Author: 18cinemalane

Hi, I'm Sally Silverscreen! As long as I can remember, I have loved movies and the movie-going experience. Talking about movies, something dear to my heart, brings me so much joy. I am a fan of Hallmark and do enjoy watching their movies from time to time. When Calls the Heart is one of my favorite television shows and I am proud to call myself a Heartie! I look forward to sharing my thoughts about movies, When Calls the Heart, and Chesapeake Shores with you. To everyone who visits this blog, I hope you have a great experience when you come to 18 Cinema Lane! -- Sally Silverscreen Profile picture created by K from K at the Movies https://katthemovies.wordpress.com/2019/03/30/graphic-design-is-my-passion/

Take 3: Christmas on Division Street Review

On December 12, 2024December 18, 2024 By 18cinemalane6 Comments

Have you ever been in a situation where instead of finding a movie, a movie found you? This is my case with the 1991 made-for-tv film, Christmas on Division Street. Earlier this year, I conducted research for my Sally Solves a Mystery article about who Bianca Marquez Walsh from As the World Turns is. During this process, a commercial for the movie crossed my path. As a movie blogger who reviews their fair share of television films, especially those that are Christmas themed, I’m always looking for potential movies to cover. So, I remembered the 1991 program in the hopes of reviewing it someday. Fast forward to mid-November, 2024. When I learned what Taking Up Room’s On the Spot Blogathon was about, I knew I had found the perfect movie to write about for the event! Plus, the blogathon took place in December, which gave me another reason to review Christmas on Division Street! Before 2024, I had never heard of the 1991 tv production. But I was familiar with the film’s lead actors. I had seen some of the projects from Fred Savage’s filmography; like The Princess Bride and The Wonder Years. Three years ago, I reviewed one of Hume Cronyn’s movies; the 1987 Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, Foxfire. In the aforementioned commercial for Christmas on Division Street, I discovered the story was more unique from other Christmas productions I’ve covered on my blog. This is because the friendship between the main characters was prioritized.

*Christmas on Division Street* advertisement created by Columbia Pictures Television, Higher Ground Productions Inc., Morrow-Heus Productions, Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP), The Guber-Peters Company, W.I.C., and CBS

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: When you have a movie like Christmas on Division Street, where the story revolves around the friendship between two characters, it’s important to cast actors who can equally carry that production. Because of the strength of Fred’s and Hume’s performance, I was captivated by the story of Trevor and Cleveland! Hume’s character, Cleveland Meriwether, typically carries himself as a jolly mentor. He not only wanted to teach Trevor valuable lessons, he also wanted to help other people in need. However, there were moments that showed just how versatile of an actor Hume Cronyn is. After receiving a tin of cookies from Trevor, Cleveland heartily laughs to himself, remembering his friend’s kindness. Then, all of a sudden, Cleveland’s laughter morphs into sobbing, sadness now residing on his face. This transformation was seamless, showing Cleveland’s emotions bubbling over behind closed doors. The scene I described also presents Hume’s understanding for when and where to use emotionality.

Like I previously mentioned in this review, I was captivated by the story of Trevor and Cleveland because of the strength of Fred’s and Hume’s performance. One scene that illustrates this point is when Cleveland tries to help Trevor with an upcoming school assignment. After Cleveland reminds Trevor how they should be honest with each other, Trevor immediately becomes frustrated because he believes Cleveland has been dishonest with him. As he’s confronting Cleveland, Trevor’s tone of voice is sharp and his eyes narrow on Cleveland’s face. But as soon as Trevor calls Cleveland a “bum”, Trevor’s face quickly falls, realizing he’d messed up. Meanwhile, Cleveland looks deflated, as if his spirit had been crushed. Similar to Hume’s performance, Fred Savage knew how to use emotionality to his advantage. This knowledge allowed his portrayal of Trevor to be well-rounded!

Badja Djola portrayed Scorpio, a friend of Cleveland’s. Despite having limited appearances in Christmas on Division Street, he had such a commanding presence! One of my favorite scenes featuring Scorpio is when he’s sharing some of his backstory with Cleveland. With a combination of eye movements, vocal inflections, and even tilts of the head, Scorpio’s recollection was captivating. I clung on to every word, anticipating what he would say next. With everything I said, I wish Badja had received more screen time.

The messages and themes: As I mentioned in my review of Cancel Christmas, important messages and themes are sprinkled throughout the story of a typical Christmas film. While this was the case for Christmas on Division Street, the themes and messages within the story apply to the Christmas season as well as outside of Christmastime. A good example is when Trevor faces a dilemma; he doesn’t have any money for a ride home. With quick thinking, Cleveland tells Trevor he’s on his way to the bank. The next scene reveals Cleveland meant the blood bank, where he not only donates blood, he also makes enough money to help Trevor. This scene emphasizes how there are a variety of ways to help those in need any time of year. In another scene, Trevor tries to give Cleveland some used clothes. When he searches through the bag of clothes, Cleveland finds a long coat with a fur collar. Instead of taking the coat for himself, he gives the coat to a pregnant woman he knows. The theme of putting the needs of others before yourself is highlighted in this scene.

The inclusion of history: Toward the beginning of Christmas on Division Street, Trevor receives a class assignment to write a report about a topic relating to Philadelphia’s American Revolution history. Through this subplot, the movie’s creative team found an opportunity to incorporate history into the script. At the library, where Trevor and Cleveland first meet, Cleveland encourages Trevor to write about Benjamin Franklin. While Trevor takes notes, Cleveland shares how Benjamin Franklin created the first subscription library in Philadelphia. Cleveland also shares how Benjamin Franklin would sometimes write under the pen-name of Richard Saunders. Though these history lessons were brief, their inclusion in Christmas on Division Street was such a pleasant surprise!

The dialogue: I have said in the past how a made-for-TV movie’s dialogue can be very hit or miss. That’s because the quality of a television film’s dialogue depends on the skill and talent of the screenwriter. While watching Christmas on Division Street, I was impressed with this part of the production! The dialogue was not only clever, but also thoughtful. At the library one day, Cleveland meets with his social worker, Benedetti. After Benedetti expressed his frustrations over Cleveland’s lack of progress, Cleveland tells his social worker, “Weren’t for guys like me, you’d be out of a job. And before you know it, you’d be down here taking my place. I’d say I’m doing you a big favor”. Later in the movie, Cleveland gives the long coat with the fur collar to the pregnant woman he knows. Because Trevor was with Cleveland during this exchange, Cleveland says to Trevor, “Funny how people become invisible…when you keep your eyes closed”. Within these two examples, the screenwriter did a good job at providing Cleveland with character development through dialogue!

The On the Spot Blogathon banner created by Rebecca from Taking Up Room

What I didn’t like about the film:

An inconsistent appearance of Christmas: With a movie titled Christmas on Division Street, you’d think the Christmas holiday would have such a consistent presence, it would seem like Christmas was its own character in the story. But that’s not what happened in the 1991 film. When I watched about thirty minutes of Christmas on Division Street, I wondered, “Isn’t this a Christmas film”? That’s because there was no acknowledgment of Christmas. The only noticeable seasonal element was fallen leaves occasionally shown in Philadelphia’s landscape. Christmas is finally recognized about forty minutes into an hour and thirty-three-minute movie. I recognize the emphasis in Christmas on Division Street is placed on the messages and themes of the holiday instead of the holiday itself. However, I still wish Christmas had a more consistent appearance in the film.

A quick resolution: Earlier in this review, I said, toward the beginning of Christmas on Division Street, Trevor receives a class assignment to write a report about a topic relating to Philadelphia’s American Revolution history. This subplot is interconnected with another subplot; Trevor’s conflict with a fellow student named Derek. For most of the story, Derek picks on Trevor. He even goes so far as to steal Trevor’s idea for his history report. But after their history reports have been graded, Trevor learns a little about Derek’s home life. This knowledge not only makes Trevor sympathetic toward Derek, he also becomes Derek’s friend. The subplot I just wrote about represents one of the story’s themes; that “everybody’s got their story”. However, the resolution to this conflict was, in my opinion, reached too quickly.

Tonal whiplash: After gathering research for his history report, Trevor rescues a pair of blue carnation flowers from the garbage with Cleveland. In this heartwarming scene, Trevor says how Cleveland sometimes reminds him of his grandpa, who had recently passed away. A scene later, a dead body is being placed in a coroner’s car, with Benedetti telling Trevor and Cleveland a man named Jake had died. The next scene shows Trevor and his family attending an event at their church. This tonal whiplash was not a consistent flaw in Christmas on Division Street. But among these aforementioned scenes, the transition between tones should have been smoother.

Library image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/stack-of-books-on-library-desk_2509490.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/school”>School image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

In the introduction of this review, I stated how I did not find Christmas on Division Street, the movie found me. After seeing the film, I can honestly say I’m glad it crossed my path! Out of the made-for-TV Christmas projects I’ve seen, let alone reviewed, the 1991 production is one of better programs ever created. The acting from both the lead actors and the supporting cast is equally strong. While Fred and Hume carried the story through the strength of their acting abilities, Badja found a way to make his character memorable. The dialogue was clever and thoughtful thanks to the screenwriter, Barry Morrow. In fact, the dialogue was one of most impressive parts of the movie! I wish Christmas had a more consistent presence throughout Christmas on Division Street. However, I recognize the themes and messages of Christmas were prioritized over the holiday itself. I also wish the conflict between Trevor and Derek hadn’t been resolved so quickly. But I acknowledge how this subplot represented the theme of “everybody’s got their story”. If you’re looking for a Christmas movie that’s found off the beaten path or could be considered a “hidden gem”, let Christmas on Division Street find you on your path!

Overall score: 7.5-7.6 out of 10

Have you seen Christmas on Division Street? Do you have a favorite Christmas film that is more “underrated”? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Reluctant Debutante Review

On December 8, 2024December 10, 2024 By 18cinemalane14 Comments

Out of all the decades covered on 18 Cinema Lane, the 1950s make such infrequent appearances. I did review the 1954 film, Dial M for Murder, last month. But my review before that was from last December, when I wrote about 1957’s The Curse of Frankenstein. This infrequency is one of the reasons why I’m reviewing the 1958 film, The Reluctant Debutante! Another reason is John Saxon’s involvement in the project. When I joined Realweegiemidget Reviews’ and Cinematic Catharsis’ blogathon, I wasn’t familiar with John Saxon as an actor. So, while exploring his filmography, I came across the 1958 movie. I was surprised to discover Angela Lansbury also starred in The Reluctant Debutante. Since I’ve seen few of Angela’s live-action films, there was yet another reason for me to review this production.

*The Reluctant Debutante* poster created by Avon Productions and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: As I said in this review’s introduction, John Saxon is one of the reasons why I’m reviewing The Reluctant Debutante. Even though I wasn’t familiar with him as an actor, I liked his portrayal of David Parkson! Whenever he appeared in the movie, David always looked confident. Paired with that confidence was charisma, which helped David become such a memorable and likable character! What worked in John’s favor was the consistency of his performance. Having good on-screen camaraderie with Sandra Dee also worked in John’s favor. In the few scenes David and Jane, Sandra’s character, spent together, they appeared to get along so well. They also seemed to be on the same page when it came to several topics, such as the symbolism behind dancing and exploring the world. I, honestly, wish Sandra and John were given more appearances in The Reluctant Debutante because both of their performances were strong!

Like I also mentioned in this review’s introduction, Angela Lansbury’s involvement is another reason why I wrote about The Reluctant Debutante! Despite having limited appearances in the story, I really enjoyed watching Angela’s portrayal of Mabel Claremont! The best way I can describe this character is “the life of the party”. From the very first scene she appeared in, Mabel had such an exuberant personality. There was such a brightness to Mabel, I could understand why other characters might want to invite her to their events. Similar to John Saxon’s performance, Angela’s portrayal of Mabel was consistent. Mabel is another character I wish received more screen-time!

The on-screen chemistry: Rex Harrison and Kay Kendall portrayed Jane’s parents, Jimmy and Sheila, in The Reluctant Debutante. Shortly after these characters were introduced, I could immediately sense Kay and Rex’s on-screen chemistry! Throughout the story, Sheila and Jimmy’s marriage felt believable, like they were always meant to be together. When it came to the “debutante season”, Jimmy was the casual participant and Sheila became more involved in the process. Though they had their reasons for their “debutante season” beliefs, they still found a way to come together when it came to what was important, such as the well being of their daughter. Based on everything I said, Sheila and Jimmy displayed the “opposites attract” trope. With the strength of Kay and Rex’s acting abilities, both individually and together, this trope worked in Jimmy and Sheila’s favor!

The wardrobe: Debutante balls are known for showcasing exquisite fashion! When it came to the wardrobe department, The Reluctant Debutante did not disappoint! At a ball toward the beginning of the movie, Mabel wore a long-sleeved gown. This scoop-neck gown was covered in a lacy, deep-blue material, complimenting Angela’s light blonde hair. Adding extra sparkle was a large diamond necklace, a diamond tiara, and diamond earrings. One of my favorite dresses was Jane’s light-blue gown! Tiny bows found their place on the gown’s skirt. Sandra sometimes wore this dress with a light-blue satin cape and white gloves, which added elegance to the overall ensemble. Another outfit I liked is more casual in style. While at a restaurant with David Parkson, Jane wore a beige and brown plaid jumper dress over a beige blouse. Paired with this outfit was a khaki trench coat and a beige hat.

The John Saxon Blogathon banner created by Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews and Barry from Cinematic Catharsis

What I didn’t like about the film:

A premise driven story: In the past, I’ve explained the difference between a premise driven and a plot driven story. In the case of The Reluctant Debutante, this story was premise driven. According to IMDB, the movie is about Jane and her parents participating in “Debutante season”. That part of the story was prioritized throughout the film. Taking a behind the scenes look at the debutante world is interesting. Halfway through the movie, though, I found myself asking, “Where’s the plot”? What The Reluctant Debutante was missing was a conflict, something to make the audience ask, “and then what happened”. This conflict could have ranged from Sheila and Jimmy organizing Jane’s debutante ball to Mabel convincing the Queen to continue the tradition of “debutante season”.

Drawn-out jokes: IMDB classifies The Reluctant Debutante as a comedy. Despite this label, I didn’t find myself laughing while watching the film. This weakness was due to the story’s jokes being drawn-out. A perfect example is how Sheila and Jimmy’s plans to overprotect Jane don’t go as expected. At one ball, Jimmy and Sheila are trying to find Jane. They race around the ballroom frantically looking for their daughter. Toward the end of the event, they discover Jane left with David Parkson. The very next scene revolves around Sheila and Jimmy worrying about Jane’s whereabouts, even going so far as to hiding in the kitchen and eavesdropping when Jane arrives home. I understand The Reluctant Debutante’s creative team was trying to tell a “comedy of errors” kind of story. In this movie, however, it took a long time for the errors to be resolved. In my aforementioned example, it took two whole scenes for Jane to be reunited with her parents. Watching The Reluctant Debutante felt like listening to a comedian spending too much time reaching their joke’s intended punchline.

Overlooked story ideas: While sightseeing in London, Mabel’s daughter, Clarissa, explains the “debutante season” to Jane. During this explanation, Clarissa tells Jane 1958 will be the last year for the “season” due to the Queen believing the practice outdated. Outside of Jane and Clarissa’s conversation, however, this detail isn’t brought up. Plus, none of the characters act as if the tradition of the “season” is ending anytime soon. I wish this part of the story had played a bigger role in The Reluctant Debutante. As I mentioned earlier in this review, it could have served as one of the story’s conflicts. It also would have given other characters, like Mabel and Clarissa, more involvement in the film.

Image of high school students dancing at prom created by Jan Sundstedt at freeimages.com. Photo by <a href=”/photographer/jansun-33414″>Jan Sundstedt</a> from <a href=”https://freeimages.com/”>FreeImages</a>. Image found at freeimages.com.

My overall impression:

Movies from the 1950s are reviewed so infrequently on 18 Cinema Lane. So, when I find a film from the ‘50s to write about, I always root for that film to be good. With The Reluctant Debutante, however, I can’t say this movie is good. If anything, I was disappointed by it. The 1958 production was a premise driven story, a type of story that, in my opinion, contains less intrigue. The jokes lasted so long, it made the movie feel longer than one hour and thirty-four minutes. At one point, I almost fell asleep watching The Reluctant Debutante. Though I kept watching because the cast gave such strong performances. From Kay and Rex’s on-screen chemistry to Angela’s character being “the life of the party”, the acting was one of the few things I liked about the film. There’re even characters that should have received more screen-time, like David Parkson and Jane. During The Reluctant Debutante’s opening credits, I learned the movie was based on a play. What I also learned is how some plays were not meant to be adapted into a film.

Overall score: 5.5 out of 10

Have you seen The Reluctant Debutante? Which movie from the 1950s is your favorite? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Cancel Christmas Review

On December 2, 2024December 4, 2024 By 18cinemalane1 Comment

When choosing to review a Hallmark Christmas film, I sometimes select an “older” production that isn’t featured during “Miracles of Christmas” or “Countdown to Christmas” as often as it used to. I figure if either Hallmark Channel or Hallmark Mystery continues to prioritize their “newer” movies, 18 Cinema Lane will take the time to give these “older” pictures their much-needed recognition. Cancel Christmas is one of these films. Premiering in the early 2010s, Cancel Christmas was released during a time when Hallmark Channel aired less than twenty movies during their “Countdown to Christmas” line-up. This movie was also released during a time when Hallmark’s Christmas projects weren’t mandated by the network’s brand, allowing each movie to be as creative as their respective creative team desired. When I wrote about hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween, I mentioned how Hoops & Yoyo would appear in an article of things you can no longer find from Hallmark. If this article existed, Christmas movies featuring Santa would also be included. Comparing today’s Hallmark Channel with the network of yesteryear, Santa’s appearances in Christmas cinema have become rarer. So, similar to hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween, Cancel Christmas serves as a time capsule of how different Hallmark Channel was over ten years ago.

*Cancel Christmas* poster created by Chesler/Perlmutter Productions, Daro Film Distribution, and Hallmark Channel

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Since the dawn of cinema, there have been countless portrayals of Santa. How Santa carries himself on screen depends on the actor, screenwriting, and director. In Cancel Christmas, Judd Nelson presented Santa in a way I don’t often see in the world of Christmas cinema. This movie shows Santa as softer-spoken, displaying jolliness through actions instead of just words. His overall demeanor was that of a “wise elder”; thoughtful, reflective, and willing to be a mentor when necessary. Judd’s portrayal of Santa stresses one of the themes of Cancel Christmas; it doesn’t matter what Santa looks like, what matters is the goodness in his heart. Working alongside Santa is an elf named Randal. Portrayed by Justin Landry, Randal ended up stealing the show! He was the perfect opposite to the character of Santa, being enthusiastically joyful and wearing a smile with an up-beat attitude. Randal’s laugh was infectious, making me laugh along with him. I, honestly, wish this movie had been about Randal!

If a Christmas movie features a “Scrooge” type character (a character whose heart changes over the course of the story), the character’s gradual change needs to feel genuine. The more genuine this transformation is, the more opportunities the audience receives to have empathy for that character. Sante Scaletta portrayed a “Scrooge” type character in Cancel Christmas. Farley Morgan is known as a bully at his school. Around his friend and authoritative figures, Farley carries an arrogant attitude. He presents himself as more invincible than he really is. But behind closed doors, the emotional walls surrounding Farley become dismantled. From happily playing with his dog, Kip, to tearfully sharing family memories with his father, Farley’s emotional range broadens. Because of Sante’s impressive performance, Farley’s gradual change in Cancel Christmas truly felt believably genuine!

The messages and themes: In a typical Christmas film, especially from Hallmark, important messages and themes are sprinkled throughout the story. These messages and themes serve as lessons for the audience to learn. They’re also ways for the audience to relate to the characters. As I mentioned earlier in this review, Farley is a bully at his school. Toward the beginning of Cancel Christmas, he and his friend, Steve, attempt to pull a prank on their teacher, Mrs. Claymore. However, Mrs. Claymore is spared from the prank because the prank ends up affecting someone else. At school one day, Mrs. Claymore tells Steve if she had been affected by the prank, it would have made her cry. She shares this to remind Steve how his and Farley’s actions have consequences.

The setting: On-screen text reveals how Cancel Christmas takes place in Atlanta, Georgia. This was a nice change of scenery from the backgrounds of most of Hallmark’s Christmas productions! Snowy, small towns have become a staple in the network’s Christmas cinema. The reality, though, is how not everyone’s environment reflects what Hallmark projects. By placing Cancel Christmas in Atlanta, Georgia, the movie’s creative team gives the audience an idea of what the Christmas season is like in one of America’s southern states. Relatable Christmas activities, such as making Christmas dinner and decorating the school, are emphasized throughout the story. Among Hallmark’s collection of Christmas films, southern states have rarely made an appearance. So, I appreciate Cancel Christmas’ creative team filling this particular creative void!

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

What I didn’t like about the film:

A weak villain: Constance is introduced as the villain at the beginning of Cancel Christmas. She informs Santa his job is in jeopardy because of how spoiled the world’s children have become. While Santa speculates Constance’s motive for endangering his job, a clear explanation is never provided. Constance’s appearance in only three scenes prevented her from having a more intimidating presence. Jean Yoon, who portrayed Constance, gave a good performance with the provided script. But when it came to Constance being a weak villain, I fault the screenwriter.

Too many stories: Sometimes, a Hallmark Christmas movie will feature multiple stories within its script. The collection of stories can range from having one main plot and one or two sub-plots to a variety of characters crossing paths with one another. What makes some of these movies work is how all those stories are woven together. But, in Cancel Christmas, the threads between the stories were unimpressive, causing the script’s abundance of stories to be noticeable. Besides the main plot of Santa trying to save his job, there were about five sub-plots, from a news reporter trying to find the “real” Santa to Farley’s friend, Steve, organizing a fundraiser. There was creativity found within these sub-plots. In fact, some of them belonged in their own movie. However, all these stories ended up competing against each other in Cancel Christmas. It also doesn’t help how the film has a run-time of an hour and twenty-seven minutes. Having so many stories in one script made the movie feel kind of overwhelming.

Unnecessary clichés: I will commend the creative team behind Cancel Christmas for trying to incorporate as much creativity as possible into their project. But there were a few clichés that could have been left on the cutting room floor. As I mentioned in my list of the top ten worst clichés from Hallmark movies, the “business person is a jerk and/or out of touch” cliché has become one of the network’s more over-used clichés. It has, more often than not, been included in rom-coms, in order to make the businessman seem less desirable than the male protagonist. The “business person is a jerk and/or out of touch” cliché found a place in Cancel Christmas. In this movie, the cliché was connected to a story that has been adopted by a lot of entertainment media; the bully/antagonist having a tragic backstory and/or being misunderstood. To me, these parts of the story were more predictable than they needed to be. However, I understand their purpose in the movie was to instill compassion and empathy to the film’s audience.

Dog collection image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/dog”>Dog vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movies have changed since the network began in 2001. In the earlier years, these movies didn’t follow a pre-determined formula or adopt as many of the clichés viewers see today. Hallmark’s “older” productions were given more opportunities to find their respective audience because there were fewer Christmas films airing during the Christmas season. Like I said in my review, I commend the creative team behind Cancel Christmas for trying to incorporate as much creativity as possible into their project. From Judd Nelson’s portrayal of Santa to the story taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, these creative choices felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the network’s more recent offerings. Though there were things I liked about this film, it contained noticeable flaws. Not only was the villain weak, the movie featured too many stories. There were also some clichés that were, in my opinion, unnecessarily added to the film. I wish Hallmark would go back to making creativity the rule itself. So many stories and ideas could be told through the network’s programs. But with Hallmark making the same types of projects, the network seems content with creating repetitive and predictable presentations.

Overall score 7.1-7.2 out of 10

Have you seen Cancel Christmas? Are there any “older” Hallmark Christmas movies you enjoy watching? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade Review

On November 27, 2024December 18, 2024 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I decided to choose a Thanksgiving film as the first seasonal movie to review this Christmas/holiday season! While searching for options, the 2012 Hallmark presentation, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, crossed my path. I hadn’t seen this film in its entirety prior to 2024. But over the years, I had heard good things about it. Within the Hallmark fan community, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade has received the title of “classic”. Because of that, I wanted to see for myself if the film’s hype was legitimate. Whenever a Hallmark movie becomes popular, I try to check out the movie in order to form my own opinion. Sometimes, I feel the hype was earned, like with the 2014 film, The Nine Lives of Christmas. But I have found myself disagreeing with popular opinion, such as with 2006’s The Christmas Card. What will be my thoughts on Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade? If you want to know the answer, you have to keep reading my review!

*Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade* poster created by Hallmark Channel, Pitchblack Pictures, and LaCanada

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: In a story that primarily revolves around the male and female protagonist, the likability of those characters is determined by the performance of the lead actor and actress. With their portrayal of Emily and Henry, Autumn Reeser and Antonio Cupo effortlessly carried Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade! Emily is a bright, energetic, and up-beat woman. Her enthusiasm for Chicago’s Thanksgiving parade is charming, with that charm radiating off the screen. Throughout the movie, Autumn displays an understanding for her character’s emotional range. Emily’s energetic bubbliness is showcased enough to keep the character likable. Meanwhile, Antonio’s character, Henry, boasts a more serious personality. This seriousness doesn’t prevent Henry’s suave charisma from shining through. What Autumn’s and Antonio’s performance share in common is how consistent they are. That consistency helped make Henry and Emily strong characters!

Antonio and Autumn are not the only actors giving consistent performances in Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade! From time to time, Emily interacts with a co-worker named Donna. Similar to Emily, Donna has a bubbly personality. Because of April Telek’s acting strengths, I looked forward to seeing Donna show up in the story. In fact, I wish Donna received a larger role in the film. Another likable character was Emily’s friend, Jaclyn. Despite appearing in the movie for a limited period of time, Ali Liebert helped her character shine by presenting Jaclyn with a warm, friendly personality. I wish Jaclyn was given her own sub-plot to be more involved in the story.

The on-screen chemistry: As I just talked about in this review, Autumn Reeser and Antonio Cupo effortlessly carried Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Another reason why I believe this statement is because of their on-screen chemistry. This movie uses the trope of “opposites attract”. Because of the aforementioned performances of Antonio and Autumn, the attraction of Henry and Emily felt believable! Their banter went back-and-forth like a ping-pong game, providing lively, even funny interactions. The more time they spent together, the more Emily and Henry’s feelings for each other naturally progressed. Despite being “opposites”, these characters found common ground and tried to get on the same page. Henry and Emily kind of reminded me of Oliver and Shane from the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series.

Emily’s wardrobe: Throughout Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Emily consistently wears vintage attire. I liked this creative decision because Emily’s wardrobe not only complimented Autumn, it made Emily a unique character! One of these outfits was a pink dress with matching jacket. Paired with a pink pillbox hat, this outfit represents the classy and sophisticated way Emily presents herself. Even when she takes a simple trip to the grocery store, Emily sports a deep teal, long-sleeved dress with a pleated skirt. When Henry invites her to a basketball game, Emily stays true to herself by wearing a red, short-sleeved blouse, dark blue jeans, and a red belt. The only “modern” part of the ensemble is a Chicago Bulls cap.

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

What I didn’t like about the film:

A secondary holiday and parade: Hallmark does not create Thanksgiving movies often, especially this decade. So, when I watch one of their Thanksgiving pictures, I hope the holiday is featured similarly to Christmas in their Christmas productions. As the story progressed in Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, however, I quickly took notice of how Emily and Henry’s relationship was prioritized over Thanksgiving and the titular parade. The Thanksgiving holiday was barely referenced in this movie. There were no Thanksgiving decorations to be seen and I don’t recall any of the characters saying the word “turkey”. While parade preparations were shown throughout the film, they were only featured in short segments. This is a shame because aspects of the parade, such as “parade camp” or a group of clowns visiting children at the hospital, could have served as the story of their own movie. I wish the parade and/or Thanksgiving had been more involved in the plot. With Emily sharing a brief history of the parade early in the film, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade could have had a story similar to A Biltmore Christmas.

The “it’s not what you think” cliché: Among Hallmark’s collection of clichés is the “it’s not what you think” cliché. This is when the protagonist sees or hears something out of context and automatically assumes the worst. Hallmark has sometimes used this cliché in a way that complements the story, like in Easter Under Wraps and Rome in Love. But there are times when this cliché has been included in a movie just for the sake of it. In the case of Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, I understand the “it’s not what you think” cliché was intended to create conflict between Henry and Emily. However, I don’t think the cliché’s inclusion in the story was necessary because it happened right after Emily experienced a difficult time in her life. To me, that part of the film seemed cruel and a bit mean-spirited toward Emily.

A rushed backstory: One of the themes of Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade is “looks can be deceiving”. Despite this theme being utilized well at times, the overall utilization of this theme was not consistent. During the film’s climax, important pieces of a character’s backstory are presented in a rushed manner. That information helps another character change their perception of the character in question. Instead of rushing to deliver this information before the end of the movie, it should have been given over the course of the film. That way, the audience has time to digest and ponder the character’s backstory.

Group of clowns image created by Freepik at freepik.com. Image by Freepik

My overall impression:

Because Hallmark creates so few Thanksgiving movies, I’m always rooting for their Thanksgiving pictures to be good. But, like Hallmark’s Christmas productions, these films are not created equal. As I’ve mentioned in the past, An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Hallmark films. One reason why is how Thanksgiving is acknowledged throughout the story. Unfortunately, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade did not follow in the footsteps of the 2008 film. In fact, Thanksgiving and the titular parade were overshadowed by Emily and Henry’s relationship. This is one of those movies where a better story idea can be found within the script. But the reason why I kept watching the film is because of the acting performances! Autumn Reeser and Antonio Cupo shined bright together, carrying the movie with their acting talents and on-screen chemistry. The supporting cast was strong as well. I liked Emily’s wardrobe because it helped make her such a memorable character. The combination of Autumn’s performance and the screenwriting contributed to that too. Out of Hallmark’s Thanksgiving projects I’ve seen, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade falls somewhere in the middle. While the 2012 picture isn’t bad, it could’ve been stronger.

Overall score: 6.7 out of 10

Have you seen Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade? Has Hallmark created a Thanksgiving movie you’d like to see me review? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun on Thanksgiving!

Sally Silverscreen

My Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List 2024

On November 25, 2024December 19, 2025 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With the Christmas/holiday season fast approaching, it’s that time of year for my annual Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List! For readers new to 18 Cinema Lane, this tradition shares the movie related things I’d like to receive for Christmas. The list’s format follows the quote; “Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read”. The items on my list, including this year, have been a combination of realistic requests and wishful thinking. With those explanations said, let’s get into 2024’s Christmas wish-list!

Something You Want

Since there are movies associated with the Murder, She Wrote series, I will bring this want up in my wish-list. During my Cabot Cove-thon Blogathon, I published an editorial about why Universal Orlando Resort should host Murder, She Wrote weekend. Throughout this article, I explained why this event should work by presenting a basic concept of the event’s schedule. Murder, She Wrote weekend is an event where all parties involved would benefit. Universal Orlando Resort would receive an opportunity to not only make a profit, but to also utilize an intellectual property (IP) that used to have a presence in the park. Attractions and businesses within the park’s boundaries would be able to welcome more guests and increase their revenue. Fans of Murder, She Wrote would have a chance to meet other fans and celebrate the legacy of the show. If Murder, She Wrote weekend becomes an actual event, I think it has the potential to become a cherished Universal Orlando Resort tradition!

Cabot Cove-thon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original picture found on IMDB.

Something You Need to See

When I reviewed the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Pack of Lies, in June, I referenced a Hallmark commercial that was based on a true story. In this commercial, a man, whose first language is not English, is looking for the perfect card for his wife, who will soon arrive in the United States. When he goes to a Hallmark store, the man is assisted by an employee named Rose, who helps him find exactly what he is looking for. After watching this commercial, I developed a collection of questions: What happened to the man and his wife? Are they still together? Did she like the card he bought her? What about Rose, does she still work at Hallmark? Has she retired? And the biggest question of them all; what compelled Hallmark to turn this particular story into a commercial? With everything I just said, I think the commercial could serve as the story for a future Hallmark movie! If the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series continues, that commercial could also serve as a plot in a future Signed, Sealed, Delivered film!

This screenshot, taken by me, Sally Silverscreen, is from the aforementioned Hallmark commercial from 1987.

A movie related piece of clothing or accessory I’d want to wear

While we’re on subject of Pack of Lies, I want to talk about an outfit Teri Garr’s character, Helen, wore in the 1987 film! During Christmastime, Helen’s outfit was a black and blue ensemble that consisted of black kitten heels, black and blue plaid slacks, and a black sweater over a blue turtleneck. For accessories, Helen wore her hair in a black bow and displayed black stone earrings. I like this outfit because of how timeless it is! It works in either the 1960s, 1980s, or today!

This screenshot, taken by me, Sally Silverscreen, is from the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, *Pack of Lies*. Because Helen wore this outfit in only one scene, this is the only time where her complete outfit is shown on-screen.

A book I’ve read that I’d like to see adapted into a film

In my post about the Finally Fall Book Tag, I mentioned The Princess Spy being the best book I read for 2024’s Eurovisionathon. While discussing the book, I talked about how it was both educational and entertaining due to Larry Loftis’ research and literary skill. Looking back on other non-fiction stories from World War II, I realized how underrated Aline Griffith’s story is. When it comes to films taking place during World War II, the espionage side of the war effort is not commonly featured. Because of these factors, I would like to see The Princess Spy adapted into a movie!

*The Princess Spy* book cover found on Goodreads

What are your thoughts on my Christmas wish list? Are there any movie related things you’d like to receive during the Christmas/holiday season? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun during the Christmas/holiday season!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Dial M for Murder Review

On November 14, 2024 By 18cinemalane13 Comments

For this movie review, I chose to write about the 1954 film, Dial M for Murder, for two reasons. The first is how I selected this specific title for The 6^th Wonderful Grace Kelly Blogathon, as Grace Kelly stars in the film. The second reason is how, prior to this review, I had never seen Dial M for Murder. Grace and Alfred are no strangers to 18 Cinema Lane. As of mid-November, 2024, I have reviewed two of Grace’s films; High Society (which I thought was fine) and To Catch a Thief (which I found just ok). Meanwhile, four of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies have been covered on my blog. Out of those titles, Strangers on a Train is, in my opinion, still the best one. But how does Dial M for Murder compare to any of Alfred’s films featured on 18 Cinema Lane? Find out by reading my review!

*Dial M for Murder* poster created by Warner Bros.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Since Grace Kelly is the reason why I chose to review Dial M for Murder, I will talk about her performance first. Out of her movies I’ve seen, I’ve noticed how her character portrayals have appeared at ease. Her performance in Dial M for Murder is no different, as her adopted mannerisms and reactions came across as realistic! While sharing a conversation with Mark (portrayed by Robert Cummings), Grace’s character, Margot, seems comfortable in his presence. She effortlessly moves around her apartment and, at times, stands close to him. But when she talks with Mark about how her husband, Tony, has changed, Margot appears to stare into the distance. The combination of her aforementioned stare and frown indicates how Tony’s behavior has troubled her. It also shows the audience how effective Grace’s acting talents are!

As I just said in this review, Robert Cummings portrays Mark, a close friend of Margot. Though they shared only a few scenes together, Grace and Robert displayed nice on-screen chemistry! The strength of Robert’s and Grace’s acting abilities helped their characters appear to truly get along with each other. While I liked Robert’s performance in Dial M for Murder, I was also impressed with Ray Milland’s performance! Similar to Grace’s portrayal of Margot, Ray’s portrayal of Tony showcases how adaptable his acting skills are. For example, Tony looks annoyed while at a restaurant with Mark. From the tone in his voice to constantly checking his watch, Tony clearly appears impatient. A few scenes later, as he’s on the phone with Margot, his demeanor quickly changes to concern due to what he hears over the phone. Throughout his performance, Ray effortlessly brought his character to life!

The use of lighting: Over the course of his career, Alfred Hitchcock has received the title of “Master of Suspense”. One reason why he was given this title is because of how he utilizes lighting to stir up a mood, present visually interesting concepts, or add suspense. In one scene, someone enters Margot and Tony’s apartment. This moment takes place at night, so the only light comes from the fireplace in the living room. An orange glow only providing light to certain areas of the room creates a suspenseful environment, giving the intruder places to hide. I brought up earlier in this review how Mark and Margot shared a conversation. Their conversation takes place in Tony and Margot’s apartment. Right before Tony returns home, Margot’s and Mark’s shadow departs from each other, keeping the closeness of their relationship a secret.

The use of color: Dial M for Murder’s opening credits reveal how the film’s creative team used “WarnerColor” in their project. I’m glad this movie was presented in color because it gave the creative team opportunities to utilize this visual technique to their advantage! Sometimes, the color red was incorporated into a character’s wardrobe. This ranged from Margot wearing a red dress at the beginning of the movie to Tony sporting deep red suspenders. One of the pieces of décor in Margot and Tony’s apartment were dark green curtains. In these examples, color was chosen to draw the audience’s attention to a person, object, or location in the room.

The 6th Wonderful Grace Kelly Blogathon banner created by Virginie from The Wonderful World of Cinema and Emily from The Flapper Dame

What I didn’t like about the film:

Exposition heavy: At the beginning of the movie, Margot shares with Mark how she recently lost her purse. She also tells him when her purse was returned, a letter Mark wrote her was missing. But shortly after Margot made this confession, an exposition heavy scene revealed the letter’s whereabouts, as well as who the story’s perpetrator was. Because this information was revealed so early in the movie, it took away a lot of the story’s suspense. So much exposition given within the film’s first ten minutes may also overwhelm the audience, possibly missing important information if they don’t actively pay attention to the dialogue.

A mystery that isn’t interactive: While talking about Dial M for Murder’s exposition heavy story, I said the perpetrator was revealed so early in the movie. This creative choice takes away the audience’s opportunity to solve the mystery of whodunit alongside the characters. What Dial M for Murder became was a story of how the perpetrator would get caught, similar to programs like Columbo and Diagnosis Murder. That creative decision forces the audience to simply watch the characters solve the story’s mystery. With everything I said, the mystery in Dial M for Murder wasn’t interactive.

A less intimidating antagonist: In some of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies, the antagonist is an intimidating person for a variety of reasons. Their intimidation can add suspense and intensity to a given film’s story. I will not spoil Dial M for Murder. However, I can honestly say I did not find the movie’s antagonist intimidating. Throughout the story, the antagonist kept making dumb decisions, which distracted from their attempts to be an intimidating character. It also didn’t help how the exposition heaviness of the film’s first ten minutes took away a lot of the story’s suspense. If anything, the antagonist in Dial M for Murder was annoying.

Colorful image of key created by orchidart at freepik.com. Flower vector created by orchidart – www.freepik.com

My overall impression:

As of the publication of this review, I have seen eight of Alfred Hitchcock’s films. While I was disappointed by The 39 Steps, I ended up liking Strangers on a Train. When it comes to Dial M for Murder, though, the movie lies somewhere in the middle. Grace Kelly’s performance was, once again, one of the best parts of the production! Her portrayal of Margot was so strong, her reactions and expressions appeared realistic! The use of lighting and color gave Alfred and his creative team ways to present visually creative ideas. But what held Dial M for Murder back from being a more intriguing project is how the first ten minutes of the story was exposition heavy, with this decision impacting the film’s suspense. The mystery not being interactive also takes away some of Dial M for Murder’s intrigue. Alfred’s film felt reminiscent of shows like Columbo and Diagnosis Murder, where the audience simply waits for the perpetrator to get caught. Personally, I prefer mystery stories where I’m left guessing whodunit.

Overall score: 6-6.1 out of 10

Have you seen Dial M for Murder? Which movie of Alfred Hitchcock’s would you like to see me review next? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween Review

On October 31, 2024December 4, 2024 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

For the recent We Are Family Blogathon, I had planned to review the Diagnosis Murder episode, “Guardian Angel”, and the 1964 movie, The Chalk Garden. While I wrote about the aforementioned television episode, I wasn’t able to discuss the movie due to those plans falling through at the last minute. I still want to review The Chalk Garden. It just didn’t happen as soon as I hoped or expected. So, to make it up to my readers who were anticipating a review of the 1964 film, I decided to write about a Halloween themed picture. I read an article on Business Insider about the thirty things you can’t find in malls anymore. One of the mentioned points was movies set in malls. As soon as I read this, I immediately thought of the 2012 Hallmark film, hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween! I brought this movie up in my review of The Legend of Billie Jean, when a scene in the 1985 film was reminiscent of Hallmark’s production. In that review, I said I only saw pieces of the movie. That, paired with the fact the only other animated movie I’ve written about this year, so far, was Cricket on the Hearth, is the reason why I chose hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween for this review! Is this film a trick or treat? Keep reading to find out!

*hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween* poster created by Bent Image Lab, Pershing Road Productions, and Hallmark Channel

Things I liked about the film:

The use of color: In my review of Cricket on the Hearth, I talked about how well color was used throughout that movie. I even mentioned how some of the best animated movies boast bright, colorful hues. hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween followed Cricket on the Hearth’s footsteps by displaying a strong understanding for how to effectively incorporate color into their production. During their mall adventure, Hoops, Yoyo, and Piddles take advantage of the different shops and attractions at North Escapades Mall. One of these stores is called “bling you phone!”. The store’s sign and window frames are coated in a deep purple hue. This simple creative choice drew the audience’s attention to this particular location, especially since the colors surrounding the “bling you phone!” store are warm beige, faded brown, and cream. Later, at a sporting goods store, Hoops and Yoyo are camping in a big, orange tent. Surrounding the tent are products displaying shades of green, red, and yellow. Even in the smallest of details, the hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween’s creative team took advantage of every opportunity to include color in their project!

Expressive characters: A strength of any animated movie is how expressive the characters are. Facial expressions, body language, and even the vocal inflections of the voice actors can show the audience how a character is feeling. Despite the simpler designs, the characters in hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween were very expressive! This was achieved through the movement of eyes, mouths, and eyebrows. When Hoops, Yoyo, and Piddles discover their local store has sold out of Halloween costumes, they are shocked by the emptiness of the surrounding shelves. Hoops’ and Yoyo’s eyes are wide, with Hoops even looking at the top shelves. Piddles’, Yoyo’s, and Hoops’ mouth is in an open frown, emphasizing how shocked they are. Hoops’ and Yoyo’s eyebrows are shown in an upward curve, which adds to their feeling of shock. These simple movements allowed the characters to effectively display their emotions!

Self-awareness: Skilled screenwriters will weave self-awareness into a script to subtly and cleverly make jokes or present an interesting point. hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween featured some moments of self-awareness through dialogue and “Easter eggs”. While Hoops, Yoyo, and Piddles are looking at a mall directory, a large Christmas advertisement is shown next to these characters. On this advertisement, a picture of Santa is next to a statement claiming “Santa Claus is coming”. Later, Piddles rides near an animatronic of Santa. Next to Santa is a sign saying “It’s Halloween! That means you’re already late for Christmas!” The placement of these “Easter eggs” addresses how early Christmas has been advertised. I found this piece of self-awareness ironic, as Hallmark now starts their Christmas movie line-ups weeks before Halloween.

Cute Halloween border created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/halloween-background-with-fun-style_1310632.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.

What I didn’t like about the film:

An unclear demographic: Animation is typically associated with an audience of children or families. However, some animated programs were created with an older audience in mind. With that said, I’m still trying to figure out who was hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween’s intended audience. Toward the beginning of the film, the reference to cinnamon buns sounds like a comparison to a smoking addiction. Hoops even reminds Yoyo how he’s wearing his “cinnamon bun patch”. After Hoops, Yoyo, and Piddles become trapped inside the mall, they are chased by ghosts. During the chase, Yoyo randomly screams “We need to find a bathroom”, leading to a scene where Hoops and Piddles wait for Yoyo outside of the mall’s bathrooms. This scene was one of two moments of “bathroom humor” throughout the film. Was hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween created for a younger audience, with certain jokes going over their heads, or was this movie always intended for an older audience?

Parts of the story that don’t make sense: Earlier in this review, I mentioned the “bling you phone!” store at North Escapades Mall. The reason this store was featured in the movie was Piddles’ desire to decorate her phone case. Piddles’ phone can be seen a total of three times. This fact raises the question of why she didn’t call for help after she, Hoops, and Yoyo became trapped inside the mall? What also doesn’t make sense is how Piddles would easily agree to take advantage of the mall after hours, especially since, before the mall closed, she reminded Hoops and Yoyo of a Halloween party they needed to attend that night. I know fictional stories, including those from animated movies, require their audience to suspend a certain amount of disbelief. However, in the case of hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween, that suspension of disbelief caused some parts of the story to not make sense.

Scenes that were too long: At the beginning of hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween, Hoops is driving Yoyo and Piddles to the store. This scene establishes the reason for the trip and the date of the story. But Hoops’, Yoyo’s, and Piddles’ trip to the store takes up almost three minutes in a twenty-one-minute movie. Though I understand the scene’s purpose of setting up the story and providing exposition, I think it should have been trimmed shorter to under two minutes and thirty seconds. This is just one example of how some scenes were too long in hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween.

My overall impression:

When explaining why I chose to review hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween, I brought up the Business Insider article about the thirty things you can’t find in malls anymore. If there was an article of the things you can no longer find from Hallmark, Hoops & Yoyo would be included. This movie serves as a time capsule of how different Hallmark Channel was twelve years ago. As I mentioned in my review, the Christmas “Easter eggs” were ironic because, as of 2024, Hallmark starts their Christmas movie line-ups weeks before Halloween. The 2012 movie also provides a more unique story when it comes to Halloween cinema. The mall is a location not typically associated with the holiday. While I won’t spoil the reveal of what’s haunting North Escapades Mall, I will say this revelation paired with the chosen location is creative and well-written. Though Hallmark is not known for their efforts in animation, the simple creative decisions like knowing when and where to use color worked in the network’s favor. The expressiveness of the characters also helps. If you’re looking for a Hallmark movie that’s found off the beaten path, I’d suggest getting to know Hoops & Yoyo!

Overall score: 7.1 out of 10

Have you seen hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween? Would you like to see me review hoops&yoyo Ruin Christmas during the Christmas season? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun on Halloween!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Comedy of Terrors (1963) Review

On October 25, 2024 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In my review of the Diagnosis Murder episode, “Guardian Angel”, I mentioned how I’ve accepted movie recommendations from my readers. These recommendations have, sometimes, made great selections for blogathons. Four years ago, when I reviewed House of the Long Shadows, Patricia (from Caftan Woman) suggested several films starring Vincent Price. One of those titles was 1963’s The Comedy of Terrors. Since then, I have been waiting for the right time to create a review for this movie. With The Comedy of Terrors fitting the criteria for the 3^rd Annual Spooky Classic Movie Blogathon, I knew I had found a perfect entry for the event!It’s become an unofficial tradition on 18 Cinema Lane to review at least one of Vincent’s movies every year. Since 2019, when I wrote about The Whales of August, eleven of Vincent’s films have received a review on my blog. While some of his movies have been more enjoyable than others, I can honestly say I haven’t seen a movie of his that I would consider “bad”. So, how does Comedy of Terrors compare to Vincent’s other films? Find out by reading my review!

*The Comedy of Terrors* (1963) poster created by Alta Vista Productions and American International Pictures (AIP)

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: When you see Vincent Price’s name attached to a given film, there’s a chance you’re going to see Vincent give a solid acting performance. That was certainly the case in The Comedy of Terrors! What makes Vincent such a strong actor is his adaptability. Portraying an undertaker named Trumbull, Vincent successfully transformed his expressions and emotions based on his character’s situation. One evening, Trumbull was counting a large collection of coins. He displays a big smile on his face and also appears in a relaxed sitting position. When his wife, Amaryllis, comes into the room and asks him a question, Trumbull’s demeanor quickly changes. His sharp tone suggests deep irritation, with a disapproving frown to match. This change in attitude is consistent with Trumbull’s dislike for Amaryllis.

Prior to reviewing The Comedy of Terrors, I had seen two of Basil Rathbone’s movies; The Great Mouse Detective and Bathing Beauty. Because only one of these movies was a live-action production, I didn’t know what to expect from his portrayal of Mr. Black. However, I was impressed with Basil’s performance in The Comedy of Terrors! Some scenes show Mr. Black reciting one of Shakespeare’s plays. The first time the audience sees Mr. Black reciting Shakespeare’s work is when Felix (portrayed by Peter Lorre) breaks into Mr. Black’s home. In this particular scene, Mr. Black displays an animated demeanor throughout his reenactment. The way he confidently recited Shakespeare’s words gave this reenactment a sense of grandeur. Reflecting on Basil’s performance in The Comedy of Terrors and looking at his IMDB filmography, I wish he has starred in an adaptation of Shakespeare’s work.

An immersive world: A make-or-break factor of any movie is how that picture is presented. For period/historical fiction films, the accuracy and attention to detail can help that movie’s world feel immersive. Because The Comedy of Terrors takes place during the Victorian era, everything in the film has to appear accordingly. This was achieved in the 1963 film, as the aforementioned elements of attention to detail and accuracy were applied! When I talked about Vincent’s performance, I mentioned Trumbull was an undertaker. An ornate coffin was presented any time Trumbull hosted a funeral. The shiny, black coffin was constructed by sharp angles and was decorated with gold designs. This prop was a simple, yet visually appealing way of addressing the wealth of Trumbull’s clientele. One scene shows Trumbull and Felix breaking into someone’s home. Without meeting the homeowner, the audience can tell how this character lives a comfortable life. Decorative lamps and wall sconces are included in characters’ bedrooms. A series of statues make a strong appearance when Felix and Trumbull first walk into the house. There is even gold trim on one of the doors. From the set design to the costume design, the world within The Comedy of Terrors was immersive!

Peter Lorre and Joyce Jameson’s on-screen chemistry: Earlier in my review, I said Felix was portrayed by Peter Lorre. I also stated how Trumbull doesn’t like Amaryllis (portrayed by Joyce Jameson). Amaryllis is hurt by Trumbull’s negativity toward her. Meanwhile, Felix is upset by how Amaryllis is treated by Trumbull. The shared dislike Felix and Amaryllis have toward Trumbull create an affection for one another. Though they shared only a few scenes together, I was pleasantly surprised by Joyce and Peter’s on-screen chemistry! The warm, caring demeanor between Felix and Amaryllis came across as believable. This was made possible by the strength of Joyce’s and Peter’s performance. With that said, I think Peter and Joyce not receiving more scenes together was a missed opportunity.

The 3rd Annual Spooky Classic Movie Blogathon banner created by Kristen from Hoofers and Honeys

What I didn’t like about the film:

Jokes that are too long: Comedy, like film, is subjective. One aspect to this subjectivity is the length of the jokes. In my opinion, the jokes in The Comedy of Terrors were too long. It seems like the screenwriters had difficulty finding their intended punchline or realizing they reached their punchline long ago. A running joke in The Comedy of Terrors is how Amaryllis is a terrible singer, despite her claims of a possible opera career. Had she sung a portion of a song once or twice, it would have been enough to get the intended point across. But the fact Amaryllis almost sang whole songs three or four times caused the joke to last too long and quickly become old.

Parts of the story that don’t make sense: I mentioned earlier in this review how Felix broke into Mr. Black’s home. To get into Mr. Black’s house, Felix had to climb onto the roof and into an upstairs window. But during this excursion, a cat named Cleopatra joins Felix and Trumbull, watching Felix trespass into Mr. Black’s property. It’s explained in the film why Felix needed to find an alternative entrance. What isn’t explained is why Cleopatra didn’t enter the house. I’m not sure how Cleopatra could have assisted Trumbull and Felix. However, it would have been easier for a cat to climb on a roof and enter through a window. This is just one part of the story that, to me, didn’t make sense.

An underutilized cat: In past reviews, I have been critical when an actor or actress was underutilized. But in the case of The Comedy of Terrors, the creative team underutilized a cat. As I mentioned in my point about parts of the story that don’t make sense, a cat named Cleopatra joined Trumbull and Felix on their excursion. Even though Cleopatra was adorable, the cat was not a significant part of the overall story. There were even times when I wondered why a cat was included in the movie at all. Had Cleopatra been written out of The Comedy of Terrors, the story itself would not change much.

Orange cat image created by Freestockcenter at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/ginger-cat_883376.htm’>Designed by Freestockcenter</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/gold”>Gold image created by Freestockcenter – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

In this review’s introduction, I said I haven’t seen a movie of Vincent Price’s that I would consider “bad”. While this statement is still true, The Comedy of Terrors is one of his weaker pictures. The flaws of the 1963 production include jokes that are too long and parts of the story that don’t make sense. But there are aspects of the movie I liked. The Comedy of Terrors is an immersive film, making viewers feel transported to the Victorian era. Attention to detail and historical accuracy helped the creative team achieve that illusion. Vincent’s performance was one of the strongest parts of this film! His adaptability made his portrayal of Trumbull captivating to watch. Now that I’ve finally seen The Comedy of Terrors, I can, honestly, say this picture emphasizes style more than substance. Out of Vincent’s eleven movies I’ve seen, this one is just ok.

Overall score: 6.1 out of 10

Have you seen The Comedy of Terrors? Which film of Vincent Price’s should I review next? Please tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

The Finally Fall Book Tag!

On October 21, 2024October 22, 2024 By 18cinemalane1 Comment

Back in April, my review of the 1976 film, Network, became my 375^th movie review! Then, in July, my El Dorado movie review became my 850^th published post! While figuring out how to commemorate these milestones, I realized it has been a year since I wrote a book tag. Now that Fall/Autumn has arrived, I chose the Finally Fall Book Tag! With Eurovision season in full swing, I will share in each tag prompt which books I read during this year’s Eurovisionathon readathon. I also included a picture of each book cover so my readers can visualize which books I’m referring to.

Book cover images found on Goodreads. Finally Fall Book Tag image created by me, Sally Silverscreen.

1. In fall, the air is crisp and clear: name a book with a vivid setting!

One of the best aspects of The Night Circus (the book I read for Germany) was its descriptive imagery. Through elegant, descriptive writing, Erin Morgenstern crafted an immersive world readers can picture in their minds. From “The Ice Garden” at the circus to the tree Bailey likes to climb, the attention to detail helped places feel realistic. Even the circus itself became its own character because of Erin’s construction of the setting. After reading The Night Circus, I can now understand why some readers want to see this book adapted into a movie!

2. Nature is beautiful… but also dying: name a book that is beautifully written, but also deals with a heavy topic like loss or grief.

Though I won’t spoil the book I read for Greece, Piranesi, I will say there are heavier themes woven into the story. But the way Susanna Clarke wrote the book was logic driven while also evoking fantastical whimsy. The world surrounding the protagonist was truly unique, with descriptive imagery well used throughout the book! Each room Piranesi explores contains intrigue due to the nice, gradual build-up to the mystery’s reveal. Piranesi’s creativity worked in Susanna’s favor, as the book will be adapted into a Laika film!

3. Fall is back to school season: share a non-fiction book that taught you something new.

The Princess Spy by Larry Loftis tells the story of Aline Griffith, a woman who joined the United States war effort by working in the realm of espionage. The book not only shares Aline’s story, it also explores the history of the CIA’s predecessor; the Office of Strategic Services. I am so thankful I chose to read The Princess Spy for Spain! It was both an educational and entertaining book, showcasing the research and literary skill Larry incorporated. I would, honestly, recommend The Princess Spy, as it was the best book I read for this year’s Eurovisionathon!

4. In order to keep warm, it’s good to spend some time with the people we love: name a fictional family/household/friend-group that you’d like to be a part of.

In Elissa Brent Weissman’s book, The Length of a String, Imani has a tight-knit family. The story shows how they continually support one another, as well as remind each other what is truly important. Imani’s down-to-earth personality and realistic perspective are a reflection of her strong family unit. Through her interactions with her family, Imani and the reader learn important lessons, such as how Luxembourg was impacted by World War II. The Length of a String is the second-best book I read for 2024’s Eurovisionathon! One of the strengths of the story was how Imani and her family were well written.

5. The colorful leaves are piling up on the ground: show us a pile of fall-colored spines!

For this prompt, I will, instead, share four book covers that feature, at least, one fall color. These book covers are:

Axel of Evil – Ukraine (orange)
Wolves of Eden – Ireland (orange)
Pinocchio – Italy (orange and yellow)
The Finnish Line – Finland (yellow and red)

6. Fall is the perfect time for some storytelling by the fireside: share a book wherein somebody is telling a story.

Throughout Felix Francis’ book, Iced, Miles shares the story of his life and reflects on his career as a steeplechase jockey. His exploration of his past reveals his mental health and addiction related struggles. But Felix’s decision to prioritize Miles’ part of the story overshadowed the book’s mystery. This creative decision also gave the story little to no sense of urgency, suspense, or intrigue. When I first read the synopsis of Iced, I was intrigued by a whodunit revolving around a horse race in Switzerland. The book’s aforementioned major flaw left me disappointed.

7. The nights are getting darker: share a dark, creepy read.

While not considered a “creepy” read, The Winter Soldier is a “dark” read due to its darker subject matter. Because the story focuses on the medical and traumatic sides of World War I, medical procedures and injuries are described throughout the book. Despite the heavier topics within the story, Daniel Mason chose to present war from a more humane perspective by emphasizing human connections. With Lucius being The Winter Soldier’s protagonist, these human connections are found in Lucius’ life, from his early years in Austria to his time mending wounded soldiers in an abandoned church’s makeshift hospital.

8. The days are getting colder: name a short, heartwarming read that could warm up somebody’s cold and rainy day.

I will pick two books for this prompt. The first choice is William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night! This is considered one of Shakespeare’s light-hearted plays, as it’s classified as a romantic comedy. There are also some musical moments within the story because the play takes place around Christmastime in what is now known as Croatia. The second book I selected was Little Lord Fauntleroy! This is such a wholesome, heart-warming story, emphasizing the themes of kindness and staying true to yourself. It helps that Cedric is a likable, selfless protagonist, as he doesn’t allow his new life in the U.K. to change him or his values.

9. Fall returns every year: name an old favorite that you’d like to return to soon.

As I mentioned in prompt number five, I read Axel of Evil by Alina Adams. This is the third book in the Figure Skating Mysteries series, a series I’ve found quite enjoyable. So, for this prompt, I would choose to return to the world of competitive figure skating and follow Bex’s adventures!

10. Fall is the perfect time for cozy reading nights: share your favorite cozy reading “accessories”!

What I have chosen for this prompt, instead, are two book covers featuring a cozy accessory. On the covers of The Finnish Line and The Length of a String, a coat is clearly visible. To me, this is the perfect cozy accessory for those cooler, fall days!

Prompt eleven asks tag participants to tag more people. For my book tag post, I will let my readers decide if they want to participate in the tag.

Have fun during Fall!

Sally Silverscreen