Welcome to my Food & Film Blogathon! This year’s event celebrates the matrimony of culinary and cinematic! The union between film and food have taken on various forms, from the concept of “dinner and a movie” to scenes where characters prepare meals together. But, at the end of the day, the universal theme of food (or sharing food) through a cinematic lens has become popular as well as relatable. The participants of The Food & Film Blogathon created articles that explore this connection of food and film. With a collection of movie reviews and even a few editorials, let The Food & Film Blogathon begin!
The Food & Film Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original pictures found on IMDB.
Whenever I participate or host a blogathon, I try to approach the selected topic from a unique perspective. For The Food & Film Blogathon, I wanted to observe the relationship between film and food through cinematic promotion. More often than not, food has been an advertiser when encouraging people to check out a particular title. Sometimes, creativity and ingenuity have shined through these promotions, leaving a memorable impression and even helping a film succeed at the box office. But as I was researching this promotional connection of food and film, I noticed how some food-related movie “gimmicks” could be improved. These “gimmicks” are not entirely weak or unsuccessful. In fact, some of them have held a special place in the hearts of customers. However, as I’ll explain in this editorial, these food-related movie “gimmicks” could be more productive and sustainable. Before I continue, I want to point out how my editorial is intended to be constructive, not mean-spirited or negative.
The Food & Film Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original pictures found in the video, “Fast Food Movie Tie-Ins and the History of the Summer Blockbuster!”, from the Youtube channel, PNP Videocast.
Popcorn Buckets and Reuseable Cups
When patrons enter the halls of their local movie theater, they are constantly bombarded with promotions for not just currently playing films, but upcoming films as well. From trailers on the big screen to posters and standees in the lobby, the cinema becomes an arena as studios battle for the attention of potential audience members. Two other forms of in-theater marketing are popcorn buckets and reuseable cups. Creativity and clever presentations build upon the basic design of a cup or bucket in an attempt to capture the spirit of the movie it’s promoting. But after movie-goers leave the theater, there are few opportunities to reuse the popcorn bucket. This increases the chances of popcorn buckets either clogging up landfills, collecting dust at thrift stores, or even getting buried in the desert like the Atari game, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. It also doesn’t help how popcorn buckets can, sometimes, be expensive. One infamous example is The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Galactus popcorn bucket, which received a retail price of $80. Meanwhile, reuseable cups have a slightly longer shelf life than popcorn buckets. Though they can be expensive as well. I’ve seen a 24 oz. cup promoting the movie, Smurfs, listed for $29.99.
How to Fix It
Picture it: AMC theaters, a handful of days throughout the year (yes, that reference of The Golden Girls was intentional). If movie-goers bring their popcorn buckets and/or reuseable cups to their local theater’s concession stand, they can save a certain percentage off their concession purchases. This percentage could be low enough for theaters to not lose money, but enough for movie-goers to save some money. If these sale days were enforced, it would be a win-win for both movie-goers and theaters. Patrons are given a reason to consider purchasing a popcorn bucket and/or reuseable cup, seeing it as more of an investment and less as a collector’s item or “gimmick”. They also are encouraged to seek out the concession stand, as they would have a legitimate reason to save money during their movie-going experience. Because of concession stand sale days, theaters can sell more popcorn buckets and reuseable cups in the long run, which would increase their revenue. The aforementioned sale days would welcome repeat customers as well, adding even more revenue to the theater’s financial intake.
On the left is the infamous Galactus popcorn bucket, which was sold for $80. On the right is the Smurfs cup I referenced in this editorial, which received a retail price of $29.99.
Specialty Food Items
For the sake of this editorial, specialty food items directly connect to the movie they’re promoting. This can range from products bearing a character’s likeness to meals sharing a name that is significant to the film. An example that has received praise on the internet is The Batman Calzony from Little Caesars. In 2022, the pizza chain created a pizza shaped like Batman’s logo. The culinary creation was introduced leading up to the release of the movie, The Batman. Though this promotion existed for a short period of time, it left a positive impression. The video, ‘A Look at Bizarre Movie Tie-In Restaurant Foods’ from the Youtube channel, Seeker of The Lost, features comments in its comment section from viewers who either remember and/or love The Batman Calzony. One commenter even demanded the pizza be brought back.
How to Fix It
Like the aforementioned commenter from Seeker of The Lost’s video, I, too, think The Batman Calzony should be brought back. However, the context of the comeback can be either of three ways. Batman has had an established place in the pop cultural landscape for over fifty years. Whether it’s the comics or the films, there is sure to be a milestone anniversary Little Caesars could capitalize on, giving them a legitimate reason to bring back The Batman Calzony. I’ve heard a sequel to The Batman is in the works. That movie’s premiere could see The Batman Calzony’s return. If Little Caesars wanted to create a Halloween tradition, they could consider bringing back the pizza for Halloween. Not only are bats a popular Halloween motif, Batman has received his own Halloween costume over the years. Bringing back The Batman Calzony would give new customers a second chance to try the pizza. It would also make those who love the pizza repeat customers. Meanwhile, Little Caesars has an opportunity to create additional revenue, especially if The Batman Calzony was brought back annually or even biannually. Associating the pizza as part of a tradition would help Little Caesars build positive promotion and recognition of their brand.
Because of The Batman Calzony‘s unique shape (as well as its name), it is directly connected to the film it’s promoting, The Batman.
Limited-Edition Food Items
Limited-edition food items differ from specialty food items, as they don’t directly correlate with the movie they’re advertising. This allows the limited-edition food items to be sold in various contexts. 1998 saw the release of Disney Pixar’s A Bug’s Life. As part of the film’s promotion, McDonald’s found a reason to sell Apple Cinnamon McNuggets dipping sauce. But when the dipping sauce is removed from A Bug’s Life’s advertising equation, it can be sold in other promotions. A decade prior, in 1987, the Apple Cinnamon dipping sauce was incorporated into McDonald’s Holiday McNuggets seasonal campaign. Since these two promotions, though, McDonald’s has not brought this dipping sauce back.
How to Fix It
Based on my research for this editorial, McDonald’s hasn’t created any food items related to the Fall/Autumn season. While the Baked Apple Pie is a popular product on McDonald’s menu, it isn’t used to capitalize on Fall/Autumn. With apples and cinnamon typically associated with this time of year, McDonald’s could bring their Apple Cinnamon McNuggets dipping sauce back through a seasonal promotion. They could also create other Fall/Autumn themed food items to compliment the Apple Cinnamon dipping sauce’s return, such as an Apple Cinnamon milkshake. Creating a seasonal campaign around the re-release of their Apple Cinnamon dipping sauce would give McDonald’s good marketing and financial opportunities to take advantage of the Fall/Autumn season. It would also be a win for their customers, as those who love the dipping sauce receive a chance to revisit it and new customers are introduced to the dipping sauce.
Based on my research, a commerical from the Youtube channel, Media Closet, is one of the few references I could find of the Apple Cinnamon McNuggets dipping sauce’s inclusion in A Bug’s Life‘s McDonald’s promotion. Original picture found in the video, “1990s – McDonald’s A Bug’s Life Promo – Holiday Commercial”, from the Youtube channel, Media Closet.
Missing the Finer Details
Advertising plays a big role in the business of making movies. But movie marketing campaigns are not created equally. Some of them miss the finer details of the film they’re promoting. A perfect example is when Subway debuted their Fiery Footlong Collection to capitalize on the premiere of 2013’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Through this collection, Subway introduced two new sandwiches; Sriracha Chicken Melt and Sriracha Steak Melt. The other two sandwiches, Buffalo Chicken and Turkey Jalapeno Melt, had been sold prior to the collection. Though Subway’s intention was to focus on the film’s theme of fire, the overall promotion came across as out of touch. This is because The Hunger Games: Catching Fire addresses topics like “inequality” and “food shortages”.
How to Fix It
The example I presented of Subway’s marketing misfire (cue the comedic drum sound) is not the first (or last) time a film’s marketing campaign missed finer, important details of the film itself. But blunders like this can be prevented. Working as a communicative bridge between a movie’s creative team and a marketing firm should be an official liaison. First, the liaison would talk with a movie’s creative team about the important elements of their project they’d want to see reflected in its promotional campaign, like certain themes within the script. Then, the liaison would take these notes to a marketing firm and work with them to weave the creative team’s important elements into the promotional campaign. If a liaison connected a movie’s creative team and a marketing firm, everyone involved in a film’s marketing campaign would be on the same page. More cinematic promotions would possess a deeper understanding for the promoted movies.
As I said in this editorial, Subway focused on the theme of fire for their promotion of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Hence the reason why all of the sub sandwiches have spicier flavors. Original picture found in the video, “A Look at Bizarre Movie Tie-In Restaurant Foods”, from the Youtube channel, Seeker of The Lost.
“Gimmicks” Becoming “Lost Media”
I once heard someone claim that food was a “temporary art form” and “old franchise food” was, over time, “lost to the ages”. Reflecting on what that person said, as well as the subject of this editorial, it seems like food associated with film promotion is its own form of “lost media”. Movie “gimmicks”, specifically those that are food-related, exist for an extremely short period of time. Once a movie has left theaters, that respective “gimmick” is gone. When it comes to food-related movie “gimmicks” in particular, only pictures, videos, and even memories are left. Some may even fade into obscurity. While there are a few that have been brought back on the meal, like Taco Bell’s Volcano Burrito (which later turned into the Volcano Double Beef Burrito), this has been the exception to the rule.
How to Fix It
In the comments section of Seeker of The Lost’s video, ‘A Look at Bizarre Movie Tie-In Restaurant Foods’, one person said it’d be sweet to have the recipes to the video’s featured foods collected in a cookbook. I have to agree with that commenter, especially since it would be a good way to restore and preserve these food-related movie “gimmicks”! Throughout the cookbook, meals associated with film promotion would have recipes chronicled in order of their respective movie’s release year. The cookbook can also feature interviews, perspectives, and tidbits of information from either those on a film’s creative team, a marketing firm that worked on a movie’s promotional campaign, or from a restaurant/food company or movie theater. Fans of any of the selected “gimmicks” would gain an opportunity to bring the food items back to life. Those who didn’t get to try a “gimmick” the first time around would receive a second chance to try these foods. The cookbook would also be a unique addition to any movie or food enthusiasts’ collection.
The Food & Film Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original pictures found in the video, “A Look at Bizarre Movie Tie-In Restaurant Foods”, from the Youtube channel, Seeker of The Lost.
If you want a movie to succeed, you have to promote it to your potential audience. While there are many ways to do this, food is one of the most tried-and-true of these advertising tactics. Because each movie is unique, food-related movie “gimmicks” are unique as well. As I mentioned in my editorial’s introduction, creativity and ingenuity have shined through these promotions. Food-related cinematic marketing is not perfect though. Mishaps have taken place, better decisions could have been made, and finer details were missed. With the ideas and suggestions featured in this editorial, food-related movie “gimmicks” can, hopefully, become more sustainable and productive. Reflecting on everything I’ve said, I’m curious to see how food-related film promotion evolves over time. It would also be interesting to see how marketing trends have impacted food-related movie “gimmicks” through the years.
Videos — “A Look at Bizarre Movie Tie-In Restaurant Foods” from Seeker of The Lost and “1990s – McDonald’s A Bug’s Life Promo – Holiday Commercial” from Media Closet
Years ago, on 18 Cinema Lane, I admitted I had never seen any of Bruce Lee’s films. Since admitting that, I wanted to find the perfect opportunity to review a movie from his filmography. Now, I finally received that opportunity because of one man. In one of his interviews, Stefan “Princ” Zdravković said he watched Bruce Lee’s films when he was a kid. Ever since I saw that interview, I made a promise to review one of Bruce’s movies on Princ’s birthday. When I discovered Princ’s birthday was on September 29th, I knew I found a chance to fulfill that promise. Therefore, for this review, I have selected 1972’s Fist of Fury! Martial arts films are rarely covered on 18 Cinema Lane. Despite this, the ones I’ve seen (and reviewed) have been enjoyable. So, will I find Fist of Fury enjoyable as well? Read my review to find out!
Fist of Fury poster created by Golden Harvest Company, Nova Media, and Legend Films
Things I liked about the film:
The acting: Bruce Lee has earned a good reputation for his mastery of marital arts skills. However, based on my experience watching Fist of Fury, I believe Bruce is a stronger actor than most people give him credit for. A scene taking place after Huo Yuanjia’s funeral is the perfect example. Bruce’s character, Chen, is devastated by the loss of his martial arts teacher. He sits in silence and bears a serene yet sad look on his face as he tries to shut out the world around him. But as soon as his peers bring up how Huo Yuanjia died of pneumonia, Chen snaps into anger, shouting in denial with a fierce look in his eyes. This quick transition of emotions was flawless, making Bruce’s performance memorable! Another strong acting performance in Fist of Fury came from Ping-Ou Wei. Portraying an interpreter for a Japanese martial arts school named Wu, Ping-Ou effectively showcased a character that was smarmy and dislikable. This was achieved through vocal inflections, expressive eyes, and even tilts of the head. I actually looked forward to seeing Ping-Ou’s performance because it was that good!
Martial arts choreography: When I choose to watch a martial arts film, especially one starring Bruce Lee, I expect to see scenes featuring really good martial arts choreography. I can honestly say the choreography in Fist of Fury is excellent! All the execution of the movements are sharp and precise. Each duel looked like an intricate and calculated dance, with every opponent delivering strength and agility. Even the incorporation of swords and nunchucks showed how opponents use strategy to gain the upper hand. It also helps how each duel Chen battled in increased in intensity, building up to the movie’s climax. With everything I said, all the martial arts scenes maintained the excitement within the story!
Clever writing: Toward the beginning of Fist of Fury, Wu and two students from a Japanese martial arts school deliver a hand-written threat to Chen and his peers at the Chinese martial arts school. One of the students who accompanied Wu says if Chen defeats the Japanese martial arts school students, he’ll eat his words. Later in the film, when Chen goes to the Japanese martial arts school, he does defeat every student there. He then rips up the hand-written threat his school received earlier and forces two of the Japanese martial arts school students to, literally, eat their words. This is just one example of how some of the writing in Fist of Fury was clever!
Higher stakes: As I mentioned earlier in this review, Chen’s martial arts teacher, Huo Yuanjia, passed away. But Chen believes foul play was involved. Throughout the story, he vows to find the truth about what happened to his teacher. Meanwhile, a Japanese martial arts school wants to assert their dominance over the Chinese martial arts school. They go so far as to destroy property and threaten to close the Chinese martial arts school down. These parts of the story created higher stakes, giving the audience a reason to care about Chen and his wellbeing, as well as that of his peers. The higher stakes in Fist of Fury also brought suspense and intrigue to the overall presentation!
The sporadic incorporation of the mystery: Like I brought up in my point about Fist of Fury’s higher stakes, Chen vows to find the truth about what happened to his teacher, as he believes foul play was involved. This mystery was one of the most intriguing parts of the story. But, unfortunately, it was sporadically incorporated into the movie. That creative decision led the mystery’s reveal to be somewhat underwhelming. It also made the mystery itself seem, at times, forgotten about. I wish the mystery had a more consistent presence in Fist of Fury.
The audio: I recognize technology in the 1970s was very different from the technology of today. However, a major flaw of Fist of Fury I couldn’t ignore was the audio. I had to turn up my television’s volume because it was difficult to understand what the characters were saying. They, sometimes, sounded muffled, almost like lines were recorded in a library and added in during the film’s post-production phase. Since this is my first time watching any of Bruce Lee’s films, I don’t know if the audio has been an issue in his other movies?
Introducing a character toward the end of the film: Petrov is a Russian martial artist who is friends with the administration at the Japanese martial arts school. Portrayed by Robert Baker, Petrov also performed impressive feats, like bending metal. Even though Petrov was an interesting character, I didn’t like how he was introduced toward the end of the film. This creative decision prevented him from making a bigger impact on the story. In my opinion, if Petrov had been written out of Fist of Fury, it wouldn’t have made much difference.
Like I said in this review’s introduction, I admitted I had never seen any of Bruce Lee’s films. So, for an introduction, I’d say Fist of Fury is a good one! Yes, the martial arts choreography was impressive. But what I also liked about the 1972 movie was how engaging the story itself was. While I wish the mystery had a more consistent presence in the script, it did provide the film with intrigue and suspense. The mystery also provided the characters with higher stakes to deal with. I not only thought some of the writing was clever, I also liked the acting performances, especially Bruce’s portrayal of Chen. In fact, Bruce’s performance made watching Fist of Fury a memorable and enjoyable experience! For me, 2025 has become a year where I’ve gone out of my way to check out movies I’ve been meaning to see. So, with that said, I’m glad I finally got to see at least one of Bruce Lee’s films!
Overall score: 7.7 out of 10
Have you seen Fist of Fury? Would you like to see more of Bruce Lee’s films reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane? Let me know in the comment section!
2025 is my fourth year participating in the Rule, Britannia Blogathon. Two of my previously chosen films, Nicholas Nickleby and Kingdom of Heaven, were released in the 2000s. Meanwhile, Tommy premiered in 1975. For this year’s event, I selected a film that is much older than the ones I mentioned. That movie is 1949’s Kind Hearts and Coronets! I was recommended the film by Eric Binford from Diary of a Movie Maniac. Reflecting on my blogathon participation this year, so far, I have made a stronger effort to select films that were recommendations from my readers. Most of the recommended titles I selected for these blogging events were ok or fine. The only exception was She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, which I found disappointing. How will Kind Hearts and Coronets compare with the other titles? Keep reading my review to find out!
Kind Hearts and Coronetsposter created by Ealing Studios, Michael Balcon Productions, General Film Distributors (GFD), and Eagle-Lion Films
Things I liked about the film:
The acting: Dennis Price portrays Louis in Kind Hearts and Coronets. Throughout the story, Louis consistently carries a calm, collected persona. Even a prison warden points out how calm Louis is before his execution. Along with the aforementioned persona, Louis possesses a certain charm that allows his true intentions to be undetected. These qualities fool the other characters into welcoming him into their lives and giving him exactly what he wants. The strength of Dennis’ acting abilities effectively showed how Louis could fake it until he made it. One of the characters fooled by Louis was Edith. Despite becoming a widow, she never let grief consume her. Instead, Edith had a gentle persona and was kind to everyone. During a conversation she shares with Louis, she sympathizes with his estrangement from his family. The tone in her voice indicates how hurt she is to learn this about Louis’ life. Even the look on her face shows sadness and concern. Similar to Dennis’ performance, Valerie Hobson (the actress who portrayed Edith) presented a consistent portrayal of Edith. However, the acting overall was well done!
The dialogue: When the dialogue in a script is good, it can make conversations between characters sound natural. But when the dialogue is really good, it can leave a memorable impression on the audience. In Kind Hearts and Coronets, there was some dialogue that I thought was well-written! One example is when Edith learns how Louis and his mother were estranged from the D’Ascoyne family. Disgusted to discover Louis’ rejection, Edith says “they think too much of the rights of the nobility and too little of its duties”. Through that quote, she eloquently stated how family connections should have been a top priority. In another scene, Louis is giving his friend, Sibella, compliments. He tells her she has “a face that a man could see in his dreams for the whole of his life”. During this conversation, Louis could have simply said Sibella had a beautiful or pretty face. The creative team’s effort to provide some of the dialogue with quality, however, made Louis’ compliment sound like genuine thought was put into it.
Historical accuracy: Kind Hearts and Coronets takes place in England during the Edwardian era. This means the film’s creative team needed to adopt attention to detail in order to make their production look as historically accurate as possible. Through the set and costume design, that goal was achieved, making the movie feel immersive! The women’s wardrobe serves as one example. Sometimes, Edith and Sibella wear hats when out in public. These hats are larger in size and boast intricate designs. Using materials like flowers, ribbon, and even lace, the hats symbolize the wealth Sibella and Edith possess. They also perfectly represent the fashion in the world of Kind Hearts and Coronets.
Lack of suspense and intrigue: According to IMDB, Kind Hearts and Coronets is about “a distant poor relative of the Duke D’Ascoyne plots to inherit the title by murdering the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him in the line of succession”. Keeping this synopsis in mind, I expected a story where Louis’ scheme provided suspense and intrigue came from how Louis would face accountability for his actions. But as I watched the 1949 movie, I found the story lacking these elements. What the script focused on instead was the “slice of life”, mundane parts of Louis’ life. In fact, so much emphasis was placed on this aspect of the story, potential suspense and intrigue were an afterthought.
Little emphasis on the story’s moral: In Kind Hearts and Coronets, Edith quotes Lord Tennyson by stating “Kind hearts are more than coronets, and simple faith than Norman blood?” Based on that quote, I thought the moral of the film would be if Louis had just chosen kindness, maybe he could have enjoyed a duke title instead of facing repercussions for his choices. Sadly, this assumed moral was barely referenced throughout the story. Such little focus was placed on the moral of practicing kindness, I don’t even know what the moral of this story was supposed to be. Looking back on Kind Hearts and Coronets, I’m not entirely sure what this movie was trying to say.
The cliffhanger ending: For this part of my review, I will spoil Kind Hearts and Coronets. If you haven’t seen this movie and are planning on watching it, skip ahead to the part of my review titled “My overall impression”.
Louis is charged for the murder of Sibella’s husband, Lionel. Before his scheduled execution, Louis is told Lionel actually committed suicide, leaving behind a note. This discovery leads Louis to be released from prison. Upon leaving the prison, a writer approaches Louis with an offer to publish his memoir. This is when Louis realizes in horror he left his self-written life story, including his murder confessions, back in his jail cell. Then the movie ends. Louis’ realization was suspenseful, providing intrigue for who will discover Louis’ story. This suspense and intrigue could have been overarching elements throughout the movie. Therefore, I found the cliffhanger ending frustrating.
As a movie blogger, I have reviewed films I tried to like, only to be met with disappointment. Sadly, Kind Hearts and Coronets is one of those films. IMDB classifies the 1949 movie as a “comedy”. But I didn’t laugh at all while watching it. In fact, I almost fell asleep as I watched Kind Hearts and Coronets. I was let down by the story’s lack of intrigue and suspense. What doesn’t help either is how little focus was placed on the moral to the point where I didn’t know what the moral was supposed to be. While I won’t spoil the ending, I will say it left me frustrated. There were strengths within Kind Hearts and Coronets, however. The acting overall was well-done, some of the dialogue was well-written, and I liked the film’s historical accuracy. When the script is weak, though, there’s only so much these strengths can do to save the film.
Overall score: 5.2 out of 10
Have you seen Kind Hearts and Coronets? What productions from the United Kingdom would like to check out? Let me know in the comment section!
Back in March, I reviewed 1925’s The Phantom of the Opera in honor of the film’s one hundredth anniversary. But this is not the only movie celebrating this particular milestone. When I discovered Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ was also turning one hundred this year, I wanted to write about the film on 18 Cinema Lane. With “Silent Films” the theme of September’s Genre Grandeur, I found a good reason to check out this movie! Another reason why I wanted to write about Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is because of how much I liked 1959’s Ben-Hur. I reviewed this version in 2019, which I ended up really liking. It was not only covered in a Blog Follower Dedication Review, it was also included on my list of ten classic movies I watched because of my blog. So, how does the original compare to the remake? Keep reading to find out!
The acting: Actors in silent films are forced to rely on the physical appearance of their performance. This means they must utilize body language, facial expressions, and emotions to express what their characters are thinking and feeling. As I write this review, it’s difficult for me to choose a favorite performance in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. Each portrayal was so captivating, watching this movie was an engaging experience! When Judah Ben-Hur is sharing drinks with Messala, he displays a relaxed smile and sits in a comfortable position, believing Messala has his best interests at heart. But after learning he and Messala can no longer put their differences aside, Judah quickly becomes saddened by this reality. His eyes express the pain of losing a friend. He also adopts a slight frown, wondering why his friend would change. Because Ramon Novarro’s performance was so strong, it was able to speak where dialogue couldn’t.
In Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, May McAvoy portrays Esther, the daughter of Simonides. What I loved about her performance was how expressive it was! During a conversation with her father, Esther learns some shocking information. Her eyes become wide as a horrified expression is painted on her face. The more information she learns, the more shocked Esther appears. This consistent portrayal shows concern on her face as well. Similar to what I said about Ramon Novarro’s performance, May’s performance said so much while saying so little.
Color coded film: When I reviewed 1925’s The Phantom of the Opera, I talked about how much I liked the movie’s color coded film. Color coding this presentation gave each part of the story its own distinct significance. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ utilizes color coded film as well. The way the film-making technique was incorporated into the movie signified the time of day in the story. Parts of The Nativity were shown in blue tinted film, indicating these parts were set at night. Jerusalem is covered in a light-yellow tinted film, meaning Judah and Esther first meet in the daytime. Most of the scenes that were fully in color depicted Biblical events. The creative team behind Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ used color coded film in very clever and visually interesting ways!
The scope: “Sword and sandal” films have been known for large set pieces and presenting them in grand ways. This was accomplished in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ through the use of long and medium shots. Through the streets of Jerusalem, soldiers from various countries march together in a parade. Some long shots show off a massive stone structure that makes the people look like toy figurines. Both long and medium shots capture the magnitude of the crowds, emphasizing how many people came to see the spectacle. There were even shots that showed each group of soldiers, presenting how the groups were great in size. Because of the cinematography, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ looked and felt larger than life!
The title cards: A staple of silent films is the inclusion of title cards. Without the use of dialogue, these title cards feature conversations between characters and describe what was happening in the story. But what impressed me about the title cards in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is how some of them were written. Reflecting on his conversation with Messala, an accompanying title card shares Judah’s thoughts and states “In outward seeming you are the same. But in spirit – you are a stranger”. In my opinion, this was an eloquent way of stating how Messala has changed. Later in the film, Judah proclaims “I am revenged indeed, but to what profit!” This quote on the title card addresses how, to Judah, success isn’t everything. These are just two examples of how this aspect of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ went above and beyond!
White horse image created by Gabor Palla at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/Gabor Palla.”
What I didn’t like about the film:
The randomness of Iras: Within the second half of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, the movie introduces a character named Iras. While I liked Carmel Myers’ performance, I found Iras’ inclusion in the story random. The film establishes she is in a romantic relationship with Messala. But this relationship doesn’t really lead anywhere, as these two characters only share one scene together. A scene later, Iras flirts with Judah. Even though he is initially attracted to Iras, Judah pursues his feelings for Esther. Looking back on Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, I wonder what Iras’ significance in the story was supposed to be? Was she intended to represent temptation or did she originally have a bigger role in the film, only for some of her scenes to be left on the cutting room floor?
The downplaying of Christianity/faith: I talked about liking the incorporation of Christianity/faith when I reviewed 1959’s Ben-Hur. In that review, I discuss how certain Biblical events were included into the overall story and how faith affected the characters and their actions. There were Biblical events depicted in 1925’s Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ as well. But unlike the 1959 movie, Christianity/faith was more downplayed in the 1925 film. The story places emphasis on Judah’s quest for revenge instead of how faith guided his life. From what I remember, Balthasar (one of The Three Wise Men) plays a greater role in the 1959 movie. This creative decision was, in my opinion, disappointing, especially since Ben-Hur is one of the better faith-based films.
Chariot statue from the Roman Empire image created by Michel Meynsbrughen at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/Michel Meynsbrughen.”
My overall impression:
When it comes to cinema, a lot can happen in one hundred years. Trends come and go, technology changes, and color film becomes commonly used. But in those one hundred years, there are movies that stood the test of time. They achieved this by bringing something new to the table, finding their audience, or being at the right place at the right time. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ from 1925 is one of these movies. It showed what “sword and sandal” films could and should be. Through cinematography, the scope of the project created a world that feels larger than life. The way some of the film’s title cards were written went above and beyond, showing how Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ’s creative team put thought and effort into their presentation. Though the movie has more flaws than its 1959 remake, the 1925 movie is a solid silent film! It was entertaining and engaging, due to the strengths of the project, like the acting and how color coded film was used. I’m also incredibly grateful for the restoration and preservation efforts made for Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, especially since silent films have become less common in these one hundred years.
Overall score: 8.1-8.2 out of 10
Have you seen 1925’s Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ? Which silent films would you like to check out? Please tell me in the comment section!
Anyone familiar with the television show, Community, will know the phrase “six seasons and a movie”. Ever since Abed (one of the show’s main characters) uttered the phrase in the show’s second season, the idea of any show receiving a movie and six seasons has become “the American dream” in the world of entertainment. While Community has indeed earned six seasons, the movie has been in development since 2022. But according to the film’s official IMDB page, it appears the movie may be on its way! ‘Community: The Movie’ (the movie’s current working title) is classified as “pre-production”. However, the release date is listed as “Expected 2026”. The page lists the majority of the show’s main cast, implying they will return for the film. Production companies working on the project are Sony Pictures Television, Universal Studio Group, and Universal Television. Peacock will, as of this article’s publication, distribute ‘Community: The Movie’.
Communityposter created by Krasnoff Foster Productions, Harmonious Claptrap, AGBO, Universal Media Studios (UMS), and Sony Pictures Television
This is the first time I’m talking about Community on 18 Cinema Lane. However, I wanted to cover this movie news story because the creative team behind the movie, as well as the show, is doing something that I appreciate; keeping a promise to the fans. Whether intentional or unintentional, “six seasons and a movie” became a promise, giving the fans something to hope for. So, when Community did get six seasons, it felt the show’s creative team stood by their word. Now, with the movie currently in development, the show’s creative team is, once again, staying by their word by giving the fans what they want. This makes me hope other television shows follow in Community’s footsteps.
What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Are you looking forward to ‘Community: The Movie’? Let me know in the comment section!
When I signed up for Midnite Drive-In’s Hit The Road Blogathon, one of the basic rules was to choose “a movie, TV show or book” that had something to do with travel. Since I figured I’d be one of the few participants selecting a book for the event, I found an opportunity to write a book review! On 18 Cinema Lane, I occasionally talk about books in an effort to bring a sense of variety to my blog’s content. My last book review was published last September, when I wrote about Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain. This is ironic, as that book revolved around Jessica traveling to Florida.For theHit The Road Blogathon, I selected another mystery story; Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark! Years ago, I saw this book’s film adaptation, 2013’s The Mystery Cruise. Though I was not a fan of the film, I still wanted to read its source material, as I had heard of the book before seeing the movie. Is this a case where the book is better than the film? Keep reading my review to solve this mystery!
If you’re going to write a story that involves travel, the journey or destination needs to sound appealing. Whether the travels of characters are exciting or the characters arrive somewhere intriguing, the reader may stay invested in what is happening in the story. In Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea, the protagonist, Alvirah, won an all-expenses paid cruise through a charity auction. She, along with her husband, Willy, and their friends embark on an oceanic adventure where there is never a dull moment. Mary and Carol worked well together to create a setting that felt realistic. Descriptive imagery and attention to detail worked in the favor of the story’s world-building. One example is when rooms on the ship, Royal Mermaid, are described. While observing Alvirah and Willy’s room, one of their friends, Nora, states “The closet is practically a room unto itself”. This statement alone provides context for the size of the space. It also addresses the luxurious nature of not just the room itself, but the ship as a whole.
Mystery stories, sometimes, include a group of characters. If these characters are working together to solve a mystery, it’s important for them to maintain a sense of camaraderie. This way, genuineness can be felt as the characters come together to reach a common goal. Throughout Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea, solving mysteries was a team effort among Alvirah, Willy, and their friends, the Reillys. It helped how these characters possessed their own set of skills and life experiences, allowing them to bring something unique to the table. It also helps how they knew each other before the events of the story. Because of how well-written the dialogue was, readers can pick up on how Willy, Alvirah, and the Reillys got along. Toward the beginning of the book, Alvirah is encouraging her friends, Regan and Jack, to join her and Willy on the cruise. Bringing up the couple’s already known vacation plans, Alvirah says, “I just heard from Jack’s own lips that he’s on vacation for two weeks”. She addresses this in an effort to give them a once-in-a-lifetime experience, keeping the best interests of her friends in mind. Because she recognizes Alvirah’s good intentions, Regan replies to Jack, “we’ve never been on a cruise together. I think it would be fun”.
Two of the villains in Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea are Bull’s-Eye and Highbridge. These criminals are on the run to avoid being sentenced for their crimes. There were times while reading this book where I had difficulty telling these characters apart. That’s because their personalities were not distinct enough. Another flaw of Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea was how some mysteries were solved before the reader could figure it out for themselves. During the titular Santa Cruise, two Santa suits go missing, becoming one of the story’s overarching mysteries. But shortly after this mystery is introduced, the “whodunit” is already revealed. This felt reminiscent of an episode of Columbo, where the audience is forced to observe the protagonist solving the mystery themselves instead of interacting with the story by figuring out the mystery alongside the characters.
Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea is, in my opinion, a fine book that is interesting and entertaining enough. Carol and Mary use attention to detail and descriptive imagery in their favor to build a literary world that feels realistic. They also utilize dialogue to create strong camaraderie between the protagonists and their friends. However, I wish the story’s villains were given more distinct personalities, as it could have allowed them to stand out more. Having more interactive mysteries for the readers would have helped as well. There were parts of the story that were, sometimes, repetitive. Examples include referencing the number fifteen and the same events being brought up over and over again. Despite these flaws, the book does have a steady to faster pace, which makes Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea a quicker read.
Disclaimer: Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea is a mystery story that occasionally features violence and characters receiving injuries. There’s also brief references to grief.
Are you looking for a fun blogathon that combines the subjects of food and film? Join my upcoming blogathon, The Food & Film Blogathon! Taking place from October 2nd to October 5th, there’s still time to join the event! With the connection between food and film providing a broad theme, plenty of topics are available to choose. If you’re interested in participating in The Food & Film Blogathon, click on the link below to learn more about the blogathon.
Two weeks ago, I published a Word on the Street story about Michelle Vicary returning to Hallmark as the company’s head of programming. But this is not the only recent change happening at Hallmark. Lynette Rice, of Deadline, reports how the company “eliminated 30 jobs on Wednesday”. The desire “to “transition our workforce to meet the needs of the business today”” was the provided reason for the cut jobs. Jimmy Holcomb, who was Hallmark’s Vice President of Production, is one of the laid off employees. His role at the company was overseeing “the physical production of MOWs, series, and specials for Hallmark Media’s broadcast channels”. He is “credited for creating new ventures for Hallmark Media throughout the world” as well. Meanwhile, Peter White, also from Deadline, reports how Lifetime “cut the majority of its non-scripted team”. The article states the reason for the cut jobs is “Lifetime is focusing more on its television movie business”. Affected by this decision is Nicole Vogel, who was the network’s VP for Programming and Development. At the time of the article’s publication, “The only remaining member of the unscripted team is now Brie Miranda Bryant, SVP, Original Programming”.
When I wrote about Michelle Vicary coming back to Hallmark in my last Word on the Street story, I addressed the network’s declining viewership. At that time, two Hallmark Channel films, A Machu Picchu Proposal and Providence Falls: Chance of a Lifetime, attracted less than a million viewers. Five movies in a row have received under a million viewers at the publication of this Word on the Street story. These newer titles are Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise (592,000 viewers), Providence Falls: Thief Of Fate (592,000 viewers), and Mystery Island: Play for Keeps (350,000 viewers). Similar to what I said in my last Word on the Street story, I’m not surprised Hallmark is making decisions like cutting jobs, especially when no movie in 2025, so far, has seen two million viewers or more.
Though I haven’t seen many Lifetime movies this year, most of the ones I have seen have been decent. However, I am aware of Lifetime’s reputation for distributing a large quantity of films with poor quality. Almost every year, at least one Lifetime movie ends up on my end of the year worst movies list. In 2024, three movies were placed on that list; Revenge Best Served Chilled, My Life Is on the Line, and Boy in the Walls. With this recent prioritization of made-for-tv movies, I’m hoping emphasis is not only placed on quality over quantity, I’m also hoping production value is raised as well.
What are your thoughts on these pieces of movie news? What other changes do you think are in store for Lifetime and Hallmark? Tell me in the comment section!
I have been participating in the Legends of Western Cinema Week Blogathon since 2020. Because films from the western genre aren’t covered on 18 Cinema Lane often, this blogathon has given me a reason to seek out titles from the western genre to review. But when the Legends of Western Cinema Week ends, another blogathon begins; the Hit The Road Blogathon. Since I wanted to participate in both events, I decided to review one film for both blogathons. That film is 1949’s She Wore a Yellow Ribbon! The movie perfectly fits the themes of both events, as it is not only considered a “classical western” (according to IMDB), multiple characters travel by horse throughout the story. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon was also recommended to me by Eric Binford from Diary of a Movie Maniac. While this is the fourth movie of John Wayne’s I’ve seen, this is only the third one I’ve reviewed. The other two titles, El Dorado and Allegheny Uprising, were, in my opinion, just ok. How does She Wore a Yellow Ribbon compare to these other films? Keep reading my review to find out!
The acting: Whenever I discuss the acting in a given movie, I will usually talk about a scene that showcases the strength of the acting performances. My favorite example from She Wore a Yellow Ribbon takes place toward the beginning of the film. John Wayne portrays Captain Nathan Brittles, a man who goes on one last mission before he retires. During an evening visit to the local cemetery, Nathan talks to the graves of his wife, Mary, and his daughters, Elizabeth and Jane. While he talks to his deceased family, he consistently has a sad look in his eyes. Yet, the inflection of his voice changes depending on the type of news he has to share. Joanne Dru’s character, Olivia Dandridge, also visits the cemetery to give Nathan some potted flowers. Olivia’s persona is kind and gentle throughout this scene. Her conversation with Nathan perfectly displays the on-screen camaraderie between Joanne Dru and John Wayne. Because of this on-screen camaraderie and how strong John’s and Joanne’s acting performance was, I wish they shared more screen time.
The scenery: Most of She Wore a Yellow Ribbon takes place outdoors, with the movie being filmed in Utah and Arizona (according to IMDB). Looking back on the 1949 picture, I can definitely see why the film’s creative team would want to take advantage of the story’s natural landscape. Large, rustic red rocks impressively stood against a blue sky filled with white clouds. There were greens spots where foliage popped within the rocky terrain. The most memorable presentation of the scenery was during a storm. The bright, blue lightning blinked against the two-toned gray sky and the sand-colored ground provided a bright hue to the space. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon was a pretty looking film because of its scenery!
The dialogue: In She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Corporal Quayne’s life is spared after being rescued from an attack. Olivia shares with Lieutenant Flint Cohill how happy she is Corporal Quayne survived. Lieutenant Cohill asks her why she cares about Corporal Quayne, especially since she doesn’t know him or is aware if he frequents the Lieutenant’s Bar. Olivia responds to this question by saying just because a man frequents the Lieutenant’s Bar doesn’t automatically make him a gentleman. Lieutenant Cohill then accuses Olivia of caring about Corporal Quayne’s well-being because his survival fits the happy ending she can write home about. This conversation between Olivia and Lieutenant Cohill was thought-provoking, as it addresses motivations for caring about others, as well as how someone’s personal situation can fuel another person’s narrative. That is just one example of the well-written nature of the dialogue!
Limited amount of action: A movie from the western genre, especially one starring John Wayne, carries a set of expectations. One of those expectations is the amount of action within the story. Scenes of battles, duels, and even bar fights will typically be sprinkled through a western genre story to maintain the suspense and intrigue of what’s happening on screen. But in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, the action was far and few between. The majority of the story consisted of characters either having conversations with one another or riding from place to place. When an action scene does happen, it lasts for a very short period of time. These creative decisions caused She Wore a Yellow Ribbon to lack intrigue and suspense.
Not truly getting to know the characters: So much of She Wore a Yellow Ribbon’s story focuses on Captain Nathan Brittles and his impending retirement. While the audience receives the opportunity to learn more about Captain Brittles and understand his motivations, it comes at the expense of getting to truly know the other characters. One character I felt was overlooked was Top Sergeant Quincannon. He was retiring around the same time as Captain Brittles. But the script never addresses how the story’s patrol mission impacted Top Sergeant Quincannon and his career. Instead, the film prioritizes his enjoyment of drinking alcohol. Because of this emphasis, I only became familiar with Top Sergeant Quincannon instead of truly getting to know him.
The run-time: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon has a run-time of an hour and forty-four minutes. As I watched the movie, however, it felt longer than this stated run-time. Part of this flaw stems from the insertion of scenes just for the sake of satisfying the film’s length. Toward the end of the movie, there is a bar fight involving Top Sergeant Quincannon. This scene lasts about five minutes and, in my opinion, feels out of place. That’s because the scene is intended to be comedic, even though She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is not a comedy or a light-hearted story. The movie’s run-time could have been shorter had the bar fight scene either been omitted or trimmed down.
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is the third film I’ve reviewed this month where the scenery was a stand-out strength. In the case of the 1949 picture, the natural landscape of Utah and Arizona was presented through long and medium shots, capturing the grand scale of the desert’s rock formations and large expanse of rustic red and sand-colored land. But as I’ve said in past reviews, “the scenery can’t save you”. If a movie contains a weak script, there’s only so much the pretty landscape can do to salvage that script. In my opinion, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is an underwhelming picture. What I expected to be an action-packed, suspenseful, and even intriguing story turned out to be a drawn-out tale that felt longer than necessary. It also doesn’t help how I wasn’t able to truly get to know the characters, but only become familiar with them. Even though the 1949 film does feature strengths, like the acting and the dialogue, there were times while watching the movie where I almost fell asleep. With a filmography of over one hundred projects, I’ll, hopefully, find a title of John Wayne’s I actually like.
Overall score: 5.2 out of 10
Have you seen She Wore a Yellow Ribbon? What film from John Wayne’s filmography do you like watching? Please tell me in the comment section!
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