Out of all the awards I’ve been nominated for, the Sunshine Blogger Award is the one I’ve received the most. My recent nomination from Maddy (of Classic Film And TV Corner) is now my 14^th nomination! As with past Sunshine Blogger Awards, I will answer the eleven questions Maddy provided to the nominees. Then, I will nominate eleven bloggers and give them eleven new questions. Before I begin this award post, I’d like to thank Maddy for this nomination of the Sunshine Blogger Award!

1. Which film made you a classic film fan?

For me, it wasn’t just one film. It was actually having access to so many classic films through Turner Classic Movies. When it comes to the channel’s catalog, Turner Classic Movies has premiered a variety of titles; from the iconic pictures to the lesser known tales. In fact, I discovered movies such as Bedlam, Tommy, and A Little Romance because of Turner Classic Movies!

2. What are your top 5 Westerns from the classic era?

Sadly, I don’t have an answer for this question. That’s because I don’t watch movies from the Western genre consistently enough to choose top five favorites. This is definitely a sign I need to review more Western films.

3. Favourite British film from the 1940’s?

This is another question I don’t have an answer for. Similar to what I said about Western films, I don’t watch 1940’s British movies regularly enough to choose a favorite. But I do need to check out more titles so I can, one day, have a go-to film.

4. A director whose work you haven’t seen or need to see more of?

Though not a director, Joe Pasternak has produced two films I liked; Anchors Aweigh and The Unfinished Dance. But I realized while looking through his filmography how I haven’t seen many of his projects. It seems like he produced a lot of musicals. So, if I’m in the mood to write about a musical film, I want to seek out more of Joe Pasternak’s titles!

5. Is there a film that you felt was improved in a director’s cut release?

Five years ago, I wrote an editorial about the Tim Pope Cut of The Crow: City of Angels. In that editorial, I explained what the Tim Pope Cut is and provided reasons why it should be released. As of late June, 2025, there has been no official word on the Tim Pope Cut’s fate. But if it was released, The Crow: City of Angels would be improved from its theatrical cut, as it would restore the creative team’s original vision.

6. If you were teaching a classic film course which ten films would you show to the students and why?

— The Bodyguard (1992) – Subjects would include how to write a timeless story, seamlessly blending genres, creating creative action scenes, and curating movie soundtracks

— Ben-Hur (1959) – Subjects would include how to use cinematography to a story’s advantage, incorporating religion/faith into a script, constructing set design, and the importance of location scouting

— Singin in the Rain (1952) — Subjects would include how to form strong camaraderie between characters, crafting creative musical numbers, exploring cinematic history through film, and discussing musicals from the Breen Code era

— The Phantom of the Opera (1925) — Subjects would include how using film can expand the nature of storytelling, utilizing make-up to enhance characters, the importance of film preservation and restoration, and exploring the history of the Silent Film era

— Lawrence of Arabia (1962) — Subjects would include how to effectively use architecture in a story, exploring World War I through film, how scenery can visually enhance a movie, and discussing what makes a strong acting performance

— To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) — Subjects would include how to effectively use suspense in storytelling, the dos and don’ts of adapting literature, comparing and contrasting the legal system in To Kill a Mockingbird to other pieces of entertainment media, and how strong acting performances can bring a sense of realism to a film

— Nosferatu (1922) — Subjects would include how to tell a story without utilizing dialogue, using music to elevate scenes, exploring the early history of the horror genre, and the importance of strong on-screen chemistry

— Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Tale of Two Cities (1980) — Subjects would include exploring the history of Hallmark Hall of Fame, an analysis of made-for-television movies, how to manage a film’s run-time wisely, and creating an immersive world through attention to detail

— Jurassic Park (1993) — Subjects would include how to use CGI wisely, why including a “Voice of Reason” is important, discussing cinematic trends of the 1990s, and exploring the evolution of “nerds” in pop culture

— Toy Story (1995) — Subjects would include the history of 3-D animation, different styles of animation in the 1990s, creating stories from simplistic ideas, and how to create a theme song for your movie

7. If you could work in the film industry in any capacity what role would you want and why?

Definitely the preservation/restoration department! I’ve mentioned before how I find the subject of “lost media” fascinating. For every released movie from any given studio, there are likely three films that are either “lost” or “partially lost”. Through the aforementioned department, I would try to restore as many “lost” or “partially lost” films as possible. Therefore, consumers would have more movie options!

8. Which film stunt do you think most deserved an Academy Award?

When I wrote an editorial about The Bodyguard, I talked about “the kitchen scene”. This scene shows two bodyguards fighting in a kitchen due to a miscommunication. As I explained in my editorial, “the kitchen scene” utilizes elements not often incorporated in action scenes. No dialogue or music is included, forcing the audience to give their undivided attention to the events happening on-screen. The kitchen itself is seen by the actors as a challenge, due to the space being smaller. Not only does the fight choreography make good use of this space, it’s also clean, precise, and filled with adrenaline. In my opinion, “the kitchen scene” is the best scene from any action movie. With everything I said, I wish this scene was, at least, nominated for an award.

9. Favourite musical from the 1950’s?

Out of all the musicals from the 1950s I’ve reviewed, I’ll choose Singin in the Rain and The King and I! While both films have good musical numbers, they each have other qualities I liked. Some examples include the costume design from The King and I and the strong camaraderie between the characters in Singin in the Rain.

10. What are your top 10 Noir films?

The noir genre is infrequently covered on 18 Cinema Lane. But out of the films I reviewed, I did like Gaslight, The Big Sleep, Cry Wolf, Strangers on a Train, and Bedlam.

11. Which actor who never won an Academy Award do you think deserved one the most?

Anyone who has followed 18 Cinema Lane long enough will know Swept from the Sea is one of the best films I ever reviewed. Vincent Perez’s portrayal of Yanko is one of the reasons why I like this movie. As I said in my Swept from the Sea review, Vincent gave a captivating performance that was both heart-warming and heart-breaking. Through the use of emotion, he was able to say so much without saying anything at all. The on-screen chemistry between Vincent and Rachel Weisz was strong, which made Yanko and Amy’s relationship feel genuine. Plus, Vincent is one of the few actors I know of who can flawlessly pull off a Russian accent. The fact Swept from the Sea didn’t seem to be included in the awards discussion was, in my opinion, a missed opportunity. So, it’s a shame Vincent wasn’t, at least, nominated for his performance.

My Nominees

• Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews
• Hamlette from Hamlette’s Soliloquy
• Chloe from Chloe the MovieCritic
• J-Dub from Dubsism
• Terence from A Shroud of Thoughts
• Le from Crítica Retrô
• Rebecca from Taking Up Room
• Beth from Spellbound with Beth Ann
• Lea S. from Silent-ology
• Annette from Hometowns to Hollywood
• A Vintage Nerd from A Vintage Nerd

18 Cinema Lane’s Questions

1. Which actor or actress do you wish had starred in a historical fiction/historical period picture?
2. What two shows would you pair for a crossover?
3. Which food-related movie promotion would you bring back?
4. You’ve been tasked with designing a popcorn bucket! What movie do you choose and what does its popcorn bucket look like?
5. When was the last time you saw a made-for-TV movie?
6. What is your least favorite trend in movies?
7. Which movie would you like to see from a different character’s perspective?
8. Is there a movie poster or trailer you wish you could fix? If so, which one?
9. What is your least favorite film from your favorite actor’s or actress’s filmography?
10. What movie related mystery would you like to see solved?
11. Is there a “lost” or “partially lost” film you wish was recovered? If so, which one?

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen