Golden Girls how to honestly address real-life topics in their stories.

10. After watching Mask, is there anything you can take away from your movie-viewing experience?

Mask perfectly embodies the quote, “Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind”. The genuineness of the acting performances helped contribute to this embodiment, showing each actor’s and actress’s portrayal as someone realistically living their life. What also contributed to this embodiment was how Rocky’s story was told. Instead of adopting a chronological presentation, the creative team behind Mask chose the “slice of life” route, giving viewers a glimpse into Rocky’s life. Like I said in answer number one, I had heard good things about the movie. Now that I’ve seen Mask, I can honestly say this praise is warranted! In fact, I’d say this is one of the best biopics I’ve ever seen. Watching this movie reminded me of Amadeus, as both biopics brought something different to the genre’s table.

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Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine Review (Golden Double Double Feature Part 1)

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Thanks for joining me for the first part of my Golden Double Double Feature! The majority of my review of Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine is spoiler-free. If you’d like to learn more about why I chose this year’s double feature theme, you can check out the introduction in the link below.

Announcing The Golden Double Double Feature!

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Ridini Entertainment, and CBS

1. Out of the movies from Betty White’s filmography, why did you select Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine?

When I created my Hallmark Hall of Fame tier rank list in 2020, I not only placed The Lost Valentine in the “Get It On Sale for Half Off” (a.k.a. Good) tier, I also recommended the film because of the use of flashbacks and recognition of Valentine’s Day. But it’s been over eight years since I’ve seen The Lost Valentine. While selecting the 2011 Hallmark Hall of Fame picture for this review, I didn’t know if my opinion on the film would remain the same as it was years ago. On my Year-Long Bingo Card, three of the bingo squares are “Review at least 2 Hallmark Hall of Fame films”, “Revisit a movie you haven’t seen in over 5 years”, and “Review a holiday themed movie that isn’t Christmas”. So, when I saw The Lost Valentine on Betty’s filmography, I remembered liking the movie, as well as how the movie would complete those aforementioned bingo squares.

2. In Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, Betty portrays Caroline Thomas. How is Caroline Thomas similar or different from Rose?

On The Golden Girls, Rose Nylund is known for her innocence and naivete. These qualities add charm to Rose’s character, as well as provide some of the show’s comedic moments. Betty’s character in The Lost Valentine, Caroline Thomas, lacks Rose’s naivete for two reasons. Caroline’s experiences during World War II and even afterwards give her an awareness of how unpredictable life can truly be. Her lack of naivete also makes sense with the story itself, as The Lost Valentine is a serious drama grounded in reality.

3. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine is based on a book by James Michael Pratt. What book adaptation would you have liked to see Betty star in?

    For 2024’s Eurovisionathon readathon, I read The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald. From what I remember of the book, I could picture Betty portraying a character from that story. Katarina crafted characters that sounded and felt distinct from one another. Plus, the small-town setting seemed Hallmark-esque, creating a sense of community through dramatic and comedic character interactions. The “golden girls” have distinct personalities on The Golden Girls, allowing each character to be unique. Even though the show is classified as a sit-com, there were emotional, serious moments woven into episodes. With all that said, I think a story like The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend would have complimented Betty’s acting talents, as The Lost Valentine perfectly showcased her comedic and dramatic timing.

    4. Was there anything about Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine you liked or didn’t like?

    As I mentioned in answer number one, I recommended The Lost Valentine because of the use of flashbacks. These flashbacks added context to the events presented on screen, especially when it came to Caroline’s part of the story. Meghann Fahy portrayed Caroline’s younger self while Billy Magnussen portrayed Caroline’s husband, Neil. Both Meghann’s and Billy’s acting performance was strong. But together, their on-screen chemistry effectively sold the believability of Neil and Caroline’s relationship! What works in the favor on this relationship is the emotional depth Billy and Meghann bring. A great example is how Caroline’s and Neil’s eyes possessed the pain of being apart from each other. Watching Meghann’s and Billy’s performance felt like witnessing a couple upholding their promise of love instead of two actors simply portraying characters. I wish Billy and Meghann had been cast in more Hallmark projects together.

    Jennifer Love Hewitt stars in The Lost Valentine as a television reporter named Susan Allison. Susan received a subplot where she contemplates her future with her boyfriend, Andrew. This is one of those subplots where you know the relationship isn’t going to last because the film’s female protagonist will eventually fall in love with the male protagonist, which, in The Lost Valentine, is Caroline’s grandson, Lucas. That creative decision led to Susan’s subplot being predictable. Instead, her subplot should have prioritized her reconciliation with her family, especially since Susan mentioned toward the beginning of The Lost Valentine how she doesn’t have a strong relationship with them.

    5. The Golden Girls didn’t receive any television films (like other shows such as Little House on the Prairie, Murder, She Wrote, etc.) In your opinion, why do you think this creative decision was made?

    A typical episode of The Golden Girls is about thirty minutes long. Meanwhile, most television movies receive a run-time between an hour and thirty minutes to two hours. If a tv show’s creative team chooses to make a made-for-TV movie, they need to create a story that justifies a longer length of time. So, I’m guessing the creative team behind The Golden Girls never figured out a story that couldn’t be told in half an hour.

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    6. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

    Like I said in my number one answer, it’s been over eight years since I’ve seen The Lost Valentine. Because of this, I had completely forgotten the humor woven into the story. Comedic moments sprinkled throughout the film was such a pleasant surprise for me. One of my favorite scenes was when Caroline reads a sports magazine to a group of veterans at a local hospital. While she’s talking about the New York Yankees, Caroline says she doesn’t hate the team, she just doesn’t like it when they beat a team she likes more. How that piece of dialogue was written, as well as Betty’s sweetly honest delivery, created a scene that was genuinely hilarious. Moments like the one I described alleviated some of The Lost Valentine’s heavier scenes yet never overshadowed the story’s serious subject matter.

    For this part of my review, I will spoil The Lost Valentine. If you have not seen this movie and are planning on watching it, skip ahead to question number seven.

    Toward the end of The Lost Valentine, after Caroline welcomes Neil home, she discovers rose buds growing on a rose bush in her garden. That specific rose bush was not only the first plant Caroline and Neil planted when they moved into their home, the rose bush was believed to be dead for the majority of the movie. When Caroline discovers the rose buds, she reminisces about Neil as she dances to music from the past. All of a sudden, a man who I assumed was Neil’s ghost appeared behind Caroline. After that, the hose Caroline was holding falls to the ground. But the scenes that follow are flashbacks of Caroline and Neil and scenes featuring Lucas and Susan. Is the fallen hose implying Caroline passed away, joining Neil in the afterlife? Or was Caroline so caught up in remembering the past, she dropped the hose by accident? That part of the story was, in my opinion, too open-ended for a stand-alone film. But because The Lost Valentine is based on a book, maybe the source material would provide a clearer explanation than the adaptation did.

    7. Throughout The Golden Girls, cheesecake became an iconic staple of the show. What would you say is the iconic staple of Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine?

    You’d think I’d pick the titular valentine, as it plays a significant role in The Lost Valentine. But, instead, I’m choosing the red rose. When it comes to growing roses, it takes time, patience, commitment, and care. Even as Lucas wants to uproot a rose bush he believes is dead, Caroline reminds her grandson how she doesn’t give up on things that easily. These aspects perfectly represent some of the major themes of The Lost Valentine; like serving others and putting your love toward something you believe matters. Caroline’s rose bush also provides the story with a nice full-circle moment.

    8. The Hallmark Hall of Fame collection overlapped with The Golden Girls (in terms of existence). Why do you think Hallmark Hall of Fame didn’t try to capitalize on the popularity of the “golden girls”?

    From 1979 to 2011, Hallmark Hall of Fame movies aired on CBS. The Golden Girls existed on NBC. While Hallmark Hall of Fame and The Golden Girls overlapped (between 1985 to 1992), there were two to four Hallmark Hall of Fame films released per year, implying tighter production schedules. Though a typical season of The Golden Girls ran from September to May, a certain amount of time needed to be set aside to film episodes, especially since The Golden Girls was filmed in front of a live studio audience. These factors may have made casting any of the “golden girls” in a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation difficult, but not impossible. However, trying to accommodate any of the “golden girls” schedules could have affected the schedules of the other cast and crew members of a Hallmark Hall of Fame project.

    9. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine was released in 2011 (19 years after The Golden Girls ended). Is there any element from the movie you wish was incorporated on the show?

      One of the overarching themes of The Lost Valentine is serving others. A great example is when Caroline visits veterans at a local hospital. On The Golden Girls, there were two episodes involving veterans; ‘From Here to the Pharmacy’ and ‘Charlie’s Buddy’. However, these episodes prioritized Rose’s and Blanche’s attempt to finding romance. As far as I know, there wasn’t an episode of The Golden Girls where the “golden girls” took the time to honor veterans. Therefore, I wish this type of story had been incorporated on the show. One example is the “golden girls” volunteering at an Honor Flight ceremony.

      10. After watching Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, is there anything you can take away from your movie-viewing experience?

      For years, Hallmark’s motto has been “When you care enough to send the very best”. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine perfectly represents that motto! The amount of care that Caroline put into waiting for Neil is a beautiful display of putting the needs of others before oneself, one of the major themes of The Lost Valentine. Other parts of the story represent this theme as well, such as Susan’s quest to find the truth about Neil’s whereabouts. By revisiting the 2011 Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, I was reminded why I like it. Strong elements, such as the acting performances and the screenwriting, made my movie-viewing experience enjoyable. I was also reminded of things I had completely forgotten, like the humor woven into the story. As I said in this review, the comedic moments alleviated some of The Lost Valentine’s heavier scenes yet never overshadowed the story’s serious subject matter. This is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie that still holds up, even fifteen years later. Therefore, it will stay in the “Get It On Sale for Half Off” (a.k.a. Good) tier of my Hallmark Hall of Fame tier rank list!

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      Sally Silverscreen

      Announcing The Golden Double Double Feature!

      On By 18cinemalane4 Comments

      When I publish one hundred posts, I create a double feature as one of 18 Cinema Lane’s traditions. My review of Autumn Sonata achieved the aforementioned milestone by becoming my one thousandth published post! But this was not the only milestone my Autumn Sonata review reached. That would also be becoming my four hundred and fiftieth published movie review! Because one post accomplished both milestones, I decided to do something different for this double feature. Instead of reviewing two movies, I’ll be reviewing four of them. As I thought about possible double feature themes, I came to a realization. Each of the “golden girls” (Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty) has a filmography. So, for this double feature, I will cover movies featuring the stars of The Golden Girls! These films will be Mame, Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, The Little Match Girl, and Mask.

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      Sally Silverscreen

      Take 3: Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder Review

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      Compared to the previous decade, Hallmark hasn’t prioritized the mystery genre. While the network has released new titles, the overall quality has greatly fluctuated. Some pictures, like Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major and Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans, were solid projects that brought uniqueness to Hallmark’s table. But other pictures, like Mystery Island and Francesca Quinn, PI, left audiences desiring more. Hallmark also seems to be more selective about which titles receive a sequel. One of those titles is Nelly Knows Mysteries. I reviewed Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement in 2024. Though I thought the movie was just ok, there were aspects that I believed could have provided multiple chapters to the story. So, when I discovered Nelly Knows Mysteries would receive a sequel, Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, I wanted to check the film out (and review it) with an open mind. Is the second Nelly Knows Mysteries chapter better or worse than the first one? In order to solve this mystery, you’ll have to read this review!

      Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder poster created by Muse Entertainment, Hallmark Channel, and Hallmark Mystery

      Things I liked about the film:

      The set design: The majority of Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder takes place at Palmer Arlott’s house. Because the Arlott family is one of the more affluent families in Nelly’s neighborhood, the set design throughout Palmer’s home perfectly reflects this aspect of her life. One notable example is Palmer’s dining room. In the dining room, black walls surround the space, including a black wood wall over the fireplace. Gold frames around paintings nicely contrast with the dark hue of the walls. A detailed maroon rug is placed over the cherry wood floor. The cherry wood dining room set and the antique gold and crystal chandelier help balance the darker and lighter colors of the room. Even the fireplace boasted stone carvings. All of these details created a dining room that exuded elegance!

      How the mystery affects the protagonist: Murder mystery stories will often place so much emphasis on the protagonist solving the case, the case’s effect on the protagonist is rarely brought up. In Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, Nelly shares her feelings about the murder to Michael. After the murder victim is discovered, Nelly feels guilty about the crime that took place. She believes if the dinner party the murder victim attended (and was hosted based on advice her advice column provided) hadn’t happened, no one would have been murdered. Not only does Nelly honestly express these feelings with Michael, Michael reassures Nelly what happened was beyond her control. Similar to Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement adding realism by addressing one of Nelly’s flaws, acknowledging Nelly’s feelings about the murder mystery brought realism to Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, as well as added a different story element to the realm of Hallmark mysteries.

      The costume design: When I reviewed Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement, I praised Nelly’s wardrobe because it not only complimented Pascale herself, it was also stylishly presented on screen. This strength continues in Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder! Once again, Nelly incorporates pink into her attire, wearing a pink tweed jacket in one outfit. But the rest of the outfit was built around the jacket, with simple gold jewelry, black shoes, and black pants coordinating nicely with the jacket’s black and gold buttons. Green provides a bridge between the darker and lighter hues of the outfit, with Nelly wearing a green shirt and a green crossbody purse. While watching Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, I noticed how the wardrobe of the other characters stood out! One great example is what Palmer wore when she was first introduced in the film. Similar to Nelly’s aforementioned outfit, Palmer wore a grayish blue tweed jacket, with the rest of the outfit built around the jacket. A white blouse, faded powder blue pants, and black shoes give a nice blend to the outfit’s varying colors. Palmer’s simple silver belt adds elegance to the outfit!

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      What I didn’t like about the film:

      Lack of urgency: In my review of Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, I criticized the film’s lack of urgency. That flaw caused the movie’s pace to slow down and it drew the story out a bit. Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder also lacked urgency. More often than not, Nelly and Michael are shown sharing conversations between each other and other characters than actively solving the case. This made it seem like the protagonists took their time catching the culprit. Like Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, the pace of Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder was slowed down and the story felt drawn out due to the amount of urgency in the movie.

      Prioritizing the family drama: Prior to the murder taking place, Palmer invited her family over to her house to discuss who would receive her inheritance. Her decision causes drama among the Arlott family, every member having their reason for disagreeing with Palmer’s choice. But the script placed so much emphasis on the family drama, it ended up overshadowing the mystery. In fact, Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder felt less like a mystery story and more like an extended episode of a soap opera. If the script had found a balance between the family drama and the mystery, more intrigue would have been added to the film.

      Underutilizing Eli Flint: When Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder was announced back in January, it was revealed Eli Flint (from True Justice: Family Ties) would appear in the movie. I was looking forward to his inclusion in the story, especially since I believe this is the first cross-over between two Hallmark mystery titles. But when I saw Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, Eli only appeared in two scenes. Not only that, his role in the mystery was minimal. Because Eli now has experience solving a mystery, it would make sense for him to play a larger role in the story. Underutilizing Eli’s skills and perspective was, in my opinion, a missed opportunity. For Hallmark’s first mystery cross-over, it was disappointing.

      Pancakes and Syrup image created by vextok at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/banner”>Banner vector created by vextok – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      My overall impression:

      I recently said Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery was an ok film not only because of the movie’s lack of urgency, but also because Hannah’s sister, Michelle, was underutilized in the story. I feel similarly about Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder. Like the latest Hannah Swensen Mystery chapter, the newest Nelly Knows Mysteries film lacked urgency, making it seem like the protagonists took their time catching the culprit. Eli Flint, from True Justice: Family Ties, was underutilized, despite his inclusion providing the first cross-over in Hallmark mystery movie history. But, like Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder possessed elements I liked. The story, once again, welcomed realism by acknowledging Nelly’s feelings about the murder mystery. Another consistent strength was the costume design, perfectly suiting Nelly as well as the rest of the characters. The set design in the Nelly Knows Mysteries sequel was visually appealing and perfectly represented the affluence in Palmer’s life. But with me finding both Nelly Knows Mysteries titles just ok, I wonder what the future of this series is?

      Overall score: 6 out of 10

      Have you seen Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder? Would you like to see Hallmark cross over more of their mystery films? Tell me in the comment section!

      Have fun at the movies!

      Sally Silverscreen

      Sunset Over Hope Valley: A Community That Doesn’t Dissolve

      On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

      The residents of Benson Hills will move back home after the Harvest Festival. But in this season’s finale of When Calls the Heart, some of Elizabeth’s students from Benson Hills are hesitant to return home. This is because they’ll miss the friends they’ve made in Hope Valley. Elizabeth reassures these students they are always welcome to return to Hope Valley, saying, “A community doesn’t dissolve just because we don’t see each other every day”. Her quote is the perfect way to describe When Calls the Heart. Hope Valley and its residents haven’t dissolved because the show airs for a certain period of time. The creative team thinks of new ways to continue to story. Filming and editing are completed in between seasons. In the context of the story itself, Hope Valley’s residents are living their lives to their fullest. With a fourteenth season on the way, the world of When Calls the Heart will continue to stay.

      Just a reminder: If you did not see the season finale of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

      When Calls the Heart season thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

      Season: 13

      Episode: 12

      Name: Harvest Moon

      LJ is still disappointed he isn’t allowed to travel to Parson’s Peak. Nathan creates an alternative by giving LJ an opportunity to climb to the top of Hope Valley’s water tower. Not only does Nathan’s plan work, other children want to climb the water tower too. Meanwhile, Nathan tries to find the perfect time to propose to Elizabeth. But Bill advises Nathan to propose when the moment feels right. Nathan lets Allie know this is how his proposal will go. While the Harvest Festival is going on, Nathan takes Elizabeth to the top of Hope Valley’s water tower and finally proposes to her. Elizabeth accepts this proposal, meaning a wedding is in her future.

      On her last day of school before going home to Benson Hills, Gwen wears the dress Rosemary made for her toward the beginning of the season. But the dress becomes dirty and ripped during a baseball game. Gwen is upset by the destruction of the dress, believing she ruins everything. But Rosemary insists Gwen has brought so much joy to the lives of the Coulter family. Before going back to Benson Hills, Gwen gives each member of the Coulter family a gift. Lee receives a fishing hook, Rosemary gets a hand-carved picture frame, and Goldie is given a pair of dolls.

      Fancy jewelry image created by Freepic.diller at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/wedding”>Wedding photo created by freepic.diller – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      Edie returns to Hope Valley to help collect insurance claims for the rest of Benson Hills’ residents. Lucas sees this as a second chance to share his feelings for Edie. At the Harvest Festival, Lucas announces he’ll be stepping down as Governor. However, he will give his support to Maisie’s campaign. Maisie is unsure whether she should run for Governor in the upcoming election. But Mike gives her encouragement, which helps Maisie accept Lucas’ nomination. Meanwhile, at the Queen of Hearts, Lucas and Edie have a heart-to-heart conversation about their relationship. Not only do Edie and Lucas share a kiss, Lucas also agrees to go to New York with Edie, where she’ll be going to help the Franklin And Sons Foundation.

      Angela surprises her family by coming back home to Hope Valley. The Canfield family surprises Angela not only with the café’s new name, Minnie’s Café, but also an official café sign in Braille. During her visit to Hope Valley, Angela reconnects with Allie. At the Harvest Festival, Angela senses Allie and Oliver like each other. Allie claims she and Oliver are just friends. But Angela respectfully disagrees, believing there’s something more to Oliver and Allie’s relationship.

      Image by hannazasimova on Freepik

      Some thoughts to consider:

      • Last December, Hallmark confirmed Lori Loughlin would return to When Calls the Heart in six of season fourteen’s episodes. These creative decisions were divisive due to Hallmark’s response to Lori’s involvement in 2019’s college admissions scandal. What’s even more divisive is making Lori’s return to the show the “cliffhanger”/major selling point for season fourteen. While some Hearties are supportive of Lori’s return, other Hearties will not agree with this decision. Therefore, I think the aforementioned creative choices could divide When Calls the Heart’s fanbase more than the love triangle between Elizabeth, Lucas, and Nathan did. I also believe Lori’s return could cause When Calls the Heart to lose instead of gain viewership.
      • When I’ve talked about When Calls the Heart, I sometimes brought up the creative team’s habit of making promises to their audience they knew they couldn’t keep. Rosemary’s Playhouse is the most recent example. As I said in the introduction of season thirteen’s premiere re-cap post, I have been waiting for Rosemary’s dream of opening a theater to come true for over ten years. It was bad enough taking the Playhouse away from Rosemary before it was shown on screen. But what’s even worse was the script spending more time reminding the audience of the Playhouse’s destruction than trying to restore Rosemary’s dream. As a long-time fan of When Calls the Heart, I find these creative decisions cruel and unnecessary.
      • The best aspect of season thirteen, in my opinion, was the introduction of Fernando. In my re-cap post for this season’s sixth episode, I said I really hope Fernando becomes a series regular on When Calls the Heart. But throughout season thirteen, he only appeared in three episodes. Plus, within the context of the show’s story, Fernando wasn’t given much to do. With all this said, I wonder what the intended purpose was for his incorporation in season thirteen? Plus, if When Calls the Heart’s creative team always planned on having Edie and Lucas develop a romantic relationship, why would Fernando be included in that dynamic between himself, Edie, and Lucas?
      • Now that season thirteen has concluded, I can express my honest opinion on the season as a whole. Personally, I think it’s a mixed bag. Episodes one through six were strong because they prioritized the mystery surrounding the fire. When I watched those episodes, I honestly thought season thirteen would be one of the best seasons of When Calls the Heart. But from episode seven to the season finale, the priority shifted toward stories with lower stakes. The suspenseful and intriguing momentum built up within the first six episodes stalled in favor of stories like Rosemary’s silent movie and LJ’s memory scavenger hunt. Because of this, season thirteen felt like it ended on a whimper.
      Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      What are thoughts on When Calls the Heart’s season thirteen finale? Do you think Lori Loughlin should return to the show? Let me know in the comment section.

      Have fun in Hope Valley.

      Sally Silverscreen