Tag: blogathon

Take 3: The Christmas Choir Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

November’s theme for Genre Grandeur is “Movies about Music or Musicians”. As I was looking for a potential title to review, I remembered how this is the time of year when I write about Christmas movies. This then led me to recall my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story, where I brought up the 2008 movie, The Christmas Choir. Since I expressed interest in revisiting the film, I selected it for this month’s Genre Grandeur! In that aforementioned list, I stated my surprise over how The Christmas Choir isn’t a Hallmark Hall of Fame production. That’s because the story of a choir forming in a homeless shelter seems like perfect material for the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. Though when it comes to Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations, I have wondered what the criteria is for a story or script to be chosen. While that topic would make a great editorial or list article, that will have to wait for another day. For now, let’s begin this review for 2008’s The Christmas Choir!

The Christmas Choir poster created by Muse Entertainment Enterprises, Towers Pictures, and Hallmark Channel

Things I liked about the film:

The cast’s on-screen chemistry: In my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story, I mentioned how the quality of the acting talents in The Christmas Choir allowed the characters to come across as realistic and endearing. To further articulate my point, the on-screen chemistry among the cast helped create interactions that felt believable. One of my favorite examples is when Juan (portrayed by Luis Oliva) sang for the first time. A rule for staying in the choir is to come to practices and performances sober. Hector (portrayed by Roc Lafortune) is not happy about this rule, angrily throwing the sheet music and storming toward the door in a huff. The other members, like Bob and Fred, and even the choir’s director, Peter, plead with Hector to stay. Worry, concern, and even disappointment are reflected on the men’s faces and in their voices. When Juan begins to sing, however, the look of surprise on everyone’s faces appears genuine. This is because, at the homeless shelter, Juan had a reputation for remaining silent. As Juan finds a nearby can and turns it into a makeshift drum, that surprise turns into joy, lifting the men’s spirits and boosting choir morale. Juan’s voice ended up becoming the glue that held The Christmas Choir together!

Incorporating Christmas’ religious elements: I said in my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story how it’s been years since I saw The Christmas Choir. Because of that, I had forgotten about Christmas’ religious elements woven into the film. Most of the songs performed by The Christmas Choir are religious. In fact, the only secular Christmas song the choir sings is ‘Deck the Halls’. Sister Agatha will occasionally quote the Bible and bring up Biblical examples when the situation calls for it. Even one of the movie’s overarching themes is serving as Jesus would have. Personally, I liked The Christmas Choir’s incorporation of Christmas’ religious elements because they’re not often found in Hallmark’s Christmas movies. This creative decision also allows The Christmas Choir to form its own unique identity!

The messages and themes: As I just mentioned in this review, one of the overarching themes in The Christmas Choir is serving as Jesus would have. Other themes and messages sprinkled throughout the story perfectly fit the Christmas season as well. When Peter gives a monetary donation to the homeless shelter, Sister Agatha tells him that while money is appreciated, what the homeless shelter really needs is for people to give their time. Sister Agatha’s words inspire Peter to utilize his time (and talents) to form The Christmas Choir. The conversation between Peter and Sister Agatha alone is such a perfect example of how money doesn’t always solve a problem, especially when it comes to being charitable. This overarching theme actually encourages the film’s audience to think outside the box in the season of giving.

Three Wise Men themed wish list paper image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/christmas”>Christmas vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Too many conflicts: Within my review’s introduction, I brought up how The Christmas Choir is about a choir forming in a homeless shelter. While this is the movie’s main conflict, other conflicts like Peter’s issues with his father and The Christmas Choir competing for a permit are included in the script. As I watched the film, however, it felt like the creative team behind The Christmas Choir tried to squeeze as many conflicts as they could in an hour and thirty-minute timeframe. This choice made the movie overwhelming and the runtime feel longer. Though the 2008 movie is based on a true story, I’m not sure which parts of the script are based on fact or creative liberty. Therefore, the script should have focused on one main conflict with at least two subplots.

Sister Agatha’s inconsistent personality: When Sister Agatha was introduced in The Christmas Choir, she had a friendly personality with a bit of spunkiness. As I mentioned earlier in this review, Sister Agatha occasionally quotes the Bible and brings up Biblical examples when the situation calls for it. But as the story progressed, she became pessimistic and discouraging toward Peter and The Christmas Choir. Sister Agatha eventually returns to her spunky, friendly personality by the end of the film. However, the inconsistency of her personality is a flaw I couldn’t unsee. Rhea Perlman, who portrayed Sister Agatha, did a good job with the acting material provided. This mistake, though, lies with the screenwriter.

Things that don’t make sense: Sometimes, there were things in The Christmas Choir that didn’t make sense. One example happened at Peter’s office building. While at work, Peter’s colleague, Rita, tells Peter there are a group of homeless men singing in the office building’s lobby. Those “homeless men” were The Christmas Choir. Several scenes prior to this impromptu performance, however, Rita saw The Christmas Choir singing on television while at work in the aforementioned office building. Wouldn’t she have recognized The Christmas Choir when they spontaneously showed up in the office building’s lobby?

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. 

My overall impression:

By revisiting The Christmas Choir, I was reminded of the film’s aspects I had forgotten about, like the inclusion of Christmas’ religious elements. This is one aspect of the movie I liked, as religious elements associated with Christmas are not often found in Hallmark’s seasonal presentations. I was also made aware of the flaws I overlooked. This is not a bad movie, but it wasn’t as strong of a picture as I initially believed. The abundance of conflicts in The Christmas Choir’s script made the film overwhelming and the runtime feel longer than an hour and thirty-minutes. There were not only some things in the story that didn’t make sense, Sister Agatha’s personality was also inconsistently written. But as I said in my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story, the 2008 picture is one of Hallmark’s more unique Christmas titles. This is due to the movie not following a formula or containing a certain set of Christmas movie tropes and cliches. What works in The Christmas Choir’s favor as well is the on-screen chemistry among the cast and the messages and themes stitched throughout the story. If you’re looking for a Christmas film from Hallmark that stands out within their festive collection, I’d recommend checking out The Christmas Choir.

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen The Christmas Choir? Are there any “older” Hallmark Christmas movies you’d love to see reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1965) Review

On By 18cinemalane9 Comments

I’d like to thank Gill (from Realweegiemidget Reviews) and Barry (from Cinematic Catharsis). If it wasn’t for the hosts of The Hammer-Amicus Blogathon V, I wouldn’t have been introduced to the cinematic world of Hammer-Amicus. Since my introduction in 2021 (when I participated in my first Hammer-Amicus Blogathon), I’ve covered three Hammer-Amicus movies on 18 Cinema Lane; Vampire Circus, The Curse of Frankenstein, and Let Me In. While Vampire Circus was ok and Let Me In was just fine, I found The Curse of Frankenstein underwhelming. Now, with a recommendation from Barry (from Cinematic Catharsis), I’ve selected 1965’s Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors as the next Hammer-Amicus presentation to review! I knew almost nothing about this movie prior to choosing it for the blogathon. But I was willing to watch the film with an open mind. Since I finally checked out Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors, it’s time to start my review and share my honest opinion!

Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1965) poster created by Amicus Productions, Hollywood Classics International, Regal Films International, and Paramount Pictures

Things I liked about the film:

The interior design: Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors is presented like an anthology; five passengers learn their fate from Dr. Terror himself. Throughout the film, the audience takes a peek into each character’s life as well as their living/working space. These spaces featured interesting design choices that gave them their own distinctness. In the segments titled “Werewolf” and “Disembodied Hand”, a fireplace was the focal point in one room. The fireplace in “Werewolf” was covered in a glossy black paint, while the fireplace in “Disembodied Hand” shone in a glossy blue paint. Biff Bailey’s apartment in the segment titled “Voodoo” featured a zebra patterned couch, which actually complimented the black-and-white checkered floor and black-and-white striped walls. The design choices I described stood out due to the film’s creative team utilizing materials, patterns, and colors that were more unique. I can honestly say I’ve never seen a blue fireplace until I saw Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors!

Incorporation of music: In the segment titled “Werewolf”, Jim Dawson learns about a legendary werewolf buried in the basement of the home he’s remodeling. Any time this werewolf is brought up or poses a threat to the characters living and working in the home, drumbeats, the pattering of a xylophone, and other suspenseful musical sounds can be heard. This segment utilized music to emphasis the fear factor the werewolf contributed to the story. Because Biff Bailey is a musician, music plays a large role in the “Voodoo” segment. One of the songs featured in this specific segment is ‘Give Me Love’. Performed by Sammy Coin (portrayed by Kenny Lynch), the instrumentals provided a cheery jazz tune that can put any listener in a good mood. Kenny’s smooth vocals not only complimented the song itself, but also made me wonder what his vocals would sound like in a song with a more serious tone. ‘Give Me Love’ is one of those songs that is so memorable, I’ll listen to it long after the end of the movie!

The creativity of each story: As I mentioned earlier in this review, Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors is presented like an anthology. With the segments chronicling each of the five passengers, the creativity woven into the script highlighted the uniqueness every passenger brought to the train car! The segment, “Disembodied Hand”, revolves around Franklyn Marsh. An art critic who took his job a little too seriously, Franklyn carries guilt for how he mistreated a popular artist, with his guilt represented by the disembodied hand of that artist. Meanwhile, in the segment titled “Vampire”, Dr. Bob Carroll is confronted with the possibility his wife may be a vampire. This concept gave Bob an internal conflict between loving his wife and protecting his patients. In my review of 2010’s Let Me In, I said vampire stories can be as creative as film-makers want it to be. A similar statement can be said about the horror genre, with Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors presenting strong evidence.

The Hammer-Amicus Blogathon V banner created by Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews and Barry from Cinematic Catharsis

What I didn’t like about the film:

No clear explanation for tarot cards: Throughout Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors, Dr. Terror (portrayed by Peter Cushing), predicts each passenger’s fate by selecting tarot cards. While the tarot cards themselves are shown on screen, no clear explanation for how exactly the cards correlate with the fates was given. Before the start of the “Werewolf” segment, Dr. Terror selects two cards called “Enchantress” and “Priestess”. But after watching that segment, I was confused by what werewolves had to do with those aforementioned cards? It seemed as if the creative team behind the movie assumed their audience would already know the meaning of the cards shown in the film.

Limited sense of urgency: Each segment in Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors incorporates a horror element that poses a threat to the passengers in Dr. Terror’s train car. These segments also contain a limited sense of urgency. Most of the time, the “slice of life” parts of the story were emphasized. When a suspenseful or horrifying moment was about to happen, the segment would end and move on to the next one. This flaw was the result of squeezing five separate stories into an hour and thirty-eight-minute film. I honestly think this script would have worked better as an anthology television series.

A frustrating ending: For this part of my review, I will be spoiling Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors. If you have not seen this film and are planning on watching it, skip ahead to the part of my review titled “My overall impression”.

Like I mentioned earlier in my review, Dr. Terror uses tarot cards to predict the fates of the five passengers. After these fates are revealed, he removes the death card from the deck. This implies all the passengers will eventually die. When the passengers get off the train, they learn through a newspaper article five passengers died in a train crash. That detail clarifies the passengers from Dr. Terror’s train car did, indeed, die, with Dr. Terror himself becoming a skeleton. Personally, I found this ending frustrating because it made the previous stories amount to nothing. While I recognize the movie’s creative team was trying to create the ultimate plot twist, with the death tarot card used as foreshadowing, this creative decision almost made me feel like I wasted my time watching Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors.

Scared audience image created by Katemangostar at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/terrified-friends-watching-horror-movie-in-cinema_1027311.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/people”>People image created by Katemangostar – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Whenever I review a movie on 18 Cinema Lane, I present my opinion as honestly as possible. In my most honest opinion, Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors was such a mixed bag. On the one hand, I appreciate the creativity woven into each of the five segments. This creativity brought distinctness to the stories, interesting interior design choices, and good incorporation of music. But, on the other hand, the ending was too frustrating for my liking. I wish the script provided clear explanations for how the tarot cards correlated with each character’s fate. I also wish there was a stronger sense of urgency throughout the film. At best, Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors was just ok. But, at worst, it left me confused and frustrated. Though I’ve only seen (and reviewed) a few Hammer-Amicus films, I’m starting to wonder if I’ll find a title that is my cup of tea?

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors? Which Hammer-Amicus film would you like to check out? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Innocents (1961) Review

On By 18cinemalane4 Comments

Film recommendations from my readers are welcomed here at 18 Cinema Lane. These suggestions are then placed on a Pinterest board, which I use as a reference for upcoming reviews. Some movies have been on the board for so long, they’re at the very bottom. One of these titles is 1961’s The Innocents. Recommended by Maddy (from Maddy Loves Her Classic Films), this is a Deborah Kerr starring production that is quite different from the other projects of hers I’ve reviewed on my blog. That’s because The Innocents is classified as a horror film. Because of this distinct, I’ve been trying to find the right opportunity to talk about the movie. Hoofers and Honeys’ 4th Annual Spooky Classic Movie Blogathon became that opportunity! Deborah’s films covered on 18 Cinema Lane have fluctuated in quality. While I liked titles like The Chalk Garden and The King and I, I wasn’t a fan of Marriage on the Rocks. What will my opinion be of The Innocents? Keep reading my review to find out!

The Innocents (1961) poster created by Achilles, Flair Communications, Twentieth Century Fox, and Twentieth Century Fox Film Company

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: A large portion of The Innocents prominently features two young characters: Miles and Flora, as Deborah’s character, Miss Giddens, believes they are in danger. In stories like this, where younger characters play a significant role, it’s important to cast actors and actresses that can, acting wise, carry some of the film. Flora reminded me somewhat of Eloise (from the 2003 adaptations, Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime), marching to the beat of her own drum with a bit of a mischievous spirit. Meanwhile, Miles possessed the precociousness of Cedric from Little Lord Fauntleroy and the sweetness of Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol. These concepts were displayed well through Pamela Franklin’s and Martin Stephens’ performance! Vocal inflections, facial expressions, and even body language worked in their favor, making Miles and Flora captivating characters. Because of Martin’s and Pamela’s acting talents, their convincing portrayals kept me invested in their characters’ story!

As I mentioned before, Deborah Kerr portrays Miss Giddens, who becomes Flora and Miles’ new governess. Looking back on her films, including The Innocents, I’ve noticed how expressive Deborah’s performances have been. Specifically speaking about the 1961 film, Deborah uses her eyes to display thoughts and feelings instead of just relying on dialogue. In one scene, Miss Giddens learns the truth about Miss Jessel and Peter Quint, the governess and valet who worked at the estate before Miss Giddens’ arrival. While she discovers this information from a housekeeper named Mrs. Grose, Miss Giddens’ eyes show concern, sadness, and even fear. She also raises her eyebrows from time to time, emphasizing how shocking the information about Peter Quint and Miss Jessel is. This example of Deborah’s expressiveness elaborates Miss Giddens adapting to the strange things she’s been seeing and hearing during her time at the estate. Similar to Martin’s and Pamela’s performance, Deborah’s portrayal of Miss Giddens was convincing!

The set design: The Innocents mostly takes place at the Bly estate, which belongs to Flora and Miles’ uncle. Though this story was character-driven, the set design was an underrated yet impressive component of the movie. The fireplace in the main sitting room appeared marble with a carved design. Each room features tall windows, implying the large scope of the rooms themselves. Though shown during brief moments, a detailed tapestry hung on a wall near the main stairway. Elaborate tapestry even covered a long seat in one of the rooms. Details like the ones I described emphasized how financially well-off Miles and Flora’s family is. They also helped make Bly estate visually appealing!

Mise-en-scène: In my recent review of 2010’s Let Me In, I talked about how the movie’s mise-en- scène (the way a film’s scene is presented to the audience) was one of the strengths of the movie. This was also a strength in The Innocents, as some scenes’ presentation added intrigue to the story! One evening, Miles confesses to Miss Giddens how his uncle doesn’t have time for him and his sister. At first, the conversation is shown in a medium shot. The very next shot is a close-up of Miles’ face, with light shining on his cheek to reveal a tear rolling down. Through this visual presentation, the audience is told how his uncle’s lack of acknowledgement deeply troubles Miles. It also provides possible motivation for Miles’ actions later in the film.

The 4th Annual Spooky Classic Movie Blogathon banner created by Kristen from Hoofers and Honeys

What I didn’t like about the film:

Limited horror elements: I mentioned in my review’s introduction how The Innocents is classified as a horror film. Because of this classification, I expected the script to emphasize the horror elements within the story. But these elements, like potential ghost sightings and unexplained noises, had such a limited presence in the film, they were featured in “don’t blink or you’ll miss it” moments. In fact, the script placed more emphasis on the “slice-of-life” parts of the story. As a movie blogger who doesn’t review horror movies often, I found this creative decision disappointing. Some of my interest in The Innocents waned because I don’t really find “slice-of-life” stories compelling.

Scenes that feel like padding: One evening at Bly estate, Miss Giddens stays up in the middle of the night in order to discover the cause of the strange happenings throughout the home. The majority of the scene takes place in the upstairs hallway. But the overall scene lasts over five minutes. Moments when Miss Giddens attempts to open doors and walks through the hall seem repetitive due the how long the scene is. With The Innocents having a run-time of an hour and thirty-nine minutes, some of those five minutes could have been trimmed to make the movie about an hour and thirty-four minutes. This is just one example of scenes feeling like padding.

Conclusion with little to no evidence: For this part of my review, I will spoil The Innocents. 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”.

After witnessing what she believes is the ghost of Miss Jessel, Miss Giddens comes to the conclusion Flora and Miles are possessed by the spirits of Miss Jessel and Peter Quint. She even comes up with a plan to make the children admit this is true. But up until that point, the film doesn’t show how Miss Giddens reaches her conclusion. Little to no evidence is presented, denying the audience an opportunity to see Miss Giddens putting the pieces together. I, personally, couldn’t take her conclusion too seriously because of the lack of evidence. Miss Giddens’ weaker conclusion also added confusion to the overall story, leaving me wondering what I had just watched.

Image of ghost reading created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/book”>Book photo created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

I’m going to be brutally honest, The Innocents is one of the most confusing movies I’ve ever covered on 18 Cinema Lane. When the film ended, I audibly said, “What the heck did I just watch”? Without spoiling The Innocents, all I’ll say is I recognize how the movie’s creative team tried to give their project an ambiguous ending. But when the 1961 picture is also classified as a mystery film, that type of ending doesn’t work due to the genre being known for reaching definitive resolutions. Another flaw that contributes to The Innocents’ confusion is a conclusion with little to no evidence. That lack of evidence prevented me from taking the conclusion too seriously. Despite this confusion, the movie was intriguing enough to keep me invested in the story. The strength of the acting performances and the mise-en-scène are two factors that worked in the film’s favor. Out of Deborah’s films reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane, The Innocents was just ok. While there are things about the movie I liked, the overall execution could have (and should have) been stronger.

Overall score: 6.5 out of 10

Have you seen 1961’s The Innocents? What “classic” horror movies do you like watching? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Let Me In (2010) Review

On By 18cinemalane6 Comments

I apologize to my readers for my lack of blog posts these past two weeks. I’ve been working on an editorial I’m publishing on Halloween. Researching, writing, and curating that editorial has taken up a lot of time. But I wasn’t going to miss out on participating in Taking Up Room’s Secret Places and Trippy Houses Blogathon, especially since my selected film is a perfect choice for Halloween! When I learned one of the eligible subjects was “strange neighbors”, I was reminded how I was recommended the 2010 movie, Let Me In. Suggested by John L. Harmon, I had heard it was one of the better vampire films in the world of cinema. Since I had heard of the movie, but never saw it, I couldn’t agree or disagree with that statement. But now that I’ve finally seen Let Me In, I can now give my honest opinion about the film!

Let Me In (2010) poster created by Overture Films, Exclusive Media Group, Hammer Films, EFTI, and Relativity Media

Things I liked about the film:

The mise-en-scène: As I explained in my review of 1955’s The End of the Affair, mise-en- scène is how a film’s scene is presented to the audience. Throughout Let Me In, the way mise-en- scène was utilized presented scenes in visually creative ways. At the very beginning of the movie, a snowy forest was shown during the night. The only source of light comes from two police cars and an ambulance. A long shot slowly becomes a close-up shot, giving the audience a reason to focus on the bright vehicles. Anytime Owen and Abby look through the peephole of their apartment door, the shot is shown in a fish-eye lens. This film-making technique puts the audience in Abby and Owen’s perspective, allowing them to see what the children are seeing. It also emphasizes how, despite their differences, Owen and Abby have shared experiences like seeing who is at their door.

How music was incorporated: Music can be an effective component of film-making. It can elevate a scene’s emotions or set a scene’s tone. In Let Me In’s opening scene I just referenced in this review, a rhythmic drumbeat is one of the first sounds the audience can hear. That specific sound creates a sense of urgency, signifying danger is on the horizon. When Abby moves into Owen’s apartment building, gentle angelic-sounding singing can be heard. This is symbolic of how Owen sees Abby; an angel who will provide a light in his darkness. The two examples from Let Me In I discussed add additional context to the scenes themselves. How the film’s creative team incorporated music into the 2010 picture shows the understanding they had for how music can work in their project’s favor.

Disguising Abby’s vampire identity: Before watching Let Me In, I knew it was a vampire movie. But I was pleasantly surprised by how Abby’s vampire identity was disguised. Most of Abby and Owen’s interactions take place at night, at first seeming like just a coincidence. When Owen notices Abby isn’t wearing shoes, she states how she doesn’t feel cold. Abby even tells Owen she’s stronger than he thinks. These verbal and visual clues creatively signified how Abby was a vampire. But because of the clues’ subtlety, it leaves the audience guessing why, on the surface, Abby seems so strange. New twists on vampire cliches, like vampires avoiding sunlight, made Let Me In more unique from other vampire films.

The Secret Places and Trippy Houses Blogathon banner created by Rebecca from Taking Up Room

What I didn’t like about the film:

The audio: When I reviewed Fist of Fury, I talked about the film’s audio being one of the major flaws. I had to turn up my television’s volume in order to hear what the characters were saying. Let Me In shares this same issue. Once again, I had to raise my television’s volume just to hear the dialogue, as the characters’ speech was quiet. As I suggested in my review of the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Face to Face, Let Me In’s creative team should have used ADR (automated dialog replacement).

The bullying subplot: One of the subplots in Let Me In involves Owen dealing with bullies. This subplot gave Owen a conflict to resolve, with the conflict eventually reaching a resolution. But because the script prioritized Abby and Owen’s friendship, the bullying subplot wasn’t consistently focused on. In fact, Owen stands up to his bullies about an hour into this hour and fifty-six minute movie. The inconsistency of the bullying subplot also drew that story out longer than necessary.

Underutilized religious undertones: In a scene taking place at a hospital, President Ronald Reagan is delivering a speech on television. During the speech, he talks about evil being present in the world and how people are joined together by Scripture. Owen’s mother says prayers during mealtime and features religious relics in her apartment. These are some examples of the religious undertones in Let Me In. With the movie set in early 1983, I thought the “Satanic Panic” was going to play a large role in this story, especially with Abby being a vampire. However, the religious undertones present in the script were underutilized, not providing any commentary or interesting perspective. In fact, it felt like this part of the film was there just for the sake of being there.

Happy vampire image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/several-vampires-ready-for-halloween_1317599.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/party”>Party vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Vampires are no stranger to 18 Cinema Lane. Out of the vampire movies I’ve seen (and reviewed), these projects have shown that this type of story can be as creative as film-makers want it to be. 2010’s Let Me In is an interesting and creative vampire film! Abby’s vampire identity was disguised in very clever ways, even putting new twists on vampire cliches. How mise-en-scène and music were incorporated into the movie showcases the creative team’s more unique approach to a familiar type of story. While Let Me In has its merits, it also has its flaws. Religious undertones that could have provided commentary or an interesting perspective to the script were underutilized instead. Poor audio and an overshadowed subplot also didn’t help. But the 2010 project does stand out from other vampire titles. If you don’t mind a slow-burn story that primarily focuses on the power of friendship, then I’d say give Let Me In a chance.

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen Let Me In? What kinds of movies do you like to watch around Halloween? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

It’s Closing Time for The Food & Film Blogathon

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Hi everyone! Similar to restaurants, movie theaters, and other food establishments, it’s closing time for The Food & Film Blogathon. This event was a success, as the turn-out this year was larger ! To everyone who participated in The Food & Film Blogathon, thank you for your contribution. Whether it was a movie review or an editorial, the union between film and food was showcased in many different ways. I will host a new blogathon in 2026! But the event’s details won’t be revealed until sometime next February. Until then, you can check out my upcoming reviews, editorials, and lists!

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

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: To Be or Not to Be (1942) Review

On By 18cinemalane8 Comments

When one of my readers recommends a movie to me, I add that title to my film recommendation board on Pinterest and then write about it in one of my reviews. A movie that has been featured on the board for a while is 1942’s To Be or Not to Be. This presentation was suggested by Patricia (from Caftan Woman), Vincent (from Carole & Co.) and Allen Rizzi. Originally, I was going to select it for an upcoming Blog Follower Dedication Review. But when I learned about Hoofers and Honeys’ Carole Lombard Blogathon, I found a good reason to write about the movie sooner! While I received recommendations of Carole’s films, I’ve only reviewed two of those which she received a starring role. The first picture, In Name Only, was fine and likable. Meanwhile, Twentieth Century, is one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. Now that To Be or Not to Be is the third film of Carole’s I’m discussing on 18 Cinema Lane, it’ll be interesting to see where I rank this title compared to Twentieth Century and In Name Only.

To Be or Not to Be (1942) poster created by Romaine Film Corporation and United Artists

Things I liked about the film:

The on-screen chemistry of Carole Lombard and Robert Stack: In To Be or Not to Be, Carole Lombard portrays a Polish actress named Maria Tura. Toward the beginning of the movie, Maria develops an attraction for a Lieutenant named Stanislav Sobinski. Portrayed by Robert Stack, Stanislav is enthusiastic to meet Maria, especially since he’s never met an actress before. Though they shared very few scenes together, the on-screen chemistry between Carole and Robert was pleasant! The scene where Stanislav and Maria first meet is a perfect example, as their interaction felt so realistic. During the conversation, Maria confidently talks about her career, carrying an easy-going personality. But when Stanislav asks her about a farm she brought up in an interview, she is caught off guard, but uses her acting skills to adapt to what Stanislav told her. Meanwhile, Stanislav is so happy to see Maria. A genuinely bright smile is displayed on his face and his eyes light up. Because of the strength of Carole’s and Robert’s acting abilities, they sold the idea of their characters sharing a mutual relationship.

Clever writing: While good writing receives praise and accolades, clever writing can, sometimes, become underappreciated. This is why I take the time to address when a movie’s script contains clever writing. That was certainly the case for To Be or Not to Be, as I was impressed with some of the writing in the film. A great example can be heard during a conversation between Maria and her husband, Joseph. She accuses him of seeking opportunities to steal attention away from her. Maria even claims, “if we should ever have a baby, I’m not so sure I’d be the mother”. Joseph reassuringly tells his wife, “I’m satisfied to be the father”. The aforementioned conversation could have been straightforward, which would have made it sound typical. But the screenwriting, as well as Jack Benny’s delivery, allowed scenes like this one to be memorable!

How war was incorporated in the film: Some of the opening shots in To Be or Not to Be focus on shops in Warsaw, Poland, specifically the names of those who own these shops. When, later in the movie, war breaks out in Poland, those same shops are burned down, torn to shreds, or collapsed. The names on those shops are also destroyed. These shots are a good representation of how war ruins not just buildings, but livelihoods, daily routines, and human connections. One of the actors who performs alongside Maria and Joseph is Greenberg. When he first observes the destruction in his neighborhood, he quotes Shylock’s monologue from the play, The Merchant Venice. This quote spoken against the backdrop of Poland during World War II changes the context of the quote itself, making it seem relevant to the story of To Be or Not to Be. Through visuals and the script, the film’s creative team addressed the seriousness of war and its impact on anyone of any profession.

The Carole Lombard Blogathon banner created by Kristen from Hoofers and Honeys

What I didn’t like about the film:

A dialogue heavy story: Dialogue is an important component of any movie. It helps the audience learn more about the characters, discover potential plot twists, and follow along with the story. But in the case of To Be or Not to Be, the script was very dialogue heavy. There were long stretches of time where characters shared conversations with each other. This is the result of how much the creative team relied on telling instead of showing. If one isn’t actively paying attention to the story, they may miss important details. Had play performances or more action-focused scenes been evenly sprinkled throughout To Be or Not to Be, it would have created a balance between what the characters say and what the characters do.

The run-time: IMDB lists To Be or Not to Be’s run-time as an hour and thirty-nine minutes. This run-time, to me, seemed much longer. The long stretches of time of characters’ conversations I already mentioned made the film feel drawn-out. There are also parts of the story that don’t lead anywhere, such as Maria’s concerns about Joseph trying to steal attention away from her. If the script had been trimmed down, the run-time of To Be or Not to Be could have been an hour and thirty minutes or less.

Inconsistent sense of urgency: As I discussed earlier in this review, To Be or Not to Be takes place in Poland during World War II. The characters are directly impacted by this global conflict, even going undercover to stop the Nazis. These parts of the story create a sense of urgency. But this sense of urgency isn’t consistent within the 1942 presentation. That flaw was caused by the dialogue-heavy scenes I referenced in my review. These scenes’ length of time takes away from moments where immediate situations can be resolved. The imminent threat of war is also placed to the side because of the dialogue-heavy scenes. Having a more consistent sense of urgency would have strengthened the suspense and intrigue in To Be or Not to Be.

Theater seats image created by weatherbox at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/weatherbox.”

My overall impression:

Last year, I reviewed For Me and My Gal, a film I ended up liking. One of the reasons why I gave that movie a good review is because of how World War I was incorporated into the script. With a steady progression and subtle changes, realism was woven into a musical like For Me and My Gal. I’d actually prefer that movieover To Be or Not to Be. Though To Be or Not to Be is a fine, interesting film, the run-time felt longer than an hour and thirty-nine minutes. The story’s sense of urgency was inconsistent and the script was too dialogue-heavy. However, there are merits within the 1942 title. I wish Carole and Robert shared more screen-time together because their on-screen chemistry was pleasant. How war was incorporated in the film allowed the creative team to show the seriousness of war and its impact on anyone of any profession. I also liked the movie’s clever writing. Compared to the other films of Carole’s I’ve written about, Twentieth Century and In Name Only, To Be or Not to Be is somewhere in the middle. With over seventy movies on her IMDB filmography, I have plenty more projects of Carole’s to check out!

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen To Be or Not to Be? Would you like to see me review more of Carole Lombard’s movies? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

A Movie Blogger Fixes Food Related Movie “Gimmicks”

On By 18cinemalane9 Comments

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.

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Editorial References:

Articles — https://thedirect.com/article/popcorn-buckets-2025-movie-best, https://www.fantasylandnews.com/2025/07/08/the-smurfs-movie-popcorn-buckets-and-novelties-coming-to-theaters/, https://comicbook.com/dc/news/little-caesars-reveals-the-batman-calzony/, https://flavor365.com/the-1987-holiday-mcnuggets-a-deep-dive-into-a-legend/

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

Take 3: Kind Hearts and Coronets Review

On By 18cinemalane11 Comments

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 Coronets poster 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.

The 12th Annual Rule, Britannia Blogathon banner created by Terence from A Shroud of Thoughts

What I didn’t like the film:

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.

Sketch of London image created by Archjoe at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-houses-of-parliament_1133950.htm’>Designed by Archjoe</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Archjoe – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

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!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Sally Reads…‘Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea’ by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

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 the Hit 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!

Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea book cover found on Goodreads

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.

Cruise ship near an island image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/holiday-background-on-a-cruise_1182003.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.

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”.

News reporter being filmed image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/journalist-reporter-profession-isometric-banner_2875517.htm’>Designed by Macrovector</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/banner”>Banner vector created by Macrovector – Freepik.com</a>, Image found at freepik.com.

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.

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

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.

The Hit The Road Blogathon banner created by Quiggy from The Midnite Drive-In

Overall score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Have fun sailing!

Sally Silverscreen

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.

There’s Still Time to Sign Up for The Food & Film Blogathon!

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

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.

Serving Up The Food & Film Blogathon!