Here at 18 Cinema Lane, I maintain several annual traditions to give my readers something to look forward to. One of those traditions is the Gold Sally Awards, which commemorates my blog’s anniversary! The award categories are created by me and based on topics I’ve brought up on my blog. With two new awards in 2025, I’ll explain the significance of those categories. Like in 2024, I will discuss why I chose each recipient. Now, let the 7^th Annual Gold Sally Awards begin!

The Kay’s Costume Party Dress Award

(Best Outfit from a Movie)

Helen’s Christmastime Outfit from Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Pack of Lies

When I thought about the various categories of the Gold Sally Awards, I realized there was no category recognizing the wardrobe department of the movie industry. To fix that, I created the Kay’s Costume Party Dress Award! The name of this award references the dress Kay (Joan Collins’ character) wore at a costume party in the 1983 tv movie, Making of a Male Model. I loved this dress so much, it was featured in 2021’s Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List! From the films I saw in 2024, there were several outfits I really liked. The one that was the most memorable, however, came from the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, Pack of Lies! The outfit in question was featured in my Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List from last year; the black and blue ensemble Helen (portrayed by Teri Garr) wore during Christmastime. This timeless outfit was worn in only one scene. That fact is why Helen’s outfit earned the inaugural Kay’s Costume Party Dress Award!

The Edward Boult Award

(Missed Opportunity in Cinema)

Not making Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters a Christmas movie

Last June, I speculated how Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters could be a Christmas film. In my editorial about my speculation, I explained how the movie’s title could be a reference to either the Nativity story or A Christmas Carol. I also wondered if Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” could be a two-part adaptation of A Christmas Carol, with the rock star character intended to be a Marley-like character. The official marketing for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters proved my speculation wrong. But the more I think about how this movie could have been a Christmas picture, the more I wish it had been a Christmas production. As of early February, 2025, the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series has received only one Christmas movie. Plus, my aforementioned editorial provided ideas for a potential Christmas script. With Hallmark Mystery’s ‘Miracles of Christmas’ viewership numbers lower in 2024 than 2023, maybe the network will consider creating another Signed, Sealed, Delivered Christmas film.

The They Deserve an Award Award

(An Actor or Actress Who Deserves Recognition)

Luke Goss (for his performance in Hallmark’s Frankenstein) and Badja Djola (for his performance in Christmas on Division Street)

There were several good acting performances I saw in 2024. So, it was difficult to choose just one recipient for this year’s Gold Sally Awards. Both Luke Goss’ and Badja Djola’s performance was so impressive! In Hallmark’s Frankenstein, Luke’s use of emotion allowed The Creature to speak without actually speaking. An example I used in my review of the 2004 television film was when The Creature bursts into tears while seeking refuge in a barn. Luke’s acting skills made his character as complicated as he was in Mary Shelley’s source material. Badja made his character, Scorpio, so memorable, despite having limited appearances in Christmas on Division Street. With a consistently commanding presence, Scorpio was a character I looked forward to seeing on screen. That’s because Badja used his acting talents to give Scorpio captivating interactions with other characters. The scene where Scorpio shares some of his backstory with Cleveland is the example I used in my Christmas on Division Street review.

The Cowboy Award

(Character Who Makes an Unnecessary, Drastic Change)

Sorsha from Willow

You’re probably wondering why I gave Sorsha the Cowboy Award, even though I grew to like her as a character. While I found her transformation from villain to hero necessary, it was drastic. In my Comparing with the Critics review of Willow, I shared how Sorsha’s aforementioned evolution was too abrupt. The transformation gave Sorsha some character development, but it left some questions unanswered. For this flaw, blame lies in the screenwriting.

Sally’s MVP Award

(Character Who Left a Memorable, Showstopping Impression)

Madmartigan from Willow

When I watch a movie, there is, sometimes, a character who leaves such a memorable impression on me, they end up stealing the show. I have called these types of characters “MVP”. To acknowledge the “MVPs” of 18 Cinema Lane, I created the new Sally’s MVP Award! One of these “MVPs” was Madmartigan from Willow. In my Comparing with the Critics review of the 1988 film, I talked about how Madmartigan was the story’s comic relief. His personality and comedic timing captivated my attention and kept me invested in his story. What helped Madmartigan become the “MVP” of Willow was the screenwriting and Val’s performance.

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

(Best Quote from a Movie)

“Christmas is already a poem. It doesn’t need my help” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, I Heard the Bells (2022)

In the 2022 movie, I Heard the Bells, Fanny (portrayed by Rachel Day Hughes) encourages her husband, Henry, to create a Christmas themed poem. Henry (portrayed by Stephen Atherholt) told his wife, “Christmas is already a poem. It doesn’t need my help”. When Henry said this, I started to think about what his quote meant. Poems require planning and putting the right pieces together, in order for that poem to have good flow and writing structure. Christmas festivities require a certain amount of planning, whether it’s a local church’s Nativity play or a family’s Christmas party. Using these two examples, finding the right pieces is important, such as who will portray the Three Wise Men or what will be the entrée of Christmas dinner. Poems can also tell stories. One classic example is ‘‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’. Christmastime is filled with stories, from the Nativity story to A Christmas Carol. Henry’s aforementioned quote made me see Christmas in a completely different way! Plus, a quote from a Christmas movie has never won the “She Won’t Give Me My Chocolate” Award before.

The Honorable and Dishonorable Mention Award

(Best and Worst Movie from the Honorable and Dishonorable Mention Category)

Best – Interstellar

Worst — The Reluctant Debutante

For last year’s Gold Sally Awards, there was only the Dishonorable Mention Award. That’s because I didn’t see enough movies to include an honorable mention category. With the honorable mention category returning in 2024, the Honorable Mention Award is also coming back! Science fiction stories about space exploration will typically emphasize the thrills and wonder of the galaxy. This can make it easy for a movie’s audience to get caught up in how adventurous and exciting outer space can seem. In Interstellar, a major focus is space travel’s effect on human beings. So, themes of family, sacrifice, and the price of scientific achievement are woven into the script. That, along with quality acting performances and impressive special effects, is why I liked Interstellar!

Out of all the movies that ended up in the dishonorable mention category, I had the highest expectations for The Reluctant Debutante. This is because I not only reviewed the film for The John Saxon Blogathon, there was some well-known talent involved with the project. Unfortunately, the 1958 movie fell short of those expectations. The Reluctant Debutante was a premise driven story that felt longer than one hour and thirty-four minutes, due to the jokes being drawn-out. It also didn’t help how some story ideas were overlooked. When I reviewed the 1958 film, I shared how movies from the 1950s are covered so infrequently on 18 Cinema Lane. So, it’s disappointing when a production from the ‘50s is weaker than expected.

The Hallmark Hall of Fame Award

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

Hallmark’s Frankenstein

There are different kinds of stories in the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. One kind of story is adaptations of pre-existing literature. Sometimes, “classic” literature became Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations, like The Secret Garden and A Tale of Two Cities. When these adaptations are good, they can be an immersive experience. This is how I would describe Hallmark’s Frankenstein! Due to the combination of screenwriting, acting performances, set design, and costume design, the movie made me feel like I was transported to another time and place. I also appreciate how close to the source material the 2004 television film is. Looking back on Hallmark’s Frankenstein and the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection, I’m actually surprised Mary Shelley’s novel wasn’t adapted into a Hallmark Hall of Fame project. Everything I said is why I chose Hallmark’s Frankenstein for the Hallmark Hall of Fame Award!

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

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

I Am David

Movies that won the “Based on a Book I Haven’t Read Yet” Award were first placed on a best films of the year list. I Am David is continuing that tradition! The 2004 film earned the top spot on my best movies list of 2024. This is the second time a number one movie of the year received the “Based on a Book I Haven’t Read Yet” Award! After I reviewed I Am David, I learned the movie was based on a book. I’m not sure how affective the story’s plot twists will be, as I already know what they are because I saw the film. However, I’d still be interested in reading I Am David someday!

The Standing Ovation Award

(Character Most Deserving of Receiving Their Full Potential)

Scorpio from Christmas on Division Street

When the Gold Sally Awards presented the Standing Ovation Award, the recipients were characters who should have received their “standing ovation”, but were denied that for various reasons. Scorpio (from Christmas on Division Street) actively worked toward getting where he wanted to go. As I said during the They Deserve an Award Award, Scorpio had limited appearances in the 1991 made-for-TV movie. Despite that, the audience learned enough about him to know what he had gone through. During this limited period of time, Scorpio attempts to overcome his obstacles. While I won’t spoil Christmas on Division Street, I will say those attempts earned Scorpio the Standing Ovation Award!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen