Sunset Over Hope Valley: It Started with a Man

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This episode of When Calls the Heart primarily resolves around a scavenger hunt Elizabeth, Nathan, and Allie organize for LJ. The twist is, throughout the scavenger hunt, LJ receives memories of his late father, Jack Thornton. Some of the residents of Hope Valley share stories about Jack and even bring up how he impacted their lives. The way these characters talked about Jack reminded me of Clarence’s quote from It’s a Wonderful Life, when he told George, “Each man’s life touches so many other lives”. From season one to most of season five, Jack’s actions caused a ripple effect that led to other events that happened in later seasons. If it wasn’t for Jack, Faith never would have come to Hope Valley, let alone become a doctor. Rosemary’s radio show wouldn’t exist, as Jack was the reason Rosemary came to Hope Valley all the way back in season one. And Henry would be living a completely different life had it not been for Jack’s kindness. Until this episode of When Calls the Heart, I hadn’t realized Jack Thornton was the glue that not only kept the show together, but kept the Hearties together as well. But what I do know is the loss of Jack has been both seen and felt.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode 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: 9

Name: Lost and Found Again

Major stories:

LJ is upset when he discovers Jack’s medal is missing. Nathan, Bill, and Oliver search for the medal, but are unable to locate it, even by the end of the episode. When LJ becomes mesmerized by the Jack Thornton School’s/church’s blueprints Lee brings to Elizabeth’s class, Elizabeth comes up with an idea to give her son more memories of the father he never knew. One day, in Hope Valley, Elizabeth, Nathan, and Allie host a scavenger hunt to LJ. But, as Allie points out, LJ will receive memories instead of prizes. Throughout the scavenger hunt, LJ hears stories about Jack from Elizabeth, Faith, Rosemary, Lee, and Henry. Charlotte even arrives in Hope Valley for a surprise visit, sharing a letter Jack wrote with LJ. But Allie feels bad about not having her own memories of Jack to share. So, she works with Oliver to adapt one of Jack’s cases into a storybook. At the end of the episode, Allie gives the book to LJ, with Elizabeth expressing her excitement over Allie’s writing talent.

Most of the houses in Benson Hills have been rebuilt. For Lee’s construction company’s next project, the rebuilding of Benson Hills’ school will soon begin. But the students from Benson Hills aren’t looking forward to this development, primarily because they don’t know where their learning will take place. To get these students excited about their new school, Lee hosts a contest to determine the school’s official blueprint. The winning design will be brought to life by Lee’s construction company. Inspired by the designs of Ancient Rome, Rupert is looking forward to potentially creating his new school. However, he has difficulty coming up with a design that will impress the judges. Elizabeth suggests Rupert work with Opal, as Opal is also interested in architecture. Taking Elizabeth’s advice, Rupert, as well as Opal, invent a design that not only reflects the architecture of Ancient Rome, it centers around the library. All three judges, Lee, Rosemary, and Lucas, love Opal and Rupert’s design so much, it gets selected as the official blueprint of Benson Hills’ school.

Mountie face image created by Bakar015 at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/a-set-of-canada-icons_1050671.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food vector created by Bakar015 – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor story:

Lucas learns the funds for the rebuilding of Benson Hills’ school have been moved to another department. This department plans to use the money for city related projects. Unsure how to solve the problem, Lucas calls Edie, who now works in Union City for the Franklin And Sons Foundation. She suggests asking the Foundation for a grant to rebuild Benson Hills’ school, as education is an important cause for Mrs. Franklin (one of the creators of the Franklin And Sons Foundation). This idea ends up working, with the Benson Hills school rebuild continuing as planned. Lucas also expresses his feelings for Edie, but Edie tells him how they shouldn’t dwell on the past.

Old fashioned telephone image created by Kues1 at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/vintage”>Vintage photo created by kues1 – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • On two separate occasions, there was an autumn leaf garland on display in the background. This simple design choice was an effective way to show the progression of time. I also appreciate hearing how the rebuilding of Benson Hills has been moving forward. Even though these homes weren’t shown on screen, at least the characters talked about it.
  • In my past re-cap posts for season thirteen, I’ve brought up the fire investigation and the developments made by the characters. But in this re-cap post, I didn’t address this overarching mystery. That’s because there were no updates made in this episode of When Calls the Heart. Ever since Christopher left Hope Valley, it seems like the mystery has been put on pause in favor of the stories with lower stakes. With the next episode seemingly revolving around Nathan’s proposal to Elizabeth, it looks like the fire investigation mystery will be paused for a little while longer.
  • For a story centered around sharing memories about Jack Thornton, it was nice to see Charlotte included in this narrative. But what also would have made sense is having Tom Thornton participate in the scavenger hunt. Not only did he grow up with Jack (as Tom is Jack’s younger brother), Jack is the reason why Tom has any career at all, with Jack’s encouragement inspiring Tom to turn his life around. Personally, I think Tom being absent from this episode was a missed opportunity.
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 your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? Do you think Edie will stay in Union City or move back to Hope Valley? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

The 8th Annual Gold Sally Awards Have Arrived!

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

The Gold Sally Awards, a beloved tradition on 18 Cinema Lane, have returned! For those new to my blog, this is an annual post I publish to commemorate my blog’s anniversary. Winners of the Gold Sally Awards are chosen based on movies I saw the previous year. The award categories are created by me, based on topics I’ve brought up on 18 Cinema Lane. Every year, I try to introduce at least one new award category. But in 2026, I’ve brought back two existing categories instead. I will discuss why I chose each recipient, like I’ve done in past award posts. So now, let the 8th Annual Gold Sally Awards begin!

8th Annual Gold Sally Awards Winners created by me, Sally Silverscreen.

The Standing Ovation Award

(Character Most Deserving of Receiving Their Full Potential)

Alfred White from Saving the Titanic

Overcoming a fear takes bravery, determination, and perseverance. When one conquers a fear that was holding them back, it is an accomplishment worth celebrating, especially considering what that person may have gone through to reach that accomplishment. In Saving the Titanic, Alfred White had a fear of heights. He eventually overcame his fear when tasked with reporting everything happening above Titanic’s deck. The fact Alfred faced and conquered his fear during the highly stressful time of Titanic’s sinking is quite amazing. But as Alfred was addressing his fear of heights, he also taught me about the Titanic’s fourth fake funnel, a fact I was unaware of before watching Saving the Titanic. For these reasons, I have chosen Alfred White to receive this year’s Standing Ovation Award!

The Hallmark Hall of Fame Award

(Movie That Feels Like It Belongs in the Hallmark Hall of Fame Collection)

An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving

When I gave Hallmark’s Frankenstein the Hallmark Hall of Fame Award last year, I described the 2004 television movie as an immersive experience. The combination of screenwriting, acting performances, set design, and costume design presented the illusion of transporting me to another time and place. This is exactly how I felt when revisiting An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving! In the case of the 2008 tv film, this illusion was achieved through attention to detail and historical accuracy. Similar to Hallmark’s Frankenstein, I’m surprised An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving wasn’t a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. It’s even more surprising none of Louisa May Alcott’s literary work was adapted into Hallmark Hall of Fame titles. So, those are the reasons why I chose An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving for this year’s Hallmark Hall of Fame Award!

The “She Won’t Give Me My Chocolate” Award

(Best Quote from a Movie)

“For those who make history needn’t read about it” – Eva, The Bride (1985)

I will admit this was the most difficult category to choose a winner for. That’s because there were several strong quotes that were deserving of this year’s “She Won’t Give Me My Chocolate” Award. But the quote I ended up selecting was the one Eva told Josef in 1985’s The Bride. Outside the movie’s context, the quote itself is powerful and epic. Within the movie, however, it’s a simplistic yet meaningful acknowledgment of how far Eva came from when she was first introduced in the story. By Eva telling Josef, “For those who make history needn’t read about it”, she’s no longer the blank slate Frankenstein originally created her to be. Instead, Eva can think and speak for herself, even if she did need some help along the way. This quote provides character development in an interesting and memorable way!

The Edwin P. Christy Award

(Most Annoying Character in Film)

Cameron Shannon from An Old Fashioned Christmas

Looking back on 2025, Cameron Shannon, from An Old Fashioned Christmas, sticks out in my memory. But his memorability is for the wrong reasons. As I said in my review of the 2010 tv picture, Cameron was the worst character in An Old Fashioned Christmas. This was due to how annoying he became over the course of the movie. Cameron always acted like he had something to prove, as well as attempting to get the last word in every argument or conversation. So, it was satisfying to see Gad confront Cameron toward the end of the story. Like I also said in my An Old Fashioned Christmas review, the majority of the film emphasized the love triangle between Tilly, Gad, and Cameron. Honestly, I don’t know what Tilly saw in Cameron because his unlikability was static.

The Edward Boult Award

(Missed Opportunity in Cinema)

Not giving Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride a unique and memorable story

Last July, when I reviewed Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride, I criticized the movie for its missed creative opportunities. This major flaw made the twenty-third chapter in the Perry Mason movie series lackluster. In my review, I gave two subplot ideas that could have helped Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride obtain a more memorable story. The first is how Hannah, the sister of Kaitlynn’s fiancé, converted her failed music career into a promising legal career. Kaitlynn’s real personality being quite different from her celebrity persona serves as the second subplot idea. Sadly, these ideas weren’t utilized nor did they contribute to the mystery of Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride. The 1992 television film was Perry Mason’s “bad day at the office”.

The “Based on a Book I Haven’t Read Yet” Award

(Movie Based on Source Material I Have Not Yet Read)

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving

Louisa May Alcott is best known for her iconic novel, Little Women. But she has written some short stories throughout her career. One of those short stories was An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving, which was the source material for the 2008 Hallmark Channel movie of the same name. You’d think with how much I adore An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving’s film adaptation, I would have read the source material by now. But as of late February to early March, 2026, I still have not read Louisa May Alcott’s short story. Hopefully, I can finally check out An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving this year!

The Nosferatu vs. Dracula Award

(Two Movies That Feel Like You’re Watching the Same One)

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler from 1973 and 1995

If you read my review of 1973’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, you would know this adaptation, as well as the 1995 version, would likely receive the Nosferatu vs. Dracula Award. This is due to both movies sharing a lot of the same strengths and flaws. Even though each version of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler does have its differences, it’s not enough to give the films strong differentiations between them. Even though I slightly prefer the 1995 adaptation over the 1973 version, these movies made me feel like I was watching the same film twice.

The Kay’s Costume Party Dress Award

(Best Outfit from a Movie)

Marion’s Angel Costume from Wings of Desire

In my Comparing with the Critics review of Wings of Desire, I complimented the movie’s costume design. I even described one of Marion’s trapeze artist costumes in detail. That costume is the angel costume Marion wore when she was first introduced in Wings of Desire. The craftsmanship and detail that went into creating the costume allowed the costume itself to stand out long after the movie was over. As I said in my review, the exquisiteness of Marion’s costumes, including her angel costume, makes me wish they were shown in color more consistently.

Sally’s MVP Award

(Character Who Left a Memorable, Showstopping Impression)

Rinaldo from The Bride (1985)

Back in June, 2025, when I reviewed The Bride, I proclaimed Rinaldo was the movie’s MVP. So, when it came time to decide who should receive the Sally’s MVP Award, I already knew the perfect winner! From the moment he meets Viktor, Rinaldo genuinely has Viktor’s best interests at heart. He strives to give Viktor a better life than Frankenstein did, even going so far as to educating Viktor on the importance of his name, which means “He will win”. Rinaldo always refers to Viktor as “his friend”. If it wasn’t for Rinaldo, I don’t believe Viktor would have received the “hero’s journey” he did in The Bride. Similar to when I gave Madmartigan the Sally’s MVP Award last year, Rinaldo became The Bride’s MVP because of David Rappaport’s performance and the screenwriting.

The They Deserve an Award Award

(Someone Associated with a Movie Who Deserves Recognition)

Monika Jacobs (for her costume designs in Wings of Desire)

In the past, I would give this award to actors or actresses who gave a performance that was memorably showstopping. But this year, I decided to expand the They Deserve an Award Award to other departments of film-making. That’s because there are other important components of creating a movie besides acting. When I reviewed Wings of Desire, I praised the film’s costume design, specifically pointing out one of Marion’s trapeze artist costumes. I said I wish Wings of Desire’s costume designer, Monika Jacobs, was nominated for, at least, one award. Costume design isn’t just about crafting attire that’s appealing to the eye. It’s also about creating attire that compliments the actor or actress wearing it. Through Marion’s wardrobe in Wings of Desire, Monika achieved these objectives. Even though Marion’s trapeze artist costumes were stunning, her casual and formal attire made Solveig Dommartin look like the best dressed star of Wings of Desire!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Flickers of Light

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Fernando has made his presence known in Hope Valley. According to Edie, he’s gotten to know everyone’s name despite being in Hope Valley for only a week. In this episode of When Calls the Heart, Rosemary directs a silent film. Fernando has been tasked with the film’s lighting. He tells Edie, Mei, and Faith how film is flickers of light. What Fernando said made me think about not just his time on the show, but the other characters on the show as well. When a character is introduced on When Calls the Heart, they bring a light that makes them memorable and valuable. If that character leaves the show, they take their light elsewhere. But for the characters that stay in Hope Valley, their light grows brighter, strengthening as the series progresses. Together, the residents of Hope Valley shine like the lights on a Christmas tree. As for Fernando, he’s, so far, found a way to shine. From rescuing Bucky the horse to playing a role in Rosemary’s movie, Fernando’s light has brought a positive spark to When Calls the Heart!

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode 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: 8

Name: Take Two

Major stories:

Rosemary decides to create a silent movie after seeing a Zorro movie poster at the Queen of Hearts hotel and saloon. She recruits Opal as a producer and Elizabeth as the screenwriter. After turning down several story ideas, Rosemary chooses a story about a Mountie rescuing a schoolteacher. She also casts Elizabeth and Nathan in the film’s starring roles. Leading up the filming of the movie, some of Hope Valley’s residents contribute to the movie’s production. From Fernando on the lighting crew to Ned starring as the movie’s villain, creating the movie becomes a team effort. But when filming begins, Rosemary believes Nathan and Elizabeth can’t portray their characters believably. So, she recasts the movie’s main characters, selecting Fernando and Faith instead. Their performance captures Rosemary’s vision and allows the movie’s production to continue.

Georgie returns to Hope Valley to help Edie with the insurance claims cases. She also provides some insight into the fire investigation. After looking at a fraudulent map from Pioneer Electric, Georgie recognizes the map’s craftmanship as the work of Clement Scoggins. Later in the episode, Nathan, Bill, and Georgie confront Clement at the Queen of Hearts hotel and saloon about his potential involvement in how the fire started. But Clement quickly leaves without giving them any information. When Bill and Georgie listen in on Clement’s phone call, they learn he’s still working for Pioneer Electric. Meanwhile, Christopher was spotted in a pub in Union City. By the end of the episode, though, he still hasn’t been found.

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Minor stories:

Though it seems like Edie’s path has crossed with Fernando’s path more than Lucas’ path, she still doesn’t have any romantic feelings for Fernando. Edie confronts Fernando about how she feels, with Fernando seeming to accept her decision. But when Lucas sees Edie kissing Fernando on the cheek, he believes he needs time before entering another romantic relationship. This is because he doesn’t want his heart to get broken again. Toward the end of the episode, Lucas talks to Mike about his hesitation over starting a romantic relationship with Edie. Mike tells Lucas not let his past steal his future. Unfortunately, Lucas can’t put Mike’s words into practice because Edie left Hope Valley to work with the Franklin And Sons Foundation, an organization Georgie introduced her to.

Mollie has been receiving mysterious letters recently. These letters make Florence curious, especially since Mollie won’t reveal who the letters are from. Later in the episode, at the Queens of Hearts hotel and saloon, Mollie spots Florence kissing a man she doesn’t recognize. But when she confronts Florence and the “mystery man”, she learns the “mystery man” is actually Ned in his villain disguise from the silent movie. Florence uses this opportunity to confront Mollie about the letters. She tells Mollie how Elizabeth told her about the nursing correspondence course Mollie has been taking. Mollie shares how she was afraid of failing, with that being reason for the secrecy. But Mollie reveals how she passed the course, making her an official practicing nurse.

Heartbeat image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/medical-logo_763775.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/logo”>Logo vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • Now that we’re more than half-way through season thirteen, I’m frustrated over a flaw that’s becoming more consistent. In seasons eleven and twelve, large scale projects were introduced at the beginning of the story, giving Hearties excitement over new additions to Hope Valley’s landscape. But as the seasons went on, little to no progress was made toward those projects, leaving the characters empty-handed by the end of the story. Based on season thirteen’s overarching story, so far, I have a feeling the rebuilding of Benson Hills, Goldie National Park, and Rosemary’s Playhouse won’t be near completion by the end of season thirteen. While I’m aware these types of projects take time to be accomplished in real life, it’s starting to seem like season thirteen’s aforementioned projects aren’t being prioritized within When Calls the Heart’s combined twelve hours of storytelling. If this is an issue related to resources and budget, why would the show’s creative team entertain the idea of large-scale projects in the first place?
  • In my last Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap post, I believed there wouldn’t be a love triangle between Fernando, Edie, and Lucas based on Fernando’s screen-time and Edie’s lack of romantic feelings for Fernando. But after this episode of When Calls the Heart, I’m starting to think the writers don’t know what they want for Edie. If she truly doesn’t want to fall in love with Fernando again, why does it seem like her path is crossing with Fernando’s path more than Lucas’ path? If Lucas and Edie are meant to share a romantic relationship, why does it seem like that relationship is stuck in place? I’d like to believe this storyline will be revolved at least by the end of the season. But with a fourteenth season on the horizon, I’m not so sure.
  • Though it was nice to see Rosemary passionate about her silent movie project, I think all that time, money, and resources spent on the silent movie could have gone toward rebuilding Rosemary’s Playhouse. I also believe this storyline did not need to serve as the episode’s main story. This is also how I feel about the next episode’s story, where LJ goes on a memory themed scavenger hunt. While it’s a nice idea for a subplot, having the scavenger hunt serve as the main plot makes the episode seem like a “filler” episode.
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 your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? Would you like to see Rosemary’s Playhouse rebuilt by the end of the season? Please tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Aladdin and the Forty Thieves (1984) Review

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

I will admit I wasn’t familiar with Kenneth Williams as an actor before joining the Carry On Kenny! 100 Years of Kenneth Williams Blogathon. But like other blogathons I’ve participated in, I saw the event as an opportunity to expand my cinematic horizons. As I looked through Kenneth’s filmography, I discovered he starred in the 1984 made-for-tv movie, Aladdin and the Forty Thieves. Since I cover my fair share of television films, including those from the 1980s, I chose this production as my blogathon entry! When I recently wrote about Brigadoon, I said the fantasy genre was underrepresented on 18 Cinema Lane. I also said Brigadoon itself was a fine, pleasant presentation. With Aladdin and the Forty Thieves being the second movie from the fantasy genre to be reviewed this year, it almost seems like I’m making up for lost time. And now that I’ve seen the 1984 television film, I can say whether its stronger or weaker than Brigadoon.

Since Aladdin and the Forty Thieves doesn’t have an offical movie poster, I have to use this title card for my review. Title card created by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Things I liked about the film:

Kenneth Williams’ performance: Since Kenneth Williams is the reason why I chose to review Aladdin and the Forty Thieves, I’ll talk about his portrayal of Mustapha Drink. In the 1984 movie, Mustapha is a storyteller who shares a tale about two Mandarins named Wing and Wong. Throughout this tale, Kenneth utilizes facial expressions and vocal inflictions to bring the story to life. He even gives the characters distinct voices to add memorability to the tale. Even though Mustapha appeared in only one scene, Kenneth did a good job, acting wise, with the material he was given. I, honestly, wish Kenneth had been the narrator of Aladdin’s story, presenting the illusion he was reading a storybook to the audience.

The costume design: While we’re on the subject of Kenneth’s portrayal of Mustapha Drink, I want to talk about the movie’s costume design. As he told the tale of Wing and Wong, Mustapha wore a long blue jacket with gold trim and detailing. Whether he walked or sat, the jacket sparkled in the light. Mustapha also wore a long red gown boasting an intricate gold design. The elegance of his outfit allowed Mustapha to stand out, even though he appeared in only one scene. This is just one example of the attention to detail and effort that went into the costume design of Aladdin and the Forty Thieves!

Certain ways Aladdin’s story was adapted: I must confess the adaptation of Aladdin’s story I’m most familiar with is the Disney animated picture from 1992. With that said, it was interesting to see how Aladdin and the Forty Thieves adapted Aladdin’s story compared to Disney’s production. The 1984 film features two genies, Genie of the Lamp and Genie of the Ring. Though I think it was a missed opportunity not to have the genies interact with one another, it was still an interesting creative decision to have more than one genie solve the characters’ problems. Toward the end of Aladdin and the Forty Thieves, Aladdin and The Princess Balroubador receive a magic carpet as a wedding gift. From what I remember of the 1992 movie, the magic carpet was more of a sidekick for Aladdin. The iconic “A Whole New World” scene just wouldn’t be the same without the magic carpet. Though Aladdin and the Forty Thieves and the Disney film each approached the same story, they brought it to life in their own unique way!

The Carry On Kenny! 100 Years of Kenneth Williams Blogathon banner created by Virginie from The Wonderful World of Cinema

What I didn’t like about the film:

The musical numbers: Before I selected Aladdin and the Forty Thieves for the Carry On Kenny! 100 Years of Kenneth Williams Blogathon, I had no idea it was a musical. So, you can imagine my surprise when Genie of the Ring started randomly singing and dancing. Though the musical numbers themselves weren’t bad, some of them seemed like they were added to the movie just for the sake of including a musical number. When Aladdin’s Chinese village was first introduced in Aladdin and the Forty Thieves, some of the residents sang “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”. As I was watching this musical number unfold, I kept wondering what this song had to do with Aladdin and his story, especially considering the song itself was released in 1946. Creative decisions like this musical number left me confused of the creative team’s intent.

Unclear time period: Remember when I questioned the inclusion of “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” in Aladdin and the Forty Thieves, pointing out how the song was released in 1946? I brought this up to address one of the flaws of the 1984 television film; an unclear time-period. Based on the set and costume design, it appears the story takes place in Ancient China. Yet, in one scene, a vending machine not only served drinks, but also “hot & cold food”. Because of creative choices like the two I described, it makes Aladdin and the Forty Thieves look like it’s having an identity crisis.

The special effects: I know a television movie is, more often than not, going to receive a smaller budget. I’m also aware how cinematic technology from the 1980s is going to be different from today’s cinematic technology. But with all that said, I couldn’t look past the poor special effects throughout Aladdin and the Forty Thieves. One painfully obvious example is when, toward the beginning of the film, Abanazar transforms into a bird. This very fake-looking bird is superimposed over still photographs of landscapes, trying to present the illusion of traveling from one place to another. Making a movie isn’t easy and does require working within your means. However, I think using special effects hurt Aladdin and the Forty Thieves instead of helped it.

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.

My overall impression:

Have you ever watched a movie and wondered “what the heck did I just watch”? That’s what I was thinking when I saw Aladdin and the Forty Thieves. Was the 1984 movie supposed to be taken seriously or was it supposed to be silly, goofy fun? Why was it difficult to determine the story’s time period? It’s a shame this wasn’t a stronger picture because there are aspects of it I liked. Kenneth Williams did a good job, acting wise, in his role as Mustapha Drink. In fact, I think Kenneth should have been the one narrating Aladdin’s story. It looked like there was a good amount of effort and detail put toward the set and costume design. I even liked some of the ways Aladdin’s story was adapted in the 1984 film. But I have no idea what I was supposed to get out of Aladdin and the Forty Thieves. Therefore, I hesitate recommending it.

Overall score: 5.3 out of 10

Have you seen Aladdin and the Forty Thieves? Which adaptation of Aladdin’s story is your favorite? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Blue Hawaii Review

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

I have a confession to make: up until this month’s edition of Genre Grandeur, I had never seen an Elvis Presley movie before. Hence the reason why I put “Check out one of Elvis Presley’s movies” on my Year-Long Bingo Card, to expand my cinematic horizons. The opportunity to finally see one of his films presented itself with February’s Genre Grandeur theme; “Movies Featuring Surfing”. According to the official IMDB page for the 1961 title, Blue Hawaii, there are some pictures of Elvis surfing or on a surfboard. Because of that, I selected Blue Hawaii for Genre Grandeur! Based on what I know about his career, there are three locations associated with Elvis Presley; Graceland, Las Vegas, and Hawaii. Now that I’ve seen Blue Hawaii, it makes me wonder if Elvis’ association with Hawaii was a result of this film or other factors? I admit this question is a discussion for another time. But for now, let’s review Blue Hawaii!

Blue Hawaii poster created by Hal Wallis Productions and Paramount Pictures

Things I liked about the film:

The on-screen chemistry: Elvis Presley stars in Blue Hawaii as Chad Gates. When he returns home from the Army, his girlfriend, Maile Duval (portrayed by Joan Blackman), excitedly waits for him at the airport. From the film’s very first musical number, “Almost Always True”, Elvis and Joan’s on-screen chemistry lit up the screen! Their acting performances helped sell the believability of Chad and Maile’s relationship, his consistently laid-back personality pairing nicely with her genuine sweetness. The delivery of the script’s clever banter felt like a friendly game of beach volleyball, with Maile and Chad’s conversations sounding pleasant to listen to. I honestly wish Joan and Elvis shared more screentime together because Chad and Maile’s relationship added a nice romantic touch to Blue Hawaii!

The musical numbers: Elvis’ forte is music, which is why Blue Hawaii features over ten musical numbers. When I think about these musical numbers, I take note how they are, more often than not, joyful in tone. This reminded me of when Frederick told his daughter, Annette, in Million Dollar Mermaid how music should be a source of joy. But I also took note of how Blue Hawaii’s musical numbers were utilized in the story’s context. In one scene, Chad attends the birthday party of Maile’s grandmother. He gives Maile’s grandmother an Austrian music box as a present, with the tune being “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. This song is one of the most iconic from Elvis’ discography. However, its inclusion in the movie didn’t feel like it was there just because it was a popular Elvis Presley tune. Instead, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” feels like it had an intended, meaningful purpose within the story. Creative decisions like this one helped make Blue Hawaii’s musical numbers one of the strengths of the movie!

The dialogue: Since watching Blue Hawaii was my first time watching any of Elvis Presley’s films, I really didn’t know what to expect. But what I didn’t expect was the dialogue being cleverly written! One of my favorite examples of cleverly written dialogue is when one of Chad’s friends is preparing lunch. During these preparations, he realizes he doesn’t have any ketchup. Chad’s friend then asks Maile if she has any ketchup, with her response being how she only has lipstick, which happens to share a similar shade to the condiment. How this conversation was written and delivered made this one of the funniest moments in Blue Hawaii! Like I mentioned earlier in this review, Chad gives Maile’s grandmother an Austrian music box as a birthday present. As he’s giving Maile’s grandmother the music box, Chad says, “it plays European love songs, but they’re the same in any language”. Through this one quote alone, Chad is acknowledging how love, especially expressing love through music, is a universal and relatable theme. It ended up being a profound statement without trying too hard to be.

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What I didn’t like about the film:

A drawn-out story: Blue Hawaii’s story revolves around Chad wanting to create his own career path instead of accepting a position at his family’s fruit company. While this was an interesting conflict, it was too drawn-out. With Blue Hawaii’s run-time set at one hour and forty-two minutes, it feels like the story was drawn-out to satisfy the run-time. For the first thirty minutes of the film, Chad simply talks about wanting to solve his problem instead of actually solving his problem. Even though he and Maile come up with a resolution to the conflict, it took too long, in my opinion, for that resolution to be found. Maybe if Blue Hawaii’s run-time had been trimmed, Chad could have created his career path sooner.

Ellie’s subplot: In Blue Hawaii, Chad becomes a tour guide and leads a group consisting of a female teacher named Abigail Prentice, and her four female teenage students. One of these students is a 17-year-old named Ellie Corbett. I wasn’t a fan of the subplot Ellie received for two reasons. She was a static character for the majority of the movie. Plus, Ellie’s attraction for older men (including Chad) made me uncomfortable, as it was too inappropriate for a character her age. When it comes to Ellie’s part of the story, she was dealing with some serious issues of self-esteem and even self-worth. So, her aforementioned attraction was completely unnecessary because she already had a conflict she could have worked through during the movie. Had the script prioritized Ellie growing as a character by building a healthy sense of self, it would have been a much stronger (and age-appropriate) subplot.

Lack of surfing: As I said in my review’s introduction, the pictures of Elvis surfing or on a surfboard from Blue Hawaii’s official IMDB page are one of the reasons why I reviewed the 1961 movie for February’s Genre Grandeur. A quote on Blue Hawaii’s poster even says, “Elvis Presley rides the crest of the wave in Blue Hawaii”. But throughout the hour and forty-two-minute film, there wasn’t any surfing to be seen. Sure, Chad is on a surfboard in one scene and he teaches Abigail and her students how to surf. But none of the characters actually go surfing. Not only was this creative decision disappointing, it contributed to false advertising.

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My overall impression:

In the past, I’ve talked about films that emphasized style over substance. While these films have looked beautiful or offered aesthetically pleasing worlds through cinema, the script itself left me desiring more. This is exactly how I felt about Blue Hawaii. But in the case of the 1961 picture, it wasn’t just style over substance; it was also music over substance. I did enjoy the musical numbers, as they were mostly joyful and even had a purpose within the story. However, the story ended up becoming overshadowed by the music. Even though the conflict of Chad trying to create his own career path was interesting, it was too drawn-out, likely due to the film’s run-time. I also wasn’t a fan of Ellie’s subplot because it was too inappropriate for her age and she spent most of the movie being a static character. Despite these flaws in the script, Blue Hawaii does have its strengths. Besides the musical numbers, I liked the on-screen chemistry between Elvis Presley and Joan Blackman. To me, they effectively sold their characters’ relationship as being believably loving. I also found the dialogue cleverly written, which was such a pleasant surprise. But overall, I found Blue Hawaii to be just ok.

Overall score: 6.1 out of 10

Have you seen Blue Hawaii? Which other films from Elvis Presley’s filmography would you like me to review next? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hawaii!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: What Bees Teach Us About Community

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Toward the beginning of this episode of When Calls the Heart, Elizabeth shares her excitement with Rosemary over her upcoming lesson about bees. She says she loves what bees can teach us about community. Elizabeth’s quote stood out to me because it presented an interesting way to correlate with a familiar concept from the show. Ever since When Calls the Heart premiered back in 2014, one of the overarching themes has always been teamwork. Through this theme, Hearties have witnessed their favorite characters working together to accomplish goals and even achieve miracles. Bees are known to work together, gathering within a hive to make honey. So, Elizabeth’s quote gives the theme of teamwork a good visual representation! Her quote also represents a major story in this When Calls the Heart episode, as everyone lends a helping hand to help Minnie with a large order of jam.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode 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: 7

Name: In a Jam

Major stories:

Minnie has been sending jam to Angela so she can share the jam with her friends. The parents of one of Angela’s friends own the Aceland hotel in Hamilton and have ordered 500 jars of Minnie’s jam to serve on their hotel’s breakfast tables. The order is due the following morning, which means the jars of jam have to get on a train that afternoon. Everyone in Hope Valley volunteers to help Minnie, with each character being assigned a specific role in the jamming process. But as the jam order is about to be shipped off to the train station, Elizabeth and Rosemary discover sugar was left out of one whole batch of jam. The problem does get resolved with some teamwork. Ned and Joseph successfully deliver the jam order because the train was delayed by ten minutes. Elizabeth reveals to Nathan she asked Jed to load his sheep onto the train, which caused the train to delay. With the money from the jam order, Minnie and Joseph decide to buy Bill’s half of the café and rename the eatery, Minnie’s Café.

Christopher is taking some time off work in order to help Nathan with the fire investigation. He becomes paranoid over someone finding out he blew the whistle on Pioneer Electric. But Henry, as well as Nathan, remind Christopher he did the right thing by speaking up. As Christopher and Nathan make their way to where Christopher buried the transformer, a car tries to run them over. They jump out of the way, but become injured. While Nathan’s injury is minor, Christopher develops a mild concussion and a few broken ribs. Because Nathan remembered the car’s license plate, he and Bill research who the car could have belonged to. Not only was the car stolen, it was also burned. Plus, Christopher leaves town, regretting his involvement in the fire investigation.

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Minor stories:

While taking a walk in Hope Valley, Lucas and Edie spot Bucky, a horse belonging to a Benson Hills resident named Mrs. McCormick. Edie and Lucas recruit Fernando to help them bring the horse back to its rightful owner. When they catch up to Bucky, Lucas tries to lasso the horse. But this plan doesn’t work. Fernando then sings to Bucky in Spanish, which calms the horse down. This allows Fernando to guide Bucky back to Mrs. McCormick in Hope Valley. Later in the episode, Edie confesses to Lucas how she doesn’t have romantic feelings for Fernando anymore.

Because Benson Hills’ residents have been staying in Hope Valley, Faith’s patient count has doubled. This means she has less time to spend with Lilly. When Elizabeth and LJ bring up the “jamboree” to help Minnie, Lilly wants to go to the event with Faith. But Faith tells Lilly she’ll join her as soon as she’s attended to all her patients. By the time Faith has taken care of her patients, the “jamboree” is over. Later in the episode, Faith learns Lilly took LJ’s stuffed dog toy named Dog because she was jealous over how much time LJ (and Dog) gets to spend with Faith. When Faith returns Dog to Elizabeth, she confesses how bad she feels about the time she’s missed with Lilly. Elizabeth suggests taking a day off once a week so Faith and Lilly could spend more time together. The next day, Lilly receives a hair pin from Faith so that she’ll always be reminded Faith is thinking of her.

Horse with saddle photo created by Topntp26 at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/stallion-black-equine-race-sky_1104246.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Topntp26 – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • During Minnie’s “jamboree”, Mike shares with Mei his desire to start a family. He even expresses this desire after having a bad reaction to a bee sting. But every time Mike brings up wanting a start a family, Mei seems to hesitate and want to change the subject. This makes me wonder if Mei and Mike have ever discussed the idea of having their own family before they got married? Sometimes, couples in Hallmark’s programming will avoid talking about serious topics for the benefit of the plot. Perhaps Mike and Mei’s part of the story is adopting a familiar aspect of Hallmark’s storytelling?
  • While volunteering at Minnie’s “jamboree”, Ned donates a glass jar for the jam order. Florence is upset because she recognizes the jar from her collection of memorabilia from their honeymoon. Ned makes up for his mistake by giving Florence a new glass jar. But this time, the jar is filled with slips of paper of things he remembers about their relationship. This was not only a thoughtful gesture from Ned, it was also a nice romantic moment between Florence and Ned.
  • I’ve heard some chatter on social media how some Hearties don’t want another love triangle between Lucas, Edie, and Fernando. Personally, I don’t think that will happen. As I mentioned in this re-cap, Edie confessed to Lucas how she doesn’t have romantic feelings for Fernando anymore. Compared to the amount of screen-time Lucas and Nathan received from seasons six to eight (when the love triangle between Elizabeth, Lucas, and Nathan took place), Fernando has been given such a limited amount of time on screen. As I said in my previous re-cap, I really hope Fernando becomes a series regular on When Calls the Heart. But since a “second chance romance” between Fernando and Edie won’t be happening, I’d like to see Fernando fall in love with Hope Valley’s first female Mountie, if she ever makes her debut on the show.
  • Toward the end of this episode of When Calls the Heart, Mollie reveals to Faith how she’s been taking courses to become a practicing nurse. She says becoming a nurse would provide Faith with additional help. Mollie’s story feels reminiscent of Rosaleen’s story from season ten, when she expressed interest in becoming a nurse. I now wonder if this is a shared dream between mother and daughter?
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What are your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? Do you think Mei is hesitant to start a family? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Kraven the Hunter Review

On By 18cinemalane9 Comments

I’ve been participating in Taking Up Room’s So Bad It’s Good Blogathon since the very beginning. Because I didn’t have a go-to “so bad it’s good” movie at the time, I have seen the blogathon as an opportunity to search for my “so bad it’s good” title, with the search itself becoming a saga on 18 Cinema Lane. In my review of Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, I learned to look for films that were built on a gimmick. Then, after watching Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Heartache and Homecoming, I learned to search for movies that are so bad, they are, at times, unintentionally funny. But for this year’s So Bad It’s Good Blogathon, I chose my selected title differently. I heard from several movie-related Youtubers that Kraven the Hunter possessed qualities that made the film “so bad it’s good”. Remembering their opinions, I picked the 2024 movie with an open mind, hoping I had finally found my “so bad it’s good” title. Though there were moments in the movie that were unintentionally funny, I can’t say Kraven the Hunter will earn the coveted title of “so bad it’s good”. To explain why I feel this way, I will compare the 2024 film to a movie that has been widely regarded as “so bad it’s good”; Mommie Dearest. Even though I will bring up the 1981 movie from time to time, it’s to emphasize the point that Kraven the Hunter didn’t really live up to its “so bad it’s good” potential.

Kraven the Hunter poster created by Columbia Pictures, Marvel Entertainment, TSG Entertainment, Avi Arad Productions, Matt Tolmach Productions, Film in Iceland, and Sony Pictures Releasing

When it comes to Mommie Dearest, I see the movie less as a “so bad it’s good” picture and more of a character study about family dynamics and the motivations behind them. However, I can recognize why the 1981 title is regarded as “so bad it’s good” in the eyes of many. One of these reasons is Faye Dunaway’s over-the-top portrayal of Joan Crawford. Her antics stand out against a backdrop that feels ordinary or mundane. Even her lines like “No wire hangers, ever!” and “Tina! Bring me the axe!” have become iconic because of Faye’s excessively dramatic delivery. But in Kraven the Hunter, the only memorable character is Sergei/Kraven himself, as he is the film’s protagonist. The rest of the characters weren’t given the context in order to stand out. Two of the movie’s villains, the Foreigner and Aleksei/Rhino, seemed interchangeable. They don’t have many discernible characteristics that allow them to embrace uniqueness. Even when Aleksei transformed into his alter ego, Rhino, it was for the benefit of the plot instead of helping Aleksei become a memorable character. Meanwhile, Sergei’s/Kraven’s father, Nikolai, tries to stand out within the story. However, these efforts feel forced, with his lines sounding less like conversation and more like lines found on the movie’s official merchandise.

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From what I’ve heard over the years, Mommie Dearest was never intended to be a “so bad it’s good” presentation. In fact, it was meant to provide a chance for Faye to potentially earn an Oscar, let alone a nomination. Despite this good intention, the 1981 film shows its audience how good ideas led to bad results. The simpler reasons for the movie’s existence allow viewers to accept its “so bad it’s good” status at face value. As I watched Kraven the Hunter, however, I kept wondering what the point of the movie was supposed to be. When I brought the film up in my list of Ten Movie Trends I Don’t Understand, I said it was a Spider-verse villain movie without the presence of Spider-Man. But Kraven the Hunter doesn’t take the time to build up Sergei/Kraven as a legitimate threat for Marvel’s friendly, neighborhood superhero. Instead, Sergei/Kraven is reminiscent of Eric Draven and Ashe Corven from The Crow and The Crow: City of Angels; only inflicting violence on villains and criminals that deserve to face accountability. This makes some of the characters’ warnings about karma and the dangers of Sergei/Kraven becoming like his villainous father not make sense. Even the movie’s plot twist was so convoluted, it makes that part of the story pointless. Instead of seeing Kraven the Hunter as “so bad it’s good”, it was so confusing, I found it difficult to understand what the film was trying to say.

Since Sergei/Kraven is a character from the Spider-Man comics, I figured featuring this poster of Spider-Man in my review would, kind of, make sense. Avengers: Endgame Spider Man poster created by The Walt Disney Company and Marvel Studios. © Disney•Pixar. All rights reserved. Marvel and Avengers Characters: ©2017 Marvel. Image found at https://www.marvel.com/articles/movies/mcu-heroes-unveil-avengers-endgame-character-posters

One of the most unbelievable moments from Mommie Dearest is when Joan took her daughter, Christina’s, role on the soap opera Christina starred on. While Christina (who was 27 at the time) was recovering from surgery, Joan temporarily starred on Christina’s soap opera as Christina’s character, even though Joan was much older than the character herself. Though this moment seems too good to be true, it actually happened. There’s even a New York Times article about this creative decision. The idea of Joan, who was 60 years old when she appeared on Christina’s soap opera, portraying a character that’s in her twenties seems “bonkers”, adding to Mommie Dearest’s “so bad it’s good” reputation. Kraven the Hunter, on the other hand, doesn’t really have any “bonkers” moments or situations. This is because the film takes itself a little too seriously as an action picture. The concept of a man possessing animalistic instincts, skills, and powers to defeat other characters could sound “bonkers” on paper. Even the idea of a man becoming a rhino seems like a silly gimmick. But the creative team behind Kraven the Hunter didn’t embrace the sillier aspects of the source material they were adapting. While there were moments in the movie that were unintentionally funny, as I mentioned in this review’s introduction, these moments were inconsistent.

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According to IMDB, Paramount (the studio that distributed Mommie Dearest) took advantage of their audience’s fascination with Mommie Dearest by billing “the film as a camp classic”. People even “flocked to see the film armed with Ajax and wire hangers to actively “participate” with the film”, in a similar fashion to movies like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Like I mentioned earlier in this review, Mommie Dearest featured iconic lines like “Tina! Bring me the axe!” and “No wire hangers, ever!”. There are also memorable moments like Joan cutting Christina’s hair. People developed an interest in Mommie Dearest because it was memorably bad. But Kraven the Hunter lacks the memorability Mommie Dearest achieved. One previously mentioned contributor was the lack of stand out characters (besides Sergei/Kraven himself). Another contributor is how, in Kraven the Hunter, there are stretches of time where characters just talk between each other. If these dialogue-heavy moments had been evenly spaced out throughout the story or had the writing itself been a little bit stronger, maybe the dialogue could have added memorability to the movie. But the writing was so flat, it made Kraven the Hunter feel uninspired. The stretches of time featuring dialogue-heavy scenes not only affected the overall pace of the film, it also caused Sergei/Kraven to have less screen-time than the title of the movie would suggest.

The Eighth So Bad It’s Good Blogathon banner created by Rebecca from Taking Up Room

Have you ever seen a movie that was just “meh”? That’s how I feel about Kraven the Hunter; too weak to be good or great but not outrageous enough to be bad or disappointing. When I participate in the So Bad It’s Good Blogathon, I expect my selected movie will not be as strong as movies I’ve actually enjoyed. But I hope my experience watching the film will, at least, be somewhat entertaining. While there were entertaining moments because they were unintentionally funny, I can’t say the same for the rest of Kraven the Hunter. The film as a whole was uninspired largely due to the writing. From most of the characters being unmemorable to stretches of time where dialogue-heavy scenes were emphasized, I found myself being underwhelmed, more often than not. But the biggest opportunity missed by the film’s creative team was not embracing the gimmick and its silliness from their project’s source material. If Kraven the Hunter’s creative team hadn’t taken their project so seriously, maybe my movie-viewing experience would have been similar to when I reviewed Tarzan in Manhattan last year. Or maybe finding my “so bad it’s good” movie requires an acquired taste I haven’t quite received yet.

Overall score: 5 out of 10

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Brigadoon Review

On By 18cinemalane4 Comments

As I said in my Comparing with the Critics review of Willow, the fantasy genre is underrepresented on 18 Cinema Lane. This is one of the reasons why I put “Review a movie from the Fantasy genre” on my Year-Long Bingo Card, so I could add more fantasy titles to my collection of movie reviews. Hamlette’s Soliloquy’s We Heart Fairy Tales Week Blogathon provided the perfect opportunity for me to accomplish this goal. It also gave me a reason to finally check out the 1954 movie, Brigadoon! Recommended by a reader named Becky, this is a title I had heard of, but had never seen. In fact, I knew very little about the film, like how the story takes place in Scotland. But now that I think about it, Scottish-related titles are also underrepresented on my blog. Only four movies having something to do with Scotland have been reviewed in the eight years 18 Cinema Lane has existed. These films have ranged in quality from fine, ok, or underwhelming. How will Brigadoon compare to these other movies? Let’s journey through this review to find out!

Brigadoon poster created by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Things I liked about the film:

A colorful picture: According to the film’s poster, the color photography in Brigadoon was provided by a company called Ansco. The creative team behind the 1954 picture certainly took advantage of color photography’s incorporation, as Brigadoon is a very colorful film! Just in the opening number, “Down on MacConnachy Square” alone, the residents of the titular town boast attire in bright shades of orange, yellow, and red. Even the props add bursts of color to the number, from a stand of orange pumpkins to baskets of red flowers. Light colors are also woven into the scene. Some of them include lilac, blue, and green. These bold hues make Brigadoon feel like the perfect movie to watch during Springtime!

Van Johnson’s performance: In Brigadoon, Van Johnson portrays Jeff Douglas, who joins his friend, Tommy Albright (portrayed by Gene Kelly) on a trip to Scotland. Because Jeff is a man who needs to see things to believe them, he possesses a down-to-earth personality. This personality is effectively showcased throughout Van’s performance to the point Van ended up stealing the show! During the musical number, “Almost Like Being in Love”, Tommy expresses his love for Fiona (portrayed by Cyd Charisse). At one point, Jeff looks at his friend with genuine surprise. This combination of slightly dropped jaw, wide eyes, and even a small lean away from Tommy presents a priceless reaction. Van’s line delivery, as well as how the dialogue was written, also contributed to his scene stealing performance. When Tommy and Jeff are discussing Tommy’s upcoming wedding, Jeff tells his friend, “There’s nothing a woman hates more than her fiancée’s best friend. He knows all the secrets she’s going to spend the rest of her life trying to find out”. Jeff stated this in a matter-of-fact way paired with an easy-going flare. Though it’s only February, Van’s performance in Brigadoon is one of the best I’ve seen this year, so far!

The set design: Though Brigadoon takes place in the woodlands of Scotland, the movie was filmed at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in California. Despite this, the set design was a consistent strength in the film! What appears to be painted backgrounds present the illusion Brigadoon is surrounded by tall, rolling hills. A mixture of foliage like trees, grass, and flowers create a peaceful tranquility that makes Brigadoon inviting. From time to time, vines can be seen growing on one of the village’s houses. There are even live animals, such as Highland Cattle and sheep, spotted by the characters. The combination of these creative choices allowed the set design in Brigadoon to give the audience an immersive experience!

The We Heart Fairy Tales Week Blogathon banner created by Hamlette from Hamlette’s Soliloquy

What I didn’t like about the film:

A prolonged mystery: One of the reasons why I was interested in checking out Brigadoon was the mystery within the story. The synopsis on IMDB not only reveals the people of Brigadoon “harbor a mysterious secret”, the village itself is “not on the map”. While the truth behind the mystery is eventually discovered, that revelation didn’t come until about the film’s halfway point. For the first half of the movie, it almost seemed like the mystery was an afterthought. I wish the discovery of the mystery was gradually written into the script, to give the audience a chance to solve the mystery for themselves.

An unnecessarily long scene: Toward the end of the movie, Tommy and Jeff return home from Scotland. While at a bar, Tommy crosses paths with his fiancé, Jane. During their conversation, Tommy keeps thinking about Fiona from Brigadoon, especially when Jane says something that reminds Tommy of his Scottish trip. The whole scene was approximately ten minutes long. While I understand the creative team of Brigadoon’s point that Tommy left his heart with Fiona, the scene itself was too drawn out. To reach its intended point sooner, I believe this scene should have been trimmed down.

Harry’s subplot: For this part of my review, I will spoil Brigadoon. If you haven’t seen the movie and are planning on watching it, skip to the part of my review titled “My overall impression”.

One of the villagers of Brigadoon is a man named Harry. Throughout the movie, he’s unhappy because the woman he loves, Jean, is marrying a man named Charlie. Harry is so upset that he not only feels he no longer has a purpose, he also wants to leave Brigadoon. If Harry were to leave the village, it would cause the rest of the villagers to disappear. At one point, all of the men from Brigadoon search for Harry in order to prevent him from leaving. But Harry ends up dying while Jeff was bird hunting. Harry’s subplot was, in my opinion, underutilized, only providing conflict toward the end of the film. I also believe Harry’s subplot could have received a better resolution, especially considering Brigadoon was released at the very end of the Breen Code era. Maybe Harry and Meg, a shepherdess who was attracted to Jeff, could have healed each other’s broken hearts.

Essentials of Scotland image created by macrovector_official at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by macrovector_official – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Now that I’ve finally seen Brigadoon, I have covered five Scottish-related films on 18 Cinema Lane. Like I said in this review’s introduction, the other four titles ranged in quality from fine, ok, or underwhelming. However, I found Brigadoon to be a fine, pleasant presentation! Though I didn’t talk much about the musical numbers in the 1954 movie, they were definitely one of the film’s strengths. Other strengths of the movie include the set design and the creative team’s use of color. But a major highlight was Van Johnson’s portrayal of Jeff Douglas, stealing the show and giving me one of the best performances I’ve seen this year, so far! Even though Brigadoon had its merits, it had its flaws too. I wish the mystery’s discovery had been gradually written into the script, so the audience could try to solve the mystery for themselves. I also believe Harry’s subplot should been better utilized, as well as received a better resolution. Brigadoon, as I’ve already said, is a pleasant presentation. In my opinion, though, there are musical movies I like more than this one.

Overall score: 7-7.1 out of 10

Have you seen Brigadoon? Are there any Scottish related films you’d like to see me cover on 18 Cinema Lane? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Have fun in Scotland!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: When A Dream Comes True

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Lee has a recurring dream in this episode of When Calls the Heart. While Lee doesn’t think much of the dream itself, Rosemary believes the dream holds an important meaning. Eventually, Lee’s dream comes true in a very literal way. When this happened, it made me think about the idea of dreams coming true. The term “a dream come true” usually brings to mind people who accomplish or receive what they desire the most. A person’s dream coming true is typically seen as a positive occurrence, making others feel good when it happens. But in Lee’s case, his dream wasn’t about getting something in return. It was more about trying to discover the unknown. Season thirteen has presented several unknowns in Lee’s life. How is he going to balance all his responsibilities without experiencing stress? Will he rebuild Benson Hills within a year? Is he going to reclaim his and Rosemary’s lost dreams? Every season of When Calls the Heart has presented its series of unknowns. But over time, the characters learn the truth behind these unknowns and adapt according to what is discovered.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode 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: 6

Name: Moment of Truth

Major stories:

Georgie McGill comes back to Hope Valley with a Mountie named Elmore Briggs. This time, she not only brings a polygraph machine, she also reveals how she’s using her investigative skills to help Edie acquire insurance claims for those affected by the fire. After Oliver is the first Mountie to test the polygraph machine, Georgie and Bill go to Elizabeth’s house for dinner. Bill and Georgie raise concerns over how Nathan isn’t being honest with Elizabeth, especially about the lemon curd dessert Elizabeth made. They suggest Nathan use the polygraph. At the Mountie office, Nathan truthfully confesses how he loves Elizabeth. But shortly after Jack Jr. (a.k.a. LJ) asks Nathan if he’ll marry Elizabeth, Christopher arrives at the Mountie office. Earlier in the episode, Henry confronted his son about the concrete pieces found in the previous episode. This conversation between Christopher and his father encouraged him to tell the truth about the fire. A transformer from the electric company Christopher works for is how the fire was caused. Despite being instructed to throw the destroyed transformer in the river, Christopher buried it instead. His confession helps Toby and Cooper prove their innocence.

Paper Boats in the Sea image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/background-of-paper-boats-with-hand-drawn-waves_1189898.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.

Minor stories:

Faith tells Gwen her father is no longer at risk of infection. She also tells Gwen she is now allowed to visit her father at the hospital in Buxton. Excited to finally see her father, Gwen wants to give him a walking stick she carved herself. But when she and Lee are on their way to the hospital, Gwen immediately wants to go back to Hope Valley. Lee takes Gwen fishing instead. During this fishing excursion, Gwen reveals the real reason she didn’t want to go to the hospital. Before her mother passed away, Gwen remembers people saying her mother was going to get better. Gwen is afraid she might lose her father too. Lee reassures Gwen her father isn’t in the hospital for the same reasons her mother went to the hospital. After she successfully catches a fish, Gwen tells Lee she wants to go the hospital in Buxton to visit her father. When Lee and Gwen come back to Hope Valley, they bring home the fish Gwen caught for dinner. Rosemary reminds Lee of his recurring dream I referenced in this re-cap’s introduction, where Lee is fishing but doesn’t know what he caught. By bringing home the fish Gwen caught, Rosemary claims Lee’s dream came true.

A contractor named Fernando arrives in Hope Valley to discuss building plans with Lee. But because Lee is taking a short break from work, Fernando ends up meeting Lucas instead. Throughout the episode, Lucas and Fernando get along quite well. Lucas even learns Fernando became a contractor after being a cowboy for years. Fernando is invited by Lucas to attend Edie’s charity poker game, which hopes to raise funds to rebuild a recreation center in Benson Hills. At the poker game, Fernando invites Lucas and Edie to a car race. When Lucas introduces Fernando to Edie, Lucas learns they already know each other. That’s because Fernando is Edie’s ex-fiancé.

Poker neon sign image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/poker-neon-lights-background_1137542.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.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • When Georgie arrives at Elizabeth’s house for dinner, she gives LJ and Allie a present; a box of Crayola crayons for LJ and a fountain pen for Allie. What I love about these presents is how they can spark creativity. Pens can be used to write stories, craft poetry, and construct plays. Meanwhile, LJ can draw pictures with those crayons. Maybe he can also use his crayons to create cards or dream up scenery for stage productions.
  • On social media, Fernando has received positive reception from the Hearties. I can only speak for myself, but I’ve already come to like Fernando as a character! His charisma radiates off the screen and he possesses so much potential. I really hope Fernando becomes a series regular on When Calls the Heart. I also hope Fernando either develops a “second chance romance” with Edie or falls in love with Hope Valley’s first female Mountie, if she ever makes her debut on the show.
  • In this episode of When Calls the Heart, Elizabeth’s lemon curd isn’t as popular as she believes. But the fact she made lemon curd at all shows how far Elizabeth has come when it comes to culinary matters. I remember when Elizabeth would burn meals and didn’t really know how the kitchen worked. Seeing her cook and bake highlights what Elizabeth has learned since she first came to Hope Valley.
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 your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? Would you like to see Fernando join the show’s main cast? Tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Celebrating 40 Years of “Eddie Munson’s Year” With The “Eddie’s Year” Blogathon

On By 18cinemalane19 Comments

Fans of Eddie Munson from Stranger Things would know 1986 is considered “Eddie’s year”. This is because 1986 is when Eddie had planned on graduating from Hawkins High School. As 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of “Eddie’s year”, I decided to commemorate the occasion by hosting The “Eddie’s Year” Blogathon! When I published my editorial last Halloween about Eddie Munson and Harris Trinsky (from Freaks and Geeks) being two sides of the same coin, I called both of them “two sparkling, shooting stars”. This is the reason why I’m announcing my new blogathon today, with February 8th, 2026 being the 40th anniversary of the last sighting of Halley’s Comet. While we’re on the subject of Halley’s Comet, you can write about this astronomical event if you’re interested in participating in The “Eddie’s Year” Blogathon. Or you can select any ideas from the following list:

The “Eddie’s Year” Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original image created by 21 Laps Entertainment, Monkey Massacre, Netflix, and Upside Down Pictures.
  • Eddie Munson and/or subjects related to him (music, Dungeons & Dragons, characters who didn’t get the opportunity to reach their full potential, etc.)
  • Events that took place in 1986 (such as the sighting of Halley’s Comet)
  • Projects from Joseph Quinn’s (the actor who portrayed Eddie Munson) filmography
  • Movies, tv show episodes, books, etc. that were released between 1966 and 1986 (those years represent Eddie’s lifespan that was featured on his headstone from Stranger Things’ fifth and final season)
  • Movies, tv show episodes, books, etc. from any year that debuted in March (bonus if the premiere date falls between March 21st to 27th, when the fourth season of Stranger Things takes place)
  • Books, movies, tv show episodes, etc. that either take place in Indiana or were filmed in Indiana (Eddie Munson is from Hawkins, Indiana)
  • How stories would be impacted if Eddie were included in the story (for example, would everyone know Eddie’s name if he showed up on an episode of Cheers?)
  • Eddie related merchandise, such as books
The “Eddie’s Year” Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original image created by 21 Laps Entertainment, Monkey Massacre, Netflix, and Upside Down Pictures.

If you’re joining The “Eddie’s Year” Blogathon and found an idea you’re interested in writing about, please read the event’s official rules.

  1. Please be respectful to the other participants and your chosen topic
  2. Only new entries will be accepted
  3. Because Eddie made his official debut in Stranger Things’ fourth season, participants can publish a maximum of four entries
  4. No more than two participants can write about the same topic
  5. Creativity and fun are encouraged
  6. Entries must be submitted between June 6th-9th
  7. If you plan on publishing your entry before or after the blogathon, please let me know as soon as possible
  8. Share your entry idea in the comment section below!
  9. Feature one of the four blogathon banners anywhere in your entry
The “Eddie’s Year” Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original image created by 21 Laps Entertainment, Monkey Massacre, Netflix, and Upside Down Pictures.

Participants of The “Eddie’s Year” Blogathon

— Sally from 18 Cinema Lane – 1986 “Best” and “Worst” reviews for my Comparing with the Critics series, book review of Stranger Things: Flight of Icarus by Caitlin Schneiderhan

— Ruth from Silver Screenings – Review of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

— Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews – Review of The Wraith (1986)

— Kristen from Hoofers and Honeys – Review of Love Before Breakfast (March 9, 1936)

— Chloe the MovieCritic from Movies Meet Their Match – Review of Labyrinth (1986)

— Virginie from The Wonderful World of Cinema – Review of True Stories (1986)

— Rebecca from Taking Up Room – Review of Pretty In Pink (1986)

— J-Dub from Dubsism – Editorial titled ‘How Some Guy Named Roy Ended The Longest War In The World’ (April 1986)

The “Eddie’s Year” Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original image created by 21 Laps Entertainment, Monkey Massacre, Netflix, and Upside Down Pictures.