Tag: movie reviews

Take 3: Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery Review

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

Last month, I wrote a Word on the Street story about the Hallmark Mystery film, Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. While I figured there would be interest in this new installment, I was pleasantly surprised by the article’s response. As of the publication of this review, my Word on the Street story received over a thousand views! With that positive reception, I thought it would make sense to write about Hallmark Mystery’s latest presentation! I have been watching the Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen series since the very beginning. But I’ve only reviewed one movie from this series; Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. Since I found that film disappointing, I was discouraged from reviewing the other Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen chapters. However, I did find A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery an ok movie. Has this series turned things around by giving their fans a stronger film? The only way to solve this mystery is by reading my review!

Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery poster created by Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Things I liked about the film:

Stand-out performances: As I watched Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, there were a few performances that were so impressive, they stood out to me. One of those performances came from Gavin Langelo! In this movie, Gavin portrayed Hunt Bantry, a member of a cooking show’s crew. During his performance, Gavin showcased strong camaraderie and was consistently charismatic. A perfect example of this is when Hunt and Hannah are having a conversation at a local restaurant. Throughout this conversation, Gavin appeared at ease and comfortable in his role as well. The exchange between Hannah and Hunt felt realistic partly due to Gavin’s performance. It’s a shame Gavin received such limited screen time because I genuinely believe he has what it takes, talent-wise, to, one day, lead a Hallmark movie.

A behind-the-scenes look at television: The main plot of Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery involves a cooking show filming an episode in Hannah’s bakery. Toward the beginning of the story, viewers get to witness how the show’s episode comes to life! Various camera angles of either the host or the food itself are captured by a near-by film crew. Giant cue cards help the host know exactly what to say to their audience. Even when the cameras weren’t rolling, Hannah was observant enough to point out missing ingredients or incorrect baking procedures. I’d also like to point out how the production of the episode looked realistic! Even the show’s introduction appeared to have come straight from a real-life program!

Characters working together: I mentioned in my list of the top ten worst movies I saw in 2024 how I was disappointed by One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. One reason why was the characters working separately when it came to solving the movie’s case. In Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, the characters worked together to solve the film’s mystery! This was achieved by Hannah, along with her family and friends, collaborating on the case and discussing various theories and motives. Even though Chad was trying to solve his own mystery, Hannah helped him from time to time. A way she helped Chad was providing information whenever necessary. Characters working together to find a case’s resolution felt reminiscent of Hallmark Mystery’s presentations from yesteryear!

Cupcake with hearts image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/delicious-cupcakes-illustrations_779154.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Humor that feels forced: Adding comedic elements to a mystery film is not a new contempt for Hallmark Mystery. Several of their productions, including the Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen series, have incorporated humor into a given story in order to prevent the overall tone from becoming too dark. When the Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen series changed its name from Murder, She Baked to Hannah Swensen, the overall comedic quality regressed. It, honestly, feels like the series’ creative team is trying too hard to be funny. This was the case in Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. Any time Delores was involved in the story, her antics and gimmicks came across as too over-the-top and silly. Delores’ interactions with other characters felt like they belonged in a sit-com, such as when she makes her grand entrance before the cooking show episode began filming. Moments like that one made me wonder why a laugh track was missing?

Lack of urgency: There were two mysteries in Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery: the murder of a cooking show’s producer and the mystery behind a series of burglaries. The mystery of the burglaries was written into the film as a court case, where Chad has to prove the guilty party is, indeed, guilty. However, the case itself is taken to court in only one scene. Meanwhile, Hannah occupies herself with solving the murder mystery. But so much emphasis was placed on conversations among characters instead of gathering clues and making connections on a mystery board. Both mysteries lack a sense of urgency. This flaw not only gave the mysteries a slow pace, the movie’s run-time felt a bit drawn-out. The story’s overall intrigue was also weaker.

An underutilized subplot: Delores spends her time rehearsing for an upcoming theatre production. At various moments in Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Delores, as well as other actors, are either reading through their lines or dressing the stage for a given scene. Hannah even delivers baked goods to the theatre production’s cast and crew. In the overall story, however, this subplot was underutilized. The theatre production’s opening night didn’t take place in the movie. Plus, the subplot didn’t have a strong connection to the story’s mysteries. While Delores participating in a theatre production makes more sense, story-wise, than becoming a private investigator, this subplot did not receive a conclusion.

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My overall impression:

I mentioned earlier in my review how I was so disappointed by Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, I was discouraged from reviewing the other Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen movies. As I also stated in this review, One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery disappointed me. Sadly, Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery is continuing that pattern. Since the Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen series changed its name from Murder, She Baked to Hannah Swensen, the overall quality of the series has decreased. In this newest film, the humor felt forced, making some moments feel like they were straight from a sit-com. Both mysteries lacked a sense of urgency and a subplot was underutilized. There were aspects of Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery I liked, such as the behind-the-scenes look at television. However, I can think of better films with this same concept, like Cooking with Love. It’s gotten to the point where the Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen series has become less enjoyable to watch. This latest chapter doesn’t make me excited for future installments.

Overall score: 5 out of 10

Have you seen Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery? What are your thoughts on the Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen series? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Chalk Garden Review + 505 Follower Thank You

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

For last year’s We Are Family Blogathon, my original plan was to write about both the Diagnosis Murder episode, “Guardian Angel” and 1964’s The Chalk Garden. But as I explained in my review of hoops&yoyo’s Haunted Halloween, my plan to discuss the movie fell through. Despite this setback, I had always wanted to feature The Chalk Garden on my blog. Recently, I received a second chance to review the film! So for the first Blog Follower Dedication Review of 2025, I thought the 1964 production was the perfect title for this occasion! The Chalk Garden was recommended by Maddy (from Maddy Loves Her Classic Films) when I reviewed Marriage on the Rocks five years ago. In total, I have written about seven of Deborah Kerr’s films, with her best picture being The King and I. How will this eighth movie compare to those seven? Keep reading to find out!

The Chalk Garden poster created by Quota Rentals Limited, Ross Hunter Productions, and Universal Pictures

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The Chalk Garden is a character-driven story where part of the script serves as a character study. For these types of movies, it’s important to recruit a cast whose talents are strong enough to help make the characters interesting. While watching the 1964 film, I was invested in the story from beginning to end. One reason why is the quality of the acting performances! This is a movie where it’s difficult to choose a favorite performance, as each one was good for different reasons. Hayley Mills’ portrayal of Laurel incorporates a variety of emotions and animated expressions. These aspects of her performance showcase just how complex Laurel is. Meanwhile, Deborah Kerr’s character, Miss Madrigal, was a no-nonsense woman who subtly expressed emotion. Through her acting talents, Deborah found a way to present her character as nurturing and a promoter of “tough love”. As for John Mills’ portrayal of Maitland, his character’s consistently welcoming persona put the other characters at ease. Maitland’s laid-back personality and calm way of approaching situations reminded me of Mr. Rogers from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Mrs. St. Maugham’s residence: The story of The Chalk Garden takes place at Mrs. St. Maugham’s house. Since Mrs. St. Maugham was a woman with a financially comfortable life, her house perfectly reflected this. The sunroom was introduced in the movie’s first five minutes. Wrap-around windows looked out to a view of a large grassy hill. Plants filled the inside of the sunroom. In the center of the area, four white metal chairs were set around a smaller table. The furniture looked like it came straight out of an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor. On Mrs. St. Maugham’s property was her backyard shed. Though this space was not frequently shown in The Chalk Garden, I really liked its interior design! Underneath a window was a white wicker desk housing some potted plants. A wicker table was surrounded by wicker chairs of varying sizes. The white stone walls and differently shaped windows helped make the backyard shed a quaint and classy space! These finer details successfully captured Mrs. St. Maugham’s sophisticated taste!

The dialogue: Toward the beginning of The Chalk Garden, Miss Madrigal arrives at Mrs. St. Maugham’s house to be interviewed for the available governess job. When Maitland greets her at the door, he asks Miss Madrigal if she’s worked as a governess before. She cleverly replies with a question of her own, asking “do you usually interview applicants in the doorway”? This was the funniest moment in The Chalk Garden because of how well-written and delivered this exchange was! After Miss Madrigal accepts the governess job, she moves in to Mrs. St. Maugham’s house. While Miss Madrigal unpacks her belongings, Laurel explains how she doesn’t like to be told “good morning”. Her reasoning is “what is a good morning to someone else is rarely a good morning to me”. When people tell each other “good morning”, they are typically saying that in the hopes the other person has a good morning. But unless we consider things from the other person’s point of view (yes, that To Kill a Mockingbird reference was intentional), we don’t know if that person has, indeed, had a good morning. So, I found Laurel’s quote to be thought-provoking. The examples of dialogue I provided display the quality screenwriting within The Chalk Garden! How memorable the dialogue was is a result of that quality!

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What I didn’t like about the film:

A quickly resolved conflict: Throughout The Chalk Garden, Mrs. St. Maugham is at odds with her daughter, Olivia. Their relationship is so strained, Mrs. St. Maugham wants to obtain sole custody of her granddaughter, Laurel. This conflict lasts the entire movie. While I will not spoil The Chalk Garden, I will say the conflict was resolved within the film’s last ten minutes. The way it was resolved was too abrupt. As a result of this abrupt resolution, Laurel’s change in attitude and behavior happened too quickly. The reason for these flaws is how the second half of the story focuses on unearthing secrets.

Unanswered questions: There were times in The Chalk Garden when characters would make a claim, only for that claim to not be met with confirmation or denial. One example shows Laurel telling Miss Madrigal about the aftermath of when she was attacked in the park. Laurel says even though the police never got involved, it was an “open and shut case”. Before this conversation, however, Maitland warns Miss Madrigal how Laurel has a penchant for lying and fabricating the truth. Did the incident in the park actually take place or was Laurel bending the truth to get a reaction? This is one of the claims in The Chalk Garden that should have been clarified.

An unresolved metaphor: Along with being Laurel’s governess, Miss Madrigal is the resident gardener. This is because Mrs. St. Maugham lacks a “green thumb”. Miss Madrigal uses Mrs. St. Maugham’s garden as a metaphor for Laurel, even referring to it as “a chalk garden”. In order for the metaphor to work, the garden’s growth should have paralleled Laurel’s personal journey. Unfortunately, the garden itself makes infrequent appearances in the film. It also doesn’t help how Mrs. St. Maugham never puts Miss Madrigal’s words into practice, making the metaphor seem unresolved.

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My overall impression:

Before I share my overall impression on The Chalk Garden, I want to take the time to thank the followers of 18 Cinema Lane. The support my blog receives still amazes me, even seven years after 18 Cinema Lane began! While I appreciate 18 Cinema Lane’s followers, I also appreciate when my blog’s readers provide film recommendations. This is why I try to write about these recommendations whenever possible. As I mentioned in this review’s introduction, The Chalk Garden was suggested by Maddy (from Maddy Loves Her Classic Films). I’m thankful to have not only been recommended the movie, but to also have finally checked it out! The 1964 production is part character study, part mystery. Because of the strength of the acting performances and screenwriting, this story worked! Liked I said in my review, I was invested in the story from beginning to end. The characters were interesting and the mysterious elements were intriguing. Though I wish some questions had been answered and a major conflict hadn’t been resolved so quickly, The Chalk Garden did more things right when it came to film-making. I can, honestly, say I would recommend this movie for those looking for a good cinematic story!

Overall score: 7.8 out of 10

Have you seen The Chalk Garden? What is the best movie you’ve been recommended? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Roman Holiday Review

On By 18cinemalane21 Comments

Reviewing Roman Holiday is a full circle moment for me. Back in 2019, the Hallmark Channel movie, Rome in Love became one of the top three best films I saw that year. That movie was about a woman starring in a remake of Roman Holiday. I also read the book Rome in Love was based on. When I signed up for the Journey to Italy Blogathon, I was surprised no one had chosen the 1953 production. Because Roman Holiday is considered a “classic”, I would have expected the movie to be one of the first to be selected. So, I was grateful for the opportunity to check out the film! Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck are no strangers to 18 Cinema Lane. Some of their films have been covered on my blog. In fact, there’s been a few pictures I’ve liked; such as Funny Face, The Nun’s Story, and To Kill a Mockingbird. How does Roman Holiday compare to those movies? Find out in this review!

Roman Holiday poster created by Paramount Pictures

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Roman Holiday introduced cinema’s audience to Audrey Hepburn as a lead actress. Not only that, the 1953 presentation earned Audrey an Oscar. Thinking about her portrayal of Princess Ann, I can understand why Audrey was, at least, nominated for an Academy Award! Even though this was her first starring role, Audrey proved her talents were strong enough to appear convincing. A great example happened when Princess Ann was sleepily wandering around Rome. Through her wanderings, Princess Ann meets Joe Bradley (portrayed by Gregory Peck). The stumbling and mumbling of Princess Ann make her look drunk. Even Joe thinks Princess Ann had too much to drink, due to her speech sounding slurred and her eyelids consistently rising and falling. In Audrey’s performance, Princess Ann proves looks can, indeed, be deceiving.

One of my favorite scenes in Roman Holiday takes place toward the beginning of the story. During a ball, Princess Ann’s shoe is visible on the floor. The shoe was noticed by Countess Vereberg (portrayed by Margaret Rawlings) and General Provno (portrayed by Tullio Carminati). But the way these characters looked at each other and the shoe communicated the shock and embarrassment they were feeling. With the use of eye movements and facial expressions, this exchange was such a hilarious moment! Another performance I liked was Gregory Peck’s portrayal of Joe Bradley! A newspaper reporter from the United States, Joe had a consistent confidence that made him sure of himself. His reactions appeared believable; from a surprised look at seeing Princess Ann’s portrait in the paper to the joy on his face while dancing on a boat. Gregory used a variety of emotions throughout the film. This is one of the reasons Joe became a likable character!

The Italian setting: During the opening credits of Roman Holiday, it’s revealed the production was filmed in Rome, Italy. Through the cinematography and screenwriting, Princess Ann’s time in Italy served as an introduction to the film’s audience. Several iconic landmarks were featured; including the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Mouth of Truth. There were even some lesser-known areas from The Eternal City included in the story. During Princess Ann’s day in Rome, she and Joe visit a wall of granted wishes. As explained through dialogue, if someone’s wish came true, they must place a commemorative plaque on the wall. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any confirmation this wall actually exists. But if it is real, I loved this tradition!

Avoiding the “it’s not what you think” cliché: In Roman Holiday, Joe Bradley makes a bet with his boss to conduct an interview with Princess Ann, including photos to prove the interview took place. This, along with Joe keeping his identity a secret, provided the perfect excuse to include the “it’s not what you think” cliché. However, the film’s creative team didn’t utilize this predictable piece of story-telling. Instead, Joe changes his mind about the bet, which gave him some character development. Even Joe’s friend, Irving Radovich, reconsiders submitting his photographs of Princess Ann’s adventure. After watching my fair share of rom-coms where the same tropes and clichés are incorporated, I appreciate Roman Holiday thinking outside the box!

The Journey to Italy Blogathon banner created by Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews and Kristina from Speakeasy.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A drawn-out story: Roman Holiday has a run-time of one hour and fifty-eight minutes. While watching the movie, that run-time was felt. The story of Princess Ann running away to go on an adventure was drawn-out. One reason is how some moments are longer than necessary. A perfect example is when Princess Ann meets a group of reporters. Each introduction was a slow procession that seemed to last about a minute and a half. Another example is when Princess Ann’s governess reads an itinerary. She slowly reads each event listed on Princess Ann’s schedule, making that part of that scene feel like almost a minute had crawled. To avoid this flaw, the script needed to be tighter.

Little sense of urgency: As I already brought up in this review, Princess Ann runs away to go on an adventure. While Princess Ann was having the time of her life, those in her life were frantically trying to find her. But very few scenes stressed this point. In fact, only three scenes addressed the urgency of bringing Princess Ann home. By providing the story with little sense of urgency, the seriousness of Princess Ann going missing was downplayed. Though I recognize how Roman Holiday is primarily Princess Ann’s story, her actions having consequences were mostly ignored.

Almost no one recognizing Princess Ann: The reason Princess Ann spends time in Italy is because the country was included in her “goodwill tour”. Shortly after running away, Princess Ann’s portrait is printed in every Italian newspaper, according to Joe Bradley’s boss. However, throughout Princess Ann’s adventure, only two people recognize her; Joe and his friend, Irving Radovich. Even before Princess Ann receives a hair-cut, no one acknowledges her true identity. I know fictional stories like Roman Holiday require a suspension of disbelief. But I couldn’t take that part of the movie seriously.

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My overall impression:

Before reviewing Roman Holiday, I had heard so many good things about the movie. As I said in the introduction, the film is considered a “classic”. This is definitely not a bad picture. But I wanted to like it more than I did. Roman Holiday’s run-time feels as long as it is. At almost two hours, the story is drawn-out, partly due to moments that last longer than necessary. Having little sense of urgency not only downplays the seriousness of Princess Ann running away, it also mostly ignored Princess Ann’s actions having consequences. However, I believe the 1953 production has merit. The acting was one of the strongest aspects of this movie. Like I said in my review, I can understand why Audrey was, at least, nominated for an Academy Award! I actually think Roman Holiday should have been included in American Film Institute’s 100 Movies list. According to IMDB, it was “the first American film to be made in its entirety in Italy”. While I’m thankful for the chance to have finally seen Roman Holiday, I prefer Audrey’s pictures like The Nun’s Story and Funny Face. For Gregory Peck, I still believe To Kill a Mockingbird is the stronger movie.

Overall score: 6.1 out of 10

Have you seen Roman Holiday? Which films from Audrey Hepburn’s or Gregory Peck’s filmography do you like? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun in Italy!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: I Heard the Bells Review + 500 Follower Thank You

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

Six years ago, when 18 Cinema Lane was born, I never imagined my blog would receive five hundred followers. But because of these followers, the people who took the time to read what I had to say, this milestone became a reality! To express my gratitude, I’m, once again, thanking my blog’s followers by writing this Blog Follower Dedication Review. This time, however, I’m presenting this review in the style of an open letter to the chosen film. While visiting the blog, It’s a Wonderful Movie, I came across a post about the 2022 Christmas movie, I Heard the Bells. At first, I believed it was a new production from Great American Family. This belief piqued my interest, as I wanted to review one of the network’s Christmas films. Then, I discovered I Heard the Bells was, simply, airing on Great American Family. Instead of being deterred by this misunderstanding, I still selected the 2022 picture for my Blog Follower Dedication Review, as I never heard of this presentation before 2024. With the Christmas season in full swing, writing about I Heard the Bells felt like an appropriate choice. So, without further ado, let’s begin this open letter!

I Heard the Bells poster created by Sight & Sound Films

An open letter to I Heard the Bells:

As I write this letter, you remind me of another Christmas movie I know; Christmas on Division Street. That’s because you and the 1991 television film share one thing in common; meeting me by chance. If you hadn’t been featured on It’s a Wonderful Movie, I would never had heard about you. Then again, if I had paid closer attention, I would have known sooner you weren’t a Great American Family production. Despite that misunderstanding on my part, I still wanted to give you a fair chance. When it comes to writing about Christmas pictures, I root for every movie, including you, to be good. And that’s exactly what you are; good! With the seasonal entertainment landscape saturated with the same cliches, aesthetics, and story ideas, a Christmas movie needs to find a way to stand out from the competition. You, I Heard the Bells, succeeded in doing that!

Christmas Tree with boxes image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/christmas-tree-out-of-gift-boxes_1448089.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

In RKO 281 and Amadeus, Liev Schreiber and Tom Hulce brought humanity back to the names of Orson Welles and Amadeus. They also found the heart of the “genius” and put some genuine emotion behind it. Through his portrayal of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Stephen Atherholt followed in Liev and Tom’s footsteps. When it came to Stephen’s performance, however, he brought an emotional fire that helped make Henry a lively, well-rounded individual! Toward the beginning of the story, just hours before Christmas, Henry recites a poem. Combining facial expressions, vocal inflections, and body language, Henry was animated and captivating. He also spoke in a very poetic way, fitting for a man who had a way with words. Later in the story, after Henry experiences a tragedy, he gets into an argument with his son, Charley. At first, his eyes are downcast and he speaks in a softer tone, trying to avoid a conflict. But as Charley’s side of the argument becomes heated, Henry suddenly bursts with emotion. He quickly bolts from his seat and yells at his son, his anger spilling over. This reaction is so unexpected, Henry’s other children appear frightened.

Hand-written letter image created by Veraholera at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Veraholera – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/love-letter-pattern_1292902.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Through on-screen text, you made it known you were based on a true story. However, I still wish Stephen Atherholt and Rachel Day Hughes shared more scenes together. I already talked about Stephen’s portrayal of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, explaining why it was good. Acting alongside Rachel, who portrayed Fanny Longfellow, Stephen shared strong on-screen chemistry with her! One of my favorite scenes is when Fanny and Henry dance together on Christmas. Their gentle waltz perfectly captures their romantic tenderness. Even in scenes taking place outside of Christmastime, this romantic tenderness was present between Henry and Fanny. At a dinner party, Henry is nervous about having his poetry recited in front of the party guests. During the poem’s introduction, Henry’s hand twitches. Fanny quickly puts her hand over his and even encourages him to lift up his eyes. Throughout this scene, Fanny’s encouragement is gentle, with her patience and kindness making Henry feel more comfortable in his situation. Though Rachel and Stephen shared only a few scenes together, they effectively showed how Fanny and Henry brought out the best in each other!

Envelope with hearts image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/hearts-and-pink-envelope-for-mothers-day_1950691.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/love”>Love image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Bringing up RKO 281 and Amadeus again, these movies are historical pictures where attention to detail made their respective worlds feel visually immersive. It seems like you took another page out of Amadeus and RKO 281’s playbook by applying that attention to detail to Henry’s world! Watching this story unfold felt like traveling in time to the early 1860s. Whether it was the Civil War uniforms, the set design, or even a kite, every piece of this production appeared to be well-researched by your creative team. Remember when I brought up Henry reciting a poem hours before Christmas and the waltz between Henry and Fanny on Christmas? Those moments took place in the Longfellow home’s main sitting room, where era appropriate Christmas decorations can be seen. I noticed orange slices entwined on the garland above the fireplace, as well as candles illuminating the room. I even saw a Nativity set on a nearby table.

Adorable Christmas card image created by Rawpixel.com at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/christmas-greeting-card-vector_2824854.htm’>Designed by Rawpixel.com</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/christmas”>Christmas vector created by Rawpixel.com – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

While there was a lot to like about you, there were some things I didn’t like about you. One of them was how you were almost two hours long. I know you’re a fan of establishing shots, but did you really need that many? Personally, I think you could have either cut some of these shots or trimmed the establishing shots’ length. As I mentioned earlier in this letter, Henry experiences a tragedy. This event causes his appearance to change as time goes on. Even Charley’s hair looks different over time. Yet Henry’s daughters, Anne, Alice, and Edith, always looked the same despite the progression of years. For this flaw, I fault the director and casting director, as they should have been more mindful about how those in the story were presented. Speaking of those involved in the story, there are some people I wish were more involved in what was happening on-screen. Senator Charles Sumner, portrayed by Daniel Stargel, is one of Henry’s supporters. He even helps Charley find a respectable position in the military. But out of your almost two-hour story, Charles appears in only a handful of scenes. I remember how you’re based on a true story. However, that’s not going to change my mind on how Charles should have been given more appearances.

Do you remember at the beginning of this letter, when I said you reminded me of Christmas on Division Street? Well, there’s another Christmas movie you remind me of. That would be the classic It’s a Wonderful Life! For starters, you and the 1946 film are Christmas productions that are about more than just the Christmas holiday. Both of you focus on a man and his story, also exploring how that man’s relationships affect his existence. There’re also elements of faith in both stories. However, these elements are incorporated in different ways. Your delivery, as well as that of It’s a Wonderful Life, shows how much you cared about the overall presentation. In your case, your emphasis on attention to detail made the story look and feel so historically accurate, Henry’s world became immersive! Every acting performance was strong, especially Stephen’s and Rachel’s. Yes, you do have flaws. But I don’t think they will hold you back from, one day, becoming a classic! When I wrote about RKO 281 last year, I claimed good films leave a lasting impression. As I close this letter and move along on my blogging journey, I can honestly say you’ve done just that!

Sincerely,

Sally Silverscreen

P.S. I’ll give you a score of 7.6 out of 10.

Take 3: A Little Women’s Christmas Review

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

When I reviewed Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker two months ago, I knew that article would receive views. But I had no idea how popular it would become. As of mid-December, 2024, my review of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker garnered over a thousand views! To capitalize on my readers’ interest in Great American Family films, I chose to write about one of the network’s Christmas pictures. From the “word of mouth” I’ve been hearing about 2024’s various made-for-TV Christmas movies, A Little Women’s Christmas has gathered the most praise. So, I wanted to see for myself if the film was worth the hype. Based on the few movies from Great American Family I’ve seen, their pictures have been either ok or decent. The only exception has been The Abigail Mysteries, which was one of the worst films I saw last year. Where does A Little Women’s Christmas fall among this spectrum? Read my review to find out!

A Little Women’s Christmas poster created by Great American Family, True Brand Entertainment, Third Coast Film, Rebel Rocket Entertainment, and Empress of Soul Productions

Things I liked about the film:

The camaraderie between the March sisters: If a film’s creative team wants to tell a story involving a group of siblings, there needs to be strong camaraderie between those characters. The strength of the camaraderie depends on the strength of the acting performances. This is exactly what happened among the March sisters in A Little Women’s Christmas! When Jillian Murray, Jen Lilley, Julia Reilly, and Laura Osnes came together, the relationship between their characters felt believable. Whether the moment was heart-warming or heart-breaking, the March sisters had each other’s support and worked together when it mattered the most. These actresses allowed each character’s personality to shine through. Nurturing Meg, bubbly Amy, ambitious Jo, and kind Beth complimented one another, bringing out the best in each sister. With the combination of Jillian’s, Jen’s, Julia’s, and Laura’s acting abilities, the creative team behind A Little Women’s Christmas understood the assignment and recognized what makes Louisa’s source material so special!

The on-screen chemistry: Over the course of A Little Women’s Christmas, Jo gets to know a fellow writer from her publishing firm. This fellow writer is Fritz, portrayed by Trevor Donovan. During their interactions, Fritz is not only observant, but also has a drier sense of humor. As I mentioned earlier in this review, Jo is ambitious. However, she also tells things like it is. The combination of Fritz and Jo’s personalities created nice on-screen chemistry between Trevor and Jillian! The more time Jo and Fritz spent together, the more I felt they got along well with each other. The March sisters’ parents, Margaret and Robert, only appeared in one scene, through a video sent to the family. Despite this very brief appearance, I could sense the on-screen chemistry between Candace Kirkpatrick and James Arnold Taylor! In that one scene, the marriage between these characters felt believable. I, honestly, wish Robert and Margaret shared more scenes together!

The Little Women related Easter Eggs: IMDB claims A Little Women’s Christmas is “a contemporary retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 classic”. With this in mind, the movie’s creative team found clever ways to place Easter Eggs throughout their production! The town the March family is from is named Alcott Grove. Observant viewers and fans of the novel will point out how the town shares the last name of Little Women’s author. While Jo and Fritz pay a visit to The Mercantile Café, Jo introduces Fritz to Louisa May, the owner of the eatery. Louisa May of Alcott Grove happens to share the name of Louisa May Alcott. It was fun finding these Easter Eggs throughout the movie! The creative team’s respect for Louisa’s story was symbolized in the Easter Eggs.

Christmas book image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-psd/christmas-mockup-with-open-book_1482296.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/mockup”>Mockup psd created by Freepik</a>.  Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

The underutilization of DJ Bob: Throughout the movie, a man named DJ Bob makes Christmas related announcements from his studio at W.A.G. Radio. While exploring the town of Alcott Grove, Jo explains to Fritz how DJ Bob has become a beloved member of the community since he came to town in his red convertible one day. But other than what I just mentioned, DJ Bob has a very minimal role in the story. Personally, I think this was a missed opportunity, as DJ Bob could have been the glue that kept this script together. Besides being a radio host, DJ Bob could have been the character other characters turn to for advice. He also could have become “Mr. Fix It”, where he helps people solve their problems.

The “it’s not what you think” cliché: Before he leaves for Alcott Grove, Fritz is instructed by Jo’s editor-in-chief, Susanna, to mentor Jo as she works on a new novel. Even though Susanna encourages Fritz to be honest with Jo about the reason for his trip, he’s concerned about pressuring Jo to the point of ruining her creative spark. As soon as this conflict was set up in A Little Women’s Christmas, it was a matter of waiting for the inevitable to happen. The conflict expectedly led to the “it’s not what you think” cliché, causing Jo to assume the worst about Fritz. While I recognize the need for a conflict in Jo’s story, that conflict paired with the aforementioned cliché made this part of the movie more predictable. It also doesn’t help how Jo developed romantic feelings for Fritz within a matter of days, becoming upset because she gave her heart to a man she barely knew.

A confusing ending: For this part of my review, I will spoil A Little Women’s Christmas. If you haven’t seen this movie and are planning on watching it, please skip ahead to the part of my review titled “My overall impression”.

In A Little Women’s Christmas, Jo aspires to write her first young adult novel. But during her return to Alcott Grove, she’s constantly searching for inspiration. Using Fritz’s advice, Jo eventually chooses to base her story on her relationship with her sisters, reflecting on their lives together. One of the last scenes in the movie shows Jo writing the first chapter of her novel, which she titles Little Women. With a title like A Little Women’s Christmas, along with the Little Women related Easter Eggs, I assumed the film’s creative team acknowledged Louisa May Alcott’s story existed in the world of Alcott Grove. But with Jo naming her book, Little Women, I was left confused, wondering if the world of A Little Women’s Christmas was meant to be an alternate universe where Louisa and her story never existed?

Art tools image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/flar-art-tools-pack_835368.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>.  <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/paint”>Paint vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Out of Great American Family’s movies I’ve seen, most of their productions have been ok or decent. A Little Women’s Christmas falls in the latter category. The 2024 picture was fine, wholesome, and pleasant. It was nice to see the creative team behind A Little Women’s Christmas show respect for the source material. From the camaraderie between the March sisters to the Little Women related Easter Eggs, fans of Louisa May Alcott’s story will find enjoyment in this film! Though there were aspects of the movie I liked, A Little Women’s Christmas did have its flaws. The inclusion of the “it’s not what you think” cliché contributed to part of the story being predictable. I also found the film’s ending confusing. But as I said before, this Great American Family production was fine as well as pleasant. If you’re interested in watching Christmas offerings from this network, I would recommend A Little Women’s Christmas!

Overall score: 7-7.1 out of 10

Have you seen A Little Women’s Christmas? Are there any Great American Family films you’d like me to check out? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Christmas on Division Street Review

On By 18cinemalane6 Comments

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

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

Things I liked about the film:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What I didn’t like about the film:

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

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

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

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

My overall impression:

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

Overall score: 7.5-7.6 out of 10

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

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Reluctant Debutante Review

On By 18cinemalane14 Comments

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

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

Things I liked about the film:

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

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

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

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

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

What I didn’t like about the film:

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

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

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

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

My overall impression:

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

Overall score: 5.5 out of 10

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

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Cancel Christmas Review

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

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

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

Things I liked about the film:

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

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

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

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

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

What I didn’t like about the film:

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

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

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

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

My overall impression:

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

Overall score 7.1-7.2 out of 10

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

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

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

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

Things I liked about the film:

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

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

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

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

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

What I didn’t like about the film:

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

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

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

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

My overall impression:

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

Overall score: 6.7 out of 10

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

Have fun on Thanksgiving!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Dial M for Murder Review

On By 18cinemalane13 Comments

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

Dial M for Murder poster created by Warner Bros.

Things I liked about the film:

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

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

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

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

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

What I didn’t like about the film:

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

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

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

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

My overall impression:

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

Overall score: 6-6.1 out of 10

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

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen