Take 3: Play Misty for Me Review

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August’s theme for Genre Grandeur is “Eastwood connected Movies (Clint or his progeny in any capacity)”. As soon I discovered this month’s selected theme, I immediately knew which movie I would choose! For years, I wanted to check out the 1971 film, Play Misty for Me. This is because I had heard Play Misty for Me is the precursor to Fatal Attraction. Since I have seen the 1987 movie, I was curious to see how many similarities or differences Play Misty for Me and Fatal Attraction shared. With this month’s Genre Grandeur theme, I am finally getting that chance! By writing about Play Misty for Me, this is the first time I’m reviewing any of Clint Eastwood’s movies on 18 Cinema Lane. I am familiar with Clint as an actor, so I knew the types of roles he’s typically known for. Therefore, choosing to review Play Misty for Me as the first film of Clint’s covered on my blog is interesting, as it’s quite different from the westerns and action pictures he has usually starred in.

Play Misty for Me poster created by Universal Pictures, Jennings Lang, and The Malpaso Company

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: While I liked the acting as a whole in Play Misty for Me, I have to highlight Clint Eastwood’s and Jessica Walter’s performance. This is because their characters were given the most screen time. Throughout his film career, Clint has gained a reputation for portraying tough, unbreakable heroes. That reputation has been a result of starring in films from the western genre and in titles like Sudden Impact. But in Play Misty for Me, Clint’s character, Dave, adopted a very different persona. The radio disc jockey carries a suave personality with a hint of gentleness. In a great example when Jessica’s character, Evelyn, is restocking Dave’s refrigerator in preparation for dinner, Dave explains to Evelyn how he already has dinner plans. His explanation, however, is calm, which puts Evelyn at ease. Dave’s kind tone of voice, the understanding look in his eyes, and even the relaxed look on his face shows how he isn’t mad at Evelyn. Clint’s versatile acting abilities effectively portray how easy it is to fall in love with Dave!

As I just mentioned in this review, Jessica Walter portrays Evelyn. What I liked about her performance was her ability to seamlessly adopt different emotions. One perfect example is when Evelyn and Dave are having a conversation outside. Before Evelyn leaves Dave’s house, her attitude is friendly. A smile is painted on her face and her personality seems bubbly. But when a neighbor comes outside to complain about the noise, Evelyn immediately becomes very angry. She yells at the neighbor and her entire demeanor is tense. As soon as the neighbor leaves, Evelyn goes back to being friendly like nothing unusual had taken place. Jessica’s ability to seamlessly adopt different emotions was consistent throughout Play Misty for Me. This acting strength made Evelyn an unpredictable character.

The scenery: The biggest pleasant surprise in Play Misty for Me was the scenery! Filmed in Monterey and Carmel, California, the 1971 film features a lot of scenes showcasing the ocean and its surrounding landscape. A perfect example of how photogenic the scenery is can be seen when Dave and Tobie are on a date. One shot proudly displays the ocean at sunset. An orange and yellow sky is met with calm waters shimmering in blue, periwinkle, and lavender. In the foreground, a nearby tree, the edge of a cliff, and the characters’ silhouettes are shadowed, which are contrasted against the lighter colors of the sea. To me, this was one of the most beautiful shots in Play Misty for Me!

The incorporation of jazz music: In movies classified as “psychological thrillers”, the soundtrack primarily consists of suspenseful orchestral music to increase the suspense within that story. The creative team behind Play Misty for Me decided to take a different approach. Jazz tunes provide the main musical sound in the 1971 movie. This is not only because Dave works at a jazz radio station, he also attends a jazz concert. The sounds of this particular music genre invoke a sense of maturity and sophistication. That sophistication and maturity were woven into Play Misty for Me, which allowed the story to be taken seriously. Jazz music also pairs nicely with the oceanic scenery I talked about earlier in this review. The rhythmic movements of the waves and the steady notes of the music create a visual and auditory paradise!

String of musical notes image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/pentagram-vector_710290.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 more annoying antagonist: Alex, from Fatal Attraction, is one of the scariest antagonistic characters in film history. While she is emotionally unstable, her attempts to infiltrate Dan’s life are calculated and intentional. A classic example is when Dan discovers the fate of his daughter’s pet rabbit. When I watched Play Misty for Me, Evelyn came across as more annoying than scary. That’s because her efforts to infiltrate Dave’s life are sporadic, whiny, and desperate. These factors caused me to not take Evelyn as seriously as Alex when it comes to being an antagonist.

Inconsistent suspense: Like I said in this review’s introduction, I have heard Play Misty for Me is the precursor to Fatal Attraction. Though it’s been years since I’ve seen the 1987 movie, I remember the story’s suspense being consistent. With all that said, I believed the suspense in Play Misty for Me would be consistent as well. Unfortunately, I was proven wrong. The suspense of Play Misty for Me was sparingly incorporated, only appearing in certain moments of the story. Most of the film features mundane moments with low energy, such as Tobie and Dave’s date, which lasts for about five minutes. That creative decision caused Play Misty for Me to lack a strong amount of adrenaline and intrigue.

A drawn-out film: According to IMDB, Play Misty for Me has a run-time of an hour and forty-two minutes. To me, though, the film felt longer than its run-time. This feeling was the result of some scenes being drawn out longer than necessary. Earlier in this review, I mentioned Dave attending a jazz concert. The scene featuring the concert lasted approximately five minutes. I mentioned Tobie and Dave’s date lasting about five minutes as well. Had these scenes been trimmed down to maybe three minutes or less, more time could have been spent providing Play Misty for Me with more suspenseful moments.

Recording studio image created by Senivpetro at freepik.com. Music photo created by senivpetro – www.freepik.com

My overall impression:

In my review’s introduction, I said I heard Play Misty for Me is the precursor to Fatal Attraction. Now that I’ve seen both movies, I can honestly say I’d prefer Fatal Attraction over Play Misty for Me. From what I remember of the 1987 film, the story’s suspense is consistent. Plus, Alex is a much scarier antagonist than Evelyn. Play Misty for Me contains flaws like inconsistent suspense and the film itself being drawn out. However, the 1971 movie does have its merits. I liked the acting performances, especially those from Clint Eastwood and Jessica Walter. The scenery was the biggest pleasant surprise of the film. Incorporating jazz music was an interesting approach to the psychological thriller genre, giving the story a sense of maturity and sophistication. With everything I’ve been saying, Play Misty for Me is, in my opinion, just ok.

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen Play Misty for Me? Are there any projects from Clint Eastwood’s or Jessica Walter’s IMDB filmography you’d like to see me cover on 18 Cinema Lane? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Face to Face Review

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Any time I receive the opportunity to review a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, I try to prioritize titles that are either VHS exclusive or harder to find. This decision has been made to help give those titles more recognition, as well as encourage more people to check those films out. One of these films is the 1990 picture, Face to Face! As far as I know, this Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation was not released on VHS or DVD. It also premiered months prior to the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Caroline?, which I have reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane. The synopsis is what intrigued me toward seeing Face to Face, as the story (according to IMDB) is about “an American paleontologist and a British miner get in a conflict over who has the rights to dig on a site in Kenya”. A conflict about two differing parties at odds over a shared problem isn’t often covered within the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. In fact, the only movies I can think of that fit this description are The Summer of Ben Tyler and Sweet Nothing in My Ear. Face to Face’s Kenyan backdrop also provides a unique element to the movie. Africa is a setting that is rarely incorporated in Hallmark Hall of Fame’s films.

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Face to Face poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Robert Halmi, and CBS

Things I liked about the film:

The scenery: As I mentioned in this review’s introduction, Face to Face takes place in Kenya. The creative team behind the film took advantage of the Kenyan landscape by featuring long and medium shots of the story’s natural surroundings. One example is an establishing shot of a sunset. Half the shot is engulfed in an orange and yellow sky, with a grey mountain at the sunset’s root. Nearby trees adopt a black hue, standing out against the sky’s bright colors. The ground appears to be a mix of rustic red and brown, warmed by the light’s glow. This establishing shot is so gorgeous, I doubt pictures would do it justice.

The dialogue: In my recent review of 1973’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, I praised the film’s dialogue. I mentioned how some lines were so well-written, they became a memorable part of the movie. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Face to Face shares the same strength! The film’s dialogue was not only witty and clever, it was also, at times, thought-provoking. During one evening, Face to Face’s protagonists, Diana and Tobias, are listening to the sound of a flute. This music is created by a young man named Enjoro, who works with Tobias. Impressed by Enjoro’s talent, Diana says “Just think what he could do with an education”. Tobias quickly replies by asking “Isn’t what he’s doing enough”? This conversation is a great example of how good intentions may be quite different from what a person wants or needs. Earlier in Face to Face, Diana’s arrival in Kenya is met by a colleague named Dr. Brinkman. On a nearby map, Dr. Brinkman is trying to locate Diana’s dig site. As he’s searching for the site, Diana says to Dr. Brinkman “You’re close”. When he asks her “How close”, she matter-of-factly tells him, “Got the right country”. The exchange between these two characters showcases the wittiness found in Face to Face’s script!

Enjoro’s subplot: Like I just said in this review, the flute music is created by a young man named Enjoro, who works with Tobias. But music is not his only passion. Enjoro is also a talented artist, with his drawings impressing Diana so much, she gives him an art set. Unfortunately, these artistic passions are frowned upon by his village, who would rather see Enjoro become a warrior. This personal struggle between village tradition and personal pursuits provides a subplot in Face to Face. A conflict like Enjoro’s is rarely incorporated in Hallmark Hall of Fame’s movies. In fact, I found Enjoro’s part of the story more interesting than the main plot. Had this film focused primarily on Enjoro’s personal conflict, I think the overall movie would have been more compelling.

Illustrated African landscape image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. Background vector created by macrovector – www.freepik.com

What I didn’t like about the film:

An unlikable protagonist: I recognize the creative team behind Face to Face was trying to utilize the “enemies to lovers” troupe when it came to Tobias and Diana. I also acknowledge they were trying to give Diana and Tobias an “opposites attract” dynamic. Unfortunately, these parts of the story were not as effective as they could have been. One reason lies with how unlikable Diana was. For the majority of the movie, she was a static character; close-minded, stubborn, and entitled. When Tobias offered a compromise or tried to make peace with her, Diana shut down his offers and even saw him as beneath her. Even though Diana and Tobias eventually develop romantic feelings for each other, that attraction felt abrupt. If Diana’s change of heart had been more gradual, not only would she be a more likable character, the build up between her and Tobias’ attraction would have been stronger.

The audio: Face to Face premiered in 1990. Therefore, I’m aware of how film-making technology back then was not as advanced as it is today. But one of the signs of these times was the bad audio heard in the Hallmark Hall of Fame film. Most of Face to Face takes place outdoors. This means not only were the cast’s speech picked up by microphones, background noises were picked up as well. The collection of sounds sometimes made it difficult to understand what the characters were saying. Face to Face could have benefitted from using ADR (automated dialog replacement).

The “insta-love” troupe: When I talked about how unlikable Diana was, I brought up the “enemies to lovers” troupe Face to Face’s creative team tried to utilize. I also brought up how Diana and Tobias’ attraction for one another felt abrupt. This was caused by Tobias and Diana remaining “enemies” for more than half the movie. So much time was spent showing Diana and Tobias bickering, disagreeing, and being negative toward each other instead of the protagonists building a romantic bond over time. When Tobias and Diana eventually fall in love with one another, the “insta-love” troupe unnecessarily makes an appearance in Face to Face. Having the protagonists stay “enemies” for too long also made Elizabeth Montgomery and Robert Foxworth’s on-screen chemistry seem weak.

Image of male lion created by Wirestock at freepik.com. Animals photo created by wirestock – www.freepik.com

My overall impression:

With the publication of my Face to Face review, I have now seen all three Hallmark Hall of Fame movies released in 1990. Out of these films, I find Caroline? the best one. As for Face to Face, I thought it was just ok. This is one of those movies where a better story idea was buried within the presentation Hallmark Hall of Fame gave its audience. I honestly wish Enjoro’s story had been chosen as the main plot. His personal conflict between village tradition and personal pursuits provided a compelling narrative. I also wish Tobias and Diana had spent more time developing a romantic relationship and working together to solve their shared problem. These creative decisions would have prevented flaws like the appearance of the “insta-love” troupe. Face to Face features merits such as the dialogue and the scenery. But I can think of better movies also featuring these merits. Though there are interesting ideas woven into the script, I can kind of see why Face to Face became lost to time.

Overall score: 6.1 out of 10

Have you seen Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Face to Face? Are there any Hallmark Hall of Fame films you’d like to see reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Michelle Vicary Receives New Role Upon Returning to Hallmark

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Way back in 2021, I wrote a Word on the Street story about Michelle Vicary’s departure from Hallmark. At the time, she was the company’s executive for programming and production. Now, four years later, Michelle has returned with a new title. In a recent article from Variety, Emily Longeretta reports how Michelle will now become Hallmark’s “head of programming”, allowing her to “oversee all production and original programming across Hallmark’s content platforms”. Her new role comes at a time when Hallmark has been attempting to bring their assets under one umbrella as “One Hallmark”. Their goal is to “deliver incredible content, incredible products and incredible experiences that leverage the full breadth of the brand” by “tying all of those things together in really unique ways”. When reflecting on Michelle’s importance in the company, Darren Abbott, Hallmark’s Chief Brand Officer, stated, “She was really the missing piece of the puzzle, I think, around the way I’m thinking about the brand.”

People working on films image created by Katemangostar at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/business”>Business vector created by katemangostar – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

In the 2020s, so far, Hallmark’s viewership has been gradually declining. As of the publication of this Word on the Street story, 2025 hasn’t seen any movie premiere achieve two million viewers or more. In fact, the latest film release, Providence Falls: Chance of a Lifetime only attracted 695,000 viewers. This is now the second movie in a row to garner less than a million viewers, as the previous premiere, A Machu Picchu Proposal, received 964,000 viewers. Based on everything I just said; I’m not surprised Michelle Vicary came back to Hallmark. She worked at Hallmark when the network was in its prime, so I’d like to think she knows how to bring the company back to success. Though only time will tell how Michelle’s leadership will impact Hallmark as well as its consumers.

What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Are you happy to see Michelle Vicary return to Hallmark? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

References in this article:

Article from Variety: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/michelle-vicary-hallmark-head-of-programming-1236478202/

Viewership numbers for Providence Falls: Chance of a Lifetime: https://programminginsider.com/saturday-ratings-fox-still-tops-the-night-despite-rainout-of-mlb-speedway-classic/

Viewership numbers for A Machu Picchu Proposal: https://programminginsider.com/saturday-ratings-fox-tops-all-key-prime-time-figures-with-mlb-action/

Take 3: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1973) Review

On By 18cinemalane14 Comments

All the way back in 2019, I reviewed the 1995 adaptation of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. After I shared my thoughts on the film, Gill, from Realweegiemidget Reviews, recommended the 1973 adaptation, which is sometimes titled The Hideaways. Whenever Virginie, from The Wonderful World of Cinema, has hosted the Ingrid Bergman Blogathon, I have wanted to check out the 1973 adaptation, due to Ingrid Bergman starring in the film. Now, for the 110 Years of Ingrid Bergman Blogathon, I finally received the opportunity to write about the movie! While I still haven’t read the book, I am familiar with the story because I covered the 1995 adaptation on 18 Cinema Lane. Back in 2019, I said the film was just ok, as one of my biggest criticisms was the underutilization of Lauren Bacall’s acting talents. Will I give similar criticisms to the 1973 adaptation of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler? To solve this mystery, keep reading my review!

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1973) poster created by Cinema 5, Westfall Productions, and Cinema 5 Distributing

Things I liked about the film:

Sally Prager’s and Johnny Doran’s acting performance: Starring in From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler as the protagonists, Claudia and Jamie Kincaid, Sally Prager and Johnny Doran carry about 95% of the film. Because of how strong their performances were, they successfully carried the movie by presenting their characters believably! One example takes place toward the beginning of the film. Jamie is telling his sister, Claudia, about a movie he had recently seen. As he talks about the movie, his speech becomes increasingly animated. Even after Claudia kicks him out of her room, Jamie talks even louder, his excitement never faltering. After Jamie and Claudia arrive in New York City, they go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When Jamie asks her why she wants to go to the museum, Claudia enthusiastically describes the museum as a castle like the tales of King Arthur. This scene perfectly showcases how Sally effectively portrayed Claudia as precocious; containing enough self-awareness to know exactly what she wants, yet displaying that sense of wonder one would expect from a child her age.

The cinematography: When I reviewed the 1995 adaptation of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, I complimented the film’s cinematography. That adaptation’s creative team made some interesting choices when presenting certain scenes, like using close-ups to present the museum’s artifacts. The 1973 adaptation of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler features good cinematography as well! Similar to the 1995 adaptation, some scenes were shown from Claudia and Jamie’s perspective. While hiding on the school bus, Jamie constantly peeks from behind the seat to see if the bus driver has spotted them. A few shots look like they’re from Jamie’s point of view, with the camera peering around the seat to catch a glimpse of the bus driver. When Jamie and Claudia are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they look over the railing at the museum’s employees and security guards in the lobby. Once again, the scene is presented from the point of view of the children. The camera peers over the museum’s railing, looking down at the security guards and employees. Shots like the ones I described make the audience feel like they’re with the characters, creating the illusion of immersion.

The dialogue: A pleasant surprise in 1973’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was the dialogue! Some lines were so well-written, they became a memorable part of the movie. In one scene, as Jamie navigates through the museum, a janitor asks him where he came from. Speaking confidently in a matter-of-fact way, Jamie tells the janitor, “My mother said I came from Heaven”. I not only found this response a clever comeback, it was also a creative way to answer the question. Another scene shows Jamie sharing with Claudia one of the reasons why he ran away with her. While spending a night in the museum, Jamie tells his sister how concerned he was by the thought of her traveling alone, as he believed she would be afraid. Claudia responds to her brother’s belief by saying, “Being self-sufficient doesn’t automatically make a person brave”. This quote showcases an eloquent way of addressing how anyone at any age can be afraid of something.

Angelic statue image created by Marcelo Gerpe at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/Marcelo Gerpe.”

What I didn’t like about the film:

Telling instead of showing: In both adaptations of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Jamie and Claudia go to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler’s house, searching for an angel statue’s legitimacy. From what I remember of the 1995 movie, a scene shows Claudia and Jamie looking for answers about the statue by rummaging through Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler’s mixed-up files. The 1973 version, on the other hand, has Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler telling the answer of the mystery instead of showing the children putting the mystery’s pieces together. Because the creative team behind the 1973 adaptation chose telling over showing, some of the excitement of seeing the protagonists achieve their goal was taken away.

Less emphasis on the mystery: An overarching part of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler’s story is the mystery surrounding an angelic statue. However, this mystery received less emphasis in both the 1973 and 1995 adaptations. Specifically speaking about the 1973 version, the story focused more on Claudia and Jamie’s adventures in New York City. In fact, the angel statue doesn’t make an appearance until 44 minutes in an hour and forty-five-minute film. Like I said in my review of the 1995 version, this creative decision took a lot of intrigue out of the film, causing the story not to be as engaging or interactive.

The underutilization of Ingrid Bergman: During this review’s introduction, I brought up one of my biggest criticisms of 1995’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler; the underutilization of Lauren Bacall’s acting talents. Sadly, I have the same criticism for the 1973 version. Just like the 1995 adaptation, Ingrid Bergman is the top-billed actor in the adaptation from 1973. Yet she doesn’t appear in the story until an hour and fourteen minutes in an hour and forty-five-minute movie. I recognize the 1973 version of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler premiered toward the end of Ingrid’s career. I also acknowledge the story prioritizes the adventures of Claudia and Jamie Kincaid. But as I said about Lauren Bacall in my review of the 1995 movie, this underutilization not only does Ingrid’s acting talents a disservice, it also comes across as misleading.

110 Years of Ingrid Bergman Blogathon banner created by Virginie, from The Wonderful World of Cinema

My overall impression:

For the 5th Annual Gold Sally Awards, I introduced the Nosferatu vs. Dracula Award. This award is given to two movies that feel like you’re watching the same one. Looking back on my experience watching the 1973 adaptation of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and reflecting on my review of the 1995 adaptation, the Nosferatu vs. Dracula Award will likely be brought back for 2026’s edition of the Gold Sally Awards. The 1973 movie shares a lot of the same strengths and flaws as the 1995 version. These similarities made me feel like I was watching the same film twice. I knew what to expect from the story, due to seeing From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler from 1995. However, I still wish both adaptations contained stronger differentiations between them. The films I’ve seen of Ingrid Bergman’s from the 1970s have, in my opinion, been underwhelming. While I found A Walk in the Spring Rain a flavorless picture, I think A Matter of Time and now From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler are just ok.

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen 1973’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler? Which book adaptation do you wish starred a “classic” film star? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Updates on Three Upcoming Fall Movies for Hallmark Channel!

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Back in June, a third movie in the Haul Out the Holly series was announced. According to an article from the blog, It’s a Wonderful Movie, the film is Halloween themed, as two “spooky new neighbors”, Luna and Marvin, move to the neighborhood of Evergreen Lane. At the time of the announcement, no release date had been revealed. However, the official IMDB page for the third chapter, titled Haul Out the Halloween, has the release date listed as October 15th, 2025. As of the publication of this Word on the Street story, Hallmark has not confirmed this date. If Haul Out the Halloween will indeed premiere on October 15th, this could indicate when Hallmark Channel’s ‘Countdown to Christmas’ line-up will begin. With October 15th falling on a Wednesday and with the first Christmas films of 2024 and 2023 premiering on October 18th and October 20th, I speculate 2025’s first ‘Countdown to Christmas’ film could premiere as early as October 17th.

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.

On Hallmark Channel’s website, a new movie has received a September 27th release date. The film is titled Adventures in Love & Birding, with Andrew Walker and Rachel Boston co-leading. The movie is about the following:

“A single mom agrees to be the partner of a bird enthusiast for a birding competition but misunderstands the assignment and tells everyone she’s his new girlfriend instead of just his teammate.”

Because the phrase “misunderstands the assignment” is included in this synopsis, I wonder if Rachel Boston’s character is a teacher? Maybe she is teaching her students about birds, leading to her involvement in the competition?

Image of crow at sunset created by Rayudu NVS at freeimages.com. Photo by <a href=”/photographer/rayudu238-57835″>rayudu NVS</a> from <a href=”https://freeimages.com/”>FreeImages</a&gt;. Image found at freeimages.com.

Back in May, I wrote a Word on the Street story about two new films in the Mystery Island series; Mystery Island: Play for Keeps and Mystery Island: House Rules. At the time, the fourth movie, Mystery Island: House Rules, had not received a premiere date. But Hallmark Channel’s website has now chosen September 14th as the film’s date of release. The movie’s official synopsis is the same on both its IMDB page and its Hallmark Channel page. Plus, Hallmark Channel revealed a collection of promotional photos for Mystery Island: House Rules as well. This fourth installment comes a month after Mystery Island: Play for Keeps, which premieres August 17th.

Tropical island image created by Brgfx at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/island-background-design_1020626.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Brgfx – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on these pieces of movie news? Are you looking forward to either Haul Out the Halloween, Adventures in Love & Birding, or Mystery Island: House Rules? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

References in this article:

Haul Out the Halloween‘s official IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37212241/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_haul%2520ou

Article from It’s a Wonderful Movie: https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2025/06/breaking-lacey-chabert-and-wes-brown-star-haul-out-the-halloween-hallmark-channel.html

Hallmark Channel’s official page for Adventures in Love & Birding: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/adventures-in-love-birding

Hallmark Channel’s official page for Mystery Island: House Rules: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/mystery-island-house-rules

Word on the Street: ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Returns to the Big Screen with Help from AI

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

Lately, I’ve been looking for a Word on the Street story to cover on 18 Cinema Lane, as I haven’t published any movie news related articles since May. So, when I watched a recent video from the Youtube channel, Film Threat, about an upcoming movie screening, I just had to write about the story on my blog! Starting on August 28th, The Sphere in Las Vegas will host an immersive screening of The Wizard of Oz. The 86-year-old film will be elevated through practical effects, such as giant fans and fog elements. Glenn Derry, an “Oscar-winning technical wizard”, is working on the Sphere’s screening of The Wizard of Oz. He justifies using these practical effects by stating, “We are here to ensure that everybody gets a great experience of feeling like they’re in the Wizard of Oz. And that includes sight, touch, sound, and smell”. AI (artificial intelligence) will also be utilized to compliment the Sphere’s wraparound screen. Scenes are expanded using a technological process referred to as “outpainting”, allowing the audience to see more of a scene’s background. This screening of The Wizard of Oz features Uncle Henry in a scene where he was originally off-screen, extending Charley Grapewin’s role.

Movie items image created by Macrovector at freepik.com <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/cinema-poster-sketch_1530892.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Macrovector – Freepik.com</a> Image found at freepik.com

As Film Threat’s Chris Gore and Alan Ng reacted to this piece of movie news, they developed mixed feelings about the screening. Chris even speculates the “future of cinema” being spectacle based is due to “fewer and fewer people are going to the movies”. I can only speak for myself, but I am torn over this screening of The Wizard of Oz. The idea of an immersive movie screening is fascinating. If this idea is going to be executed, The Wizard of Oz is the perfect film to choose, as there are so many moving parts to the story itself. But the added content to the Sphere’s screening of the movie raises some concern. I find the subject of restoring and preserving “lost media” interesting. However, the inclusion of AI creates a fine line between restoring “lost media” and rewriting cinematic history. This fine line needs to be discussed by both film and “lost media” enthusiasts.

What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Which movie do you think should receive an immersive screening? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

The video referenced in this article: ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ FALLS VICTIM TO AI | Film Threat News’ from the Youtube channel, Film Threat

Thirteen Questions for When Calls the Heart’s 13th Season

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

It’s been a while since I’ve written a list article. In fact, the last time I wrote any kind of list article was when I published my list of the top ten best stand-alone films back in March. It has also been a while since I published anything Hallmark related, as I reviewed Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back in April. To make up for lost time, I decided to create a list of thirteen questions I have for When Calls the Heart’s 13th season! With the announcement of any new television season comes a series of questions and speculation from the fans. Though these questions will not be answered until next year, a list like mine gives Hearties something to think about while they wait for the show to come back. This list is going to contain spoilers for When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season as well as some of the series’ other seasons. If you are a Heartie who is not caught up with the show, please read my list at your own discretion.

When Calls the Heart season twelve poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

1. Will Elizabeth and Jack Jr. permanently reside in Cape Fullerton?

In the season twelve finale of When Calls the Heart, Jack Jr. and Elizabeth are forced to make an emergency trip to Cape Fullerton due to Jack Jr. receiving Insulin that wasn’t properly refrigerated. But earlier in the episode, Elizabeth receives a letter from Charlotte Thornton. In this letter, Charlotte encourages her grandson and daughter-in-law to move to Cape Fullerton, so Jack Jr. can live closer to Diabetes-related medical facilities. Since the season twelve finale ended with Elizabeth and Jack Jr. traveling to the train station, it’s currently unknown how long Jack Jr. and Elizabeth plan to stay out of Hope Valley. If they were to make Cape Fullerton their permanent home, this creative decision would lead to a collection of other questions. Would Elizabeth continue teaching at a new school or would she retire from the teaching profession? What would Jack Jr. and Elizabeth’s new home look like? Would the show’s overarching story alternate between Cape Fullerton and Hope Valley, similar to how season two alternated between Hope Valley and Hamilton?

2. Will Allie and Nathan make Cape Fullerton their permanent residence?

With Nathan on his Mountie rounds, Elizabeth cannot quickly tell him of her and her son’s sudden departure to Cape Fullerton. So, before leaving Hope Valley, she writes a letter to Nathan explaining what happened. To Elizabeth’s surprise, Nathan and Allie join her and Jack Jr. as they make their way to their destination. When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season concludes with the two families traveling beyond Hope Valley. Like I said for question number one, season twelve’s finale ended with Jack Jr. and Elizabeth on their way to the train station. This means we also don’t know how long Nathan and Allie plan on staying in Cape Fullerton. If they end up permanently leaving Hope Valley, there would be a lot of questions associated with that creative decision. Would Nathan join the Mounties in Cape Fullerton or would he retire from the Mountie profession? Would Allie complete her education at a new school or graduate from the Jack Thornton School in Hope Valley? How would they adjust to their new environment?

3. Are we going to see more frequent appearances of Charlotte and/or Tom Thornton?

As I mentioned for question number one, Charlotte encourages Jack Jr. and Elizabeth to move to Cape Fullerton. I remember Elizabeth saying in the season twelve finale how, in Cape Fullerton, Charlotte owns a boarding house. If Jack Jr. and Elizabeth were to make Cape Fullerton their permanent residence, how often would Charlotte appear in When Calls the Heart’s thirteenth season? Would the character get re-cast or would Brooke Shields reprise her role? When Tom Thornton was on the show in seasons five and eleven, he never mentioned if he still lives in Hamilton like he did in season two. In fact, I don’t recall the script ever revealing where Tom currently resides. So, if Charlotte were to make more frequent appearances in season thirteen, does this mean Tom could also appear on the show more often as well? In my opinion, seeing the Thornton family more consistently on When Calls the Heart would be a breath of fresh air!

Heart image created by Dashu83 at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Backgroundimage created by Dashu83 – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/happy-valentines-day-and-heart-card-with-happy-valentines-day-and-heart_1747001.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

4. What will become of Fiona’s barber shop?

One of the biggest surprises in season twelve was Fiona’s decision to sell her barber shop. While the sale was successful, the identity of the buyer or their intention for the space was never revealed. What the new purpose of the building will be is, at this point, any Hearties’ guess. However, I wonder if this is how Rosemary finally gets her long-awaited theater? Elizabeth and Nathan are shown leaving a movie theater in the twelfth season’s seventh episode, “Dance the Night Away”. From a production perspective, this makes the chances of Rosemary receiving her theater seem a little more realistic. If the creative team wanted to add a theater to Hope Valley using the set space they already have, the set design department could tear down the barber shop’s back and side walls. From there, they could build upon the barber shop by expanding the walls and adding more length as well as depth to the space. Another realistic way a theater could be incorporated in Hope Valley is for the set design department to repurpose the school/church’s interior as the inside of the theater.

5. Will Edie actually start her law firm in Hope Valley?

Edie Martell was one of the new characters introduced in When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season. During a conversation she shared with Lucas, I recall Edie discussing her desire to open a law firm in Hope Valley. As of the publication of this list, no official announcements have been made regarding Edie’s return to the show. But if she does stay in Hope Valley, will her law firm become a reality? From what I remember, When Calls the Heart has never featured a law firm in Hope Valley before. Now that I say that, it makes me question how Hope Valley’s residents have settled their legal matters prior to Edie’s arrival?

6. Has the national park project become abandoned like season eleven’s hotel project?

At the beginning of When Calls the Heart’s eleventh season, Lucas announced he was planning on building a hotel using land gifted to him from Lee. But as the season carried on, Lucas’ hotel project became abandoned in favor of a new project; a national park. Reintroduced at the beginning of season twelve, I had my concerns the national park project would become the next abandoned large-scale project. Seeing how little progress was made throughout season twelve, I think those concerns were proven correct. Speaking only for myself, I’m becoming tired of major plans on When Calls the Heart being left unfinished. This kind of makes the show’s creative team look like they’re making promises they know they can’t keep. Though I’d like to see the national park project completed in season thirteen, it’s one of those creative decisions where I’ll believe when I see it.

When Calls the Heart season eleven poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

7. Will Hope Valley finally see their first female Mountie?

My second question on this list was will Allie and Nathan make Cape Fullerton their permanent residence? If they do, that means Hope Valley will need a new Mountie to look after the town. This would be the perfect opportunity for When Calls the Heart to introduce the show’s first female Mountie! I’ve said before on 18 Cinema Lane how a female Mountie’s inclusion in the show’s story fits the narrative the series has had since the beginning. During When Calls the Heart’s soon-to-be thirteen season lifespan, Hope Valley has had a female mayor and several female business owners. The town also has a female doctor as well as a female pharmacist. With all that said, I truly believe Hope Valley’s first female Mountie would provide an interesting and exciting dynamic to When Calls the Heart!

8. Will a subplot revolve around Angela’s experiences at college?

Angela, Joseph, and Minnie took a tour of the Schwartzman School in season twelve’s ninth episode, “Buried Treasure”. In my re-cap for that episode, I wondered how Angela’s story would be included in future seasons if she attended the school. Would some scenes cut away to the Schwartzman School, alternating the show’s story between the school and Hope Valley?  Or would Angela be temporarily written off When Calls the Heart, with her story told through dialogue from the Canfield family? Season twelve’s finale revealed Angela will, indeed, attend college. She even receives a quilt as a graduation present. With Angela Canfield and the show itself embarking on a new chapter, it’ll be interesting to see how these stories are told in season thirteen!

9. Now that Emily has graduated, will she continue to work for Joseph and Henry’s hazelnut business?

Toward the beginning of When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season, Joseph and Henry start their own hazelnut business. Over the season, the business successfully grows, with Emily playing a pivotal role in the business’ operation. But now that Emily has graduated from the Jack Thornton School, where does her story go from here? Does she continue to work for Henry and Joseph’s hazelnut business, saving money to eventually go to college? Or will Hearties learn through dialogue Emily already left for college by the start of the new season? If season thirteen shows Emily leaving for college, will another student of the Jack Thornton School help run the business or will When Calls the Heart’s creative team introduce a new character? Joseph and Henry’s hazelnut business was such a pleasant surprise in season twelve, so I’m curious to see what’s in store for next year!

Heart shaped balloons image created by Katemangostar at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by katemangostar – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

10. Will season thirteen contain an overarching mystery?

An overarching story in season twelve was the mystery of the gold coin. What started as a simple search for who originally owned a unique looking coin turned into a discovery of buried treasure. Based on responses from the Hearties and my own personal opinion, the gold coin mystery was one of the best parts of When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season! This positive reception makes me wonder if the show’s creative team will feature another overarching mystery in season thirteen? Are Bill and Rosemary going to solve another case or will different characters become amateur detectives? If an overarching mystery is written into season thirteen’s script, would it connect to characters and stories from past seasons? Personally, I hope When Calls the Heart’s new season contains a mystery, as it would add intrigue and excitement to the overall story!

11. Is an unresolved story going to be completed in season thirteen?

Back in season ten, Rosaleen Sullivan returned to Hope Valley. While there, she overcame her resentment toward Henry, even making a peace offering by inviting him to church. Meanwhile, Henry apologized to Rosaleen for the mining tragedy that claimed her father. This joint story provided a conclusion for both Henry and Rosaleen, with Rosaleen moving forward from the past and Henry finally achieving redemption. When Calls the Heart will soon enter its thirteenth season. Television shows lasting that long are bound to contain unresolved stories. If a story from season one could become resolved in season ten, I wonder if any uncompleted stories from When Calls the Heart will be finished in season thirteen?

12. Is another student going to receive the Hope Valley Scholarship?

After learning Rosaleen doesn’t have enough money to attend nursing school, Henry created the Hope Valley Scholarship. This scholarship allows current and former students of the Jack Thornton School to achieve their academic dreams. Since its introduction in season ten, however, I haven’t heard of any other student receiving this scholarship. With Angela, Timothy, and Emily having recently graduated and with Allie’s graduation on the horizon, I wonder if the Hearties will see another Hope Valley Scholarship recipient? Now that Henry is co-owner of a successful hazelnut business, does some of his financial earnings go toward the scholarship? Will one of Hope Valley’s residents organize a fundraiser to raise additional scholarship funds? If the Hope Valley Scholarship were incorporated into season thirteen’s script, maybe it could provide an overarching story on When Calls the Heart.

13. Will Oliver receive the birthday party he’s never had?

Oliver Garrett made his official debut in the twelfth season of When Calls the Heart. During their trip to a nearby river, Oliver reveals to Allie how he’s never had a birthday party. This is likely due to his experiences in the foster care system. As season twelve went on, I actually thought the season would end with Oliver finally receiving a birthday celebration. But in a season where a birthday party was already featured (Allie’s, in this case), I can see why When Calls the Heart’s creative team would save Oliver’s birthday party for a future season. In the season twelve finale, Oliver was promoted to Mountie Deputy. That creative decision gives him a reason to stay in Hope Valley. If Oliver does remain in Hope Valley, as well as on the show, I wonder if he will get that birthday party he’s never had?

When Calls the Heart season ten poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Saving the Titanic Review

On By 18cinemalane11 Comments

When it comes to the Titanic, the sinking of the “unsinkable” ship and the tragedy that followed are the two most emphasized parts of the watercraft’s history. During the one hundred and thirteen years since the infamous disaster, multiple survivors (either real or fictional) have shared their stories through various forms of media. However, I have observed how the majority of these recollections have been from the perspectives of the passengers. While the passengers’ point of view is important, it seems like the media rarely captures the perspective of Titanic’s employees. This is the reason I chose to review Saving the Titanic for The Titanic In Pop Culture Blogathon. Whenever I participate in a blogathon, I will sometimes review a made-for-TV film. This decision is made because television movies are rarely included in blogging events. I also try to write about a subject that presents a blogathon’s theme in a more unique way. As I already mentioned, Saving the Titanic addresses a point of view that seems less frequent. So, without further delay, let’s begin my review of the 2012 TV production.

Saving the Titanic poster created by Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion, Tile Films, and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Things I liked about the film:

How the lower budget was utilized: Made-for-TV movies have historically received lower budgets. According to IMDB, the estimated budget for Saving the Titanic was €1,600,000 (or $1.8 million). Despite the limited funds, the creative team behind the 2012 television production saw this aspect as a challenge instead of a hinderance. The story revolves around the Titanic’s electricians, engineers, and “firemen” (those who feed fire to the ship’s boilers). Because their roles take place below deck, there’s only a few locations where the employees either reside or work. This allowed the movie’s creative team to recycle sets, featuring a handful of locations in multiple scenes. Medium and close-up shots of the employees and the ship’s machinery not only encourage the audience to focus on how the Titanic operated, they also show how frugal the creative team was with the space they were given. Because of the clever ways the budget was utilized in Saving the Titanic, it was easy to forget how low the budget was.

Use of mixed media: If I had to classify Saving the Titanic, I would call it a “docudrama”. While the majority of the film is a dramatization of the events surrounding the Titanic, the movie features mixed media, which is sometimes found in documentaries. From time to time, blueprints of the Titanic would appear onscreen as a voice-over explained the significance of each featured area. Real-life photographs emphasized how actual lives were impacted by every aspect of the ship. Even the Titanic’s first distress call was typed out on screen, giving the audience an idea of what nautical communication looked like in the 1910s. The inclusion of mixed media created an enriching viewing experience. That element highlights how the Titanic is as multi-faceted as the stories surrounding it.

Learning something new: Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about the Titanic. From discovering the ship did, indeed, have a swimming pool to what the last dinner was served in first class, I thought I knew a satisfying amount of information. But by watching Saving the Titanic, I learned even more about the titular ship, partly due to the perspective of the employees. The fourth funnel on the ship was fake. However, this design choice was a blessing in disguise for one of Titanic’s crew members. A greaser named Alfred White refuses to climb to the top of the fourth funnel due to his fear of heights. Later in the movie, he is ordered by Joseph Bell to report everything happening above deck. This order helps Alfred overcome his fear and accomplish his task, as he had to climb up the same funnel he refused to climb before. Had it not been for Alfred’s part of the story, I might have never known only three of Titanic’s funnels were functional.

The Titanic In Pop Culture Blogathon banner created by Rebecca from Taking Up Room

What I didn’t like about the film:

No explanation for surviving crew members: Toward the beginning of Saving the Titanic, a small group of Titanic’s surviving crew members are at the White Star Line Office. Two of those crew members are featured throughout the film, Alfred White and Frederick Barrett. On screen text revealed the movie was “based on testimonies from surviving crew of RMS Titanic”. So, I was curious about what happened to Frederick and Alfred after they arrived in New York. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t address this information. Instead, the end of the film acknowledged the deceased crew members, such as Joseph Bell. Even though recognizing the crew members who persisted is important, I wish the crew members who survived were recognized as well.

Thick accents: When I reviewed Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch last year, I pointed out how difficult it was to understand characters who spoke with thick French accents.  Saving the Titanic has a similar issue. A voice-over explains how the majority of Titanic’s employees came from Southampton. This means the ship’s crew members spoke to one another with English accents in varying degrees of thickness. For employees with thick accents, I, once again, found it difficult to understand what they were saying. While this wasn’t a consistent issue, it was enough for me to point it out.

Frederick Barrett’s “plot twist”: For this part of my review, I will spoil Saving the Titanic. If you have not seen this movie and are planning on watching it, skip ahead to the part of my review titled “My overall impression”.

Throughout his time on the Titanic, Frederick Barrett is very secretive about his past. When he is asked about his life before boarding the famous ship, his answers are vague. In a tense moment while the Titanic is sinking, Frederick explains to Joseph Bell how his wife cheated on him. He wanted to kill his wife and her lover, but chose to join the Titanic’s crew instead. As I mentioned earlier in this review, Saving the Titanic was “based on testimonies from surviving crew of RMS Titanic”. Therefore, the crew members featured in the film were actual people. The way the aforementioned part of Frederick’s story was presented felt like the movie’s creative team wanted to include a plot twist in a real-life story. Not only was this delivery unnecessary, I, personally, think there were better ways to write facts about Frederick’s life into the script.

Since I’m reviewing a movie about the Titanic and its history, I thought including a picture of That Fatal Night: The Titanic Diary of Dorothy Wilton was appropriate. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

My overall impression:

At the beginning of Saving the Titanic, Frederick Barrett is being interviewed about the Titanic disaster. Members of White Star Line tell Frederick they want to reassure the public of White Star Line’s nautical quality by bringing up heroes who helped rescue lives on that infamous April night. But, later in the film, Frederick calls out White Star Line’s members for trying to find heroes to fit the company’s narrative. He also refers to himself as a survivor, not a hero. The story of the Titanic is wrapped in tragedy, fear, and cruel irony. So much emphasis is placed on these aspects of the Titanic’s history, it may be easy to forget there were, indeed, people boarding the ship who were heroes in someone else’s eyes. Whether they are known or not, these people guided someone toward a lifeboat, fetched a life vest for a passenger who might not have received one, or simply tried to ease a frightened crew member’s anxiety. Saving the Titanic brings up some of those names and allows their stories to be told. Like I mentioned in my review’s introduction, the 2012 television presentation addresses a point of view that seems less frequent, which is Titanic’s employees in this case. Though the movie is flawed, I am thankful a production like this exists. It not only teaches viewers about the Titanic from a different perspective, it also shares a side of the story that seems rarely covered in media.

Overall score: 7.1 out of 10

Have you seen Saving the Titanic? Are there aspects of the Titanic’s story you’d like to hear more from? Please tell me in the comment section.

Have fun at the movies.

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride Review

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

As I looked at the blogathon schedule for the rest of 2025, I discovered how few events were announced. This includes my upcoming blogathon, The Food & Film Blogathon. Despite the limited amount of blogathons, I wanted to provide more blogathon related content to my readers. So, I have decided to participate in Genre Grandeur! I have written reviews for this year-long blogathon before. However, the last time I participated in Genre Grandeur was October 2023, when I reviewed Christmas at Castle Hart. With July’s theme being “Movies Featuring Weddings”, I knew there were a lot of options at my disposal. But I wanted to talk about a movie that was more off the beaten path. When I learned there was a Perry Mason film revolving around a wedding, I knew I found the perfect title! Some of the movies from the Perry Mason TV film series have been covered on 18 Cinema Lane. These pictures have received likable reviews, as I have enjoyed them to varying degrees. How will this film, Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride, compare to those other entries? Keep reading my review to solve this mystery!

Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride poster created by Fred Silverman Company, Viacom Productions, Dean Hargrove Productions, National Broadcasting Company, and Viacom

Things I liked about the film:

Stand-out performances: In a mystery film, there is sometimes that one actor or collection of actors whose performance shines the brightest. That kind of performance came from Merle Kennedy, Brian McNamara, and Heather McAdam in Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride! The film’s titular bride is a pop star named Kaitlynn Parrish. From her style to her songs and even her dance moves, everything about Kaitlynn’s celebrity persona feels very Madonna-esque. But throughout the movie and also at the wedding, Kaitlynn’s personality is quite different. Heather McAdam portrays her character as a sweet, down-to-earth woman who hasn’t let fame and fortune get to her head. Instead of becoming a self-centered “bridezilla”, Kaitlynn shows concern for her dad’s legal situation. When Kaitlynn’s dad receives a phone call from a commissioner, the smile she had on her face as she walks into the room immediately melts into a look of worry. As she talks to her dad about the commissioner’s call, Kaitlynn’s tone of voice is filled with concern and there’s even a sad look in her eyes. She also suggests asking Perry Mason for help. Kaitlynn eventually goes back to appearing happy when her dad is in a better mood. Scenes like the one I described present a good example of how, sometimes, an entertainer’s real-life persona is quite different from what they present in the spotlight.

Brian McNamara portrays Sam Wald, a groomsman in Kaitlynn Parrish’s wedding. Merle Kennedy stars in the movie as Suzy Richards, a fan of Kaitlynn’s. What both Merle and Brian have in common is how their performance was charismatic! It also helps how their ability to adapt from scene to scene was effortless! Because of how strong Brian’s and Merle’s performance was, it allowed Sam and Suzy to be more intriguing. These elements made me look forward to seeing the characters appear on screen. I honestly wish Merle and Brian were given more material to work with in this movie.

The wardrobe: The Perry Mason TV movies are “contemporary” mysteries grounded in reality. This means the characters’ wardrobe not only runs the risk of appearing mundane, it also runs the risk of becoming overlooked. In Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride, however, some of the female characters’ wardrobe stood out to me. One of my favorite outfits appeared toward the beginning of the film. When Suzy is first introduced in the movie, she wears a red suede jacket with matching shiny red Doc Martin boots. Her outfit also includes a white shirt, black shorts, and black knee-high socks. My favorite piece was a black, cross-body purse with a silver buckle and silver corners. From what I could see, the purse looked like a mini trunk. The outfit I described was not only a great contrast from the other characters’ wardrobe, it also wonderfully represented Suzy’s personality! These results helped outfits like Suzy’s be memorable!

The set design: When I reviewed Perry Mason Returns and Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love, I talked about the set design as one of the strengths of both films. The exterior and interior of the highlighted spaces effectively visualized how well-off the characters are. Kaitlynn and her fiancé, Gary’s, wedding in Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride takes place in a large mansion. This mansion appears built out of warm-stone brick with cream borders around the windows and main door. To the left of the mansion is a multi-paneled cylinder, making the building look like a castle. With manicured foliage in front of the mansion, one might mistake the structure as a dream out of a fairytale! Later in the film, the office of a music producer named Jake Lubin is shown on screen. This space has a high ceiling, large windows, and a massive indoor balcony. Metal support pillars and frosted glass railings give the office a modern industrial style. Platinum and gold framed records represent Jake’s success as well as compliment the cream, silver, and gold color palette. Once again, the set design of Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride provided visual clues for the characters’ social status.

Wedding couple with cameras image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/original-cards-for-wedding-photography_913021.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/logo”>Logo vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Lack of urgency: The Perry Mason television film series doesn’t rely on suspense or adrenaline. But the mysteries provide intrigue to keep the viewers invested in what’s happening on screen. The mysteries also provide characters with a sense of urgency, as they race against the clock to solve the case. However, Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride lacks that sense of urgency. Perry, Della, and even Ken meanderingly take their time building a legal case and questioning suspects. These characters act as if they don’t have a deadline or limited time frame to work with. This lack of urgency sometimes made the movie boring, as well as sucked the energy out of the story.

Things that don’t make sense: Ken Malansky suspects he’s being followed. Yet he doesn’t lock his car doors when he leaves his car to follow a lead at a music club. As Ken questions the music club’s owner, someone plants a recording device inside Ken’s car phone. When Ken eventually drives away from the music club, the car that was following him can clearly be seen through the front window of Ken’s car. That’s because the car following Ken was parked a few feet away from Ken’s vehicle. Decisions like Ken leaving his car doors open and ignoring the suspicious car created parts of the story that didn’t make sense.

Missed creative opportunities: My reviews for the Perry Mason TV movies have addressed the creativity each story had to offer. These creative choices helped give the movies a unique identity that was memorable. But Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride was a lackluster film because of the creative opportunities that were missed. Gary, Kaitlynn’s fiancé, has a sister named Hannah. After her music career failed, Hannah decided to pursue a legal career. She even tells Perry how she will soon take the bar exam. This career shift could have provided a subplot where Hannah either assists Perry in solving the case or where the script explores the concept of a celebrity taking their career in a different direction. Sadly, Hannah’s new career plan has little to no bearing over the story of Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride.

Courtroom image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/isometric”>Isometric vector created by macrovector – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

As I mentioned in my review of Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride, some of the female characters’ wardrobe stood out to me. There were outfits I really liked, with Suzy’s aforementioned introductory attire being one of them. But similar to what I said in the past about a film’s scenery, this movie’s wardrobe couldn’t save the film. Out of the titles from the Perry Mason TV movie series I’ve seen and even reviewed, Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride was an under-cooked and uninspired entry. While there were stand-out acting performances, they weren’t truly given a chance to shine. That’s because the actors’ respective characters did not have consistent enough appearances in the story. The movie featured so many creative opportunities that were missed, not allowing the story to be memorable or unique. It also doesn’t help that the picture lacked a sense of urgency. With any movie series boasting over ten titles, there’s going to be at least one “bad day at the office”. Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride was one of those days for the fictional detective.

Overall score: 5 out of 10

Have you seen Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride? Are there any films from the Perry Mason television movie series you’d like to see me review? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Serving Up The Food & Film Blogathon!

On By 18cinemalane20 Comments

For this year’s blogathon, I had several potential topics within my reach. But as I sifted through those topics, my mind kept going back to one particular thought. There hasn’t been a time when film and food were not associated with one another. Think about it; have you ever been to a movie theater without a concession stand? Does your favorite movie feature a scene where characters share a meal together? Is the grey stuff from Beauty and the Beast truly edible? Food and film have been joined in a matrimony for many years, with this marriage taking on various forms. To celebrate this union, I am hosting the Food & Film Blogathon! While food themed movies typically come to mind, there is so much more to this theme. Here are some other ideas for those interested in participating in my event:

The Food & Film Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original pictures found on IMDB.
  • Food-related movie promotions
  • The relationship between movies and the concession stand
  • Favorite meals from movies
  • Dinner & a Movie (either the show or the concept)
  • Recipes of meals from movies or associated with movies
  • Movie related food products (lunchboxes, reuseable cups, etc.)
  • Movie scenes involving food
  • Dine-In Theatres
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’re joining The Food & Film Blogathon and found an idea you’re interested in writing about, please read the event’s official rules.

  1. Please be respectful to the other participants and your chosen topic
  2. Only new entries will be accepted
  3. Participants can publish a maximum of three entries
  4. Because of how broad this blogathon’s subject is, no duplicates are allowed
  5. Creativity and fun are encouraged
  6. Entries must be submitted between October 2nd-5th
  7. If you plan on publishing your entry before or after the blogathon, please let me know as soon as possible
  8. Share your entry idea in the comment section below!
  9. Feature one of the four blogathon banners anywhere in your entry
The 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.

Participants of The Food & Film Blogathon

— Sally from 18 Cinema Lane — (Editorial) Fixing Food Related Movie “Gimmicks”

— Rebecca from Taking Up Room — (Movie Review) Burnt (2015)

— Le from Crítica Retrô — (Movie Review) Tampopo (1985)

— Ruth from Silver Screenings — (Movie Review) If You Could Only Cook (1935)

— Hamlette from Hamlette’s Soliloquy — (Movie Review) Chocolat (2000)

— Quiggy from The Midnite Drive-In — (Movie Reviews) Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978) and Attack of the Killer Donuts (2016)

— Virginie from The Wonderful World of Cinema — (Editorial) The Use of Food in Hitchcock Films

— Chloe the MovieCritic from Movies Meet Their Match — (Movie Review) Kung Fu Panda (2008)

The Food & Film Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original picture found on IMDB.