Take 3: Mask (1985) Review (Golden Double Double Feature Part 2)

On April 16, 2026 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Thanks for joining me for the second part of my Golden Double Double Feature! My review of 1985’s Mask is spoiler-free. If you’d like to learn more about why I chose this year’s double feature theme, you can check out the introduction in the link below.

Announcing The Golden Double Double Feature!

*Mask* (1985) poster created by Universal Pictures

1. Out of the movies from Estelle Getty’s filmography, why did you select Mask?

I had no idea Estelle had starred in Mask until I saw the movie listed on her IMDB filmography. Prior to selecting it for the Golden Double Double Feature, I had heard good things about the movie. In fact, I learned about Rocky’s story as I researched the film before this review. By choosing it for this year’s double feature, I found the perfect excuse to finally check Mask out!

2. In Mask, Estelle portrays Evelyn Steinberg. How is Evelyn Steinberg similar or different from Sophia?

In Mask, Estelle portrayed Evelyn Steinberg. Evelyn is not only Rocky’s grandmother, but also the mother of Rusty (Rocky’s mom). While Evelyn is the mother of a main character like Sophia on The Golden Girls, she isn’t as outspoken or a storyteller like Sophia. Instead, Evelyn tries to keep the peace within her family and doesn’t get involved in family conflicts. She ended up receiving less screen-time in Mask than Sophia did on a typical episode of The Golden Girls.

3. Mask is based on the real-life story of Roy L. “Rocky” Dennis. Can you think of a time on The Golden Girls when real-life stories, themes, or ideas were woven into the script?

Though The Golden Girls is classified as a sit-com, the overarching story is grounded in reality, meaning the situations depicted on the show seem realistic, more often than not. One classic example is the sixth episode from the third season, ‘Letter to Gorbachev’. Because the episode aired on Halloween in 1987, that could have given The Golden Girls’ creative team an excuse to make a Halloween-themed episode. Instead, the creative team crafted a story where Rose writes a letter to both President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev sharing her thoughts on nuclear war. Because nuclear war, as well as The Cold War, were two of the most discussed issues during the 1980s, fans of The Golden Girls were probably comforted by one of their favorite characters being just as concerned as they were about these real-life subjects. Rose’s decision to write the aforementioned letters also shows viewers how anyone, no matter their age, can make a difference.

4. Was there anything about Mask you liked or didn’t like?

I said in the past how I typically don’t gravitate toward “slice of life” stories. In my opinion, these types of stories are not as intriguing as other story types. But the “slice of life” approach to storytelling worked in Mask’s favor. It presented Rocky’s story as a glimpse into his life instead of the chronological presentation most biopics adopt. This creative decision brought something different to the biopic genre. What also worked in Mask’s favor was the strength of the acting performances. Each cast member, from Cher’s portrayal of Rusty or Eric Stoltz’s portrayal of Rocky, put genuine emotion behind their performance, finding the heart of the people they’re portraying and bringing the humanity to their names. That genuineness made me feel like I was watching people living their lives instead of actors portraying another person.

As I said in answer number two, Evelyn ended up receiving less screen-time in Mask than Sophia did on a typical episode of The Golden Girls. I was disappointed by her limited amount of screen-time, as Estelle is one of the reasons why I chose to watch Mask. According to Wikipedia, Evelyn “tries to mediate the tension between her husband and her daughter”. This statement made me believe she’d play a bigger role in the story. But as I already mentioned, Evelyn received a limited amount of screen-time. Her limited involvement in the story disappointed me as well.

5. Looking back on 1985’s box office, several movies, including Mask, feature younger protagonists (children, teenagers, young adults). Yet younger characters don’t often appear on The Golden Girls. If a younger character had been included within one of the show’s scripts, what kind of story would you have pitched?

One of the sweetest moments in Mask is when Rusty, her boyfriend, Gar, and their motorcycle friends help Rocky in his time of need. Rocky is worried about not having the appropriate attire for his upcoming junior high graduation. After hearing Rocky’s concern over what to wear, Gar tells Rocky to get him a beer from the refrigerator. When Rocky opens the refrigerator, he finds a brand-new suit his mom, Gar, and the rest of the motorcycle friends pitched in to pay for. Inspired by this moment, I would have advocated for a story on The Golden Girls where Dorothy helps one of her students attend either their graduation or prom by funding one of their expenses, whether it’s attire, a ticket, or a ride to the event. Blanche, Rose, and Sophia could also help Dorothy in her effort to assist her student.

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6. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

Rocky volunteers at a summer camp for blind and visually impaired youth called Camp Bloomfield. While there, he falls in love with a camper named Diana. They attend a New Year’s Eve themed camp party, which was officially called ‘New Year’s Eve in July’. While I’m familiar with the concept of ‘Christmas in July’, I’ve never heard of ‘New Year’s Eve in July’ before. This makes me wonder why the concept of ‘New Year’s Eve in July’ didn’t catch on in pop culture, let alone entertainment media?

7. Throughout The Golden Girls, cheesecake became an iconic staple of the show. What would you say is the iconic staple of Mask?

There are several good answers I could choose for this question. But, if I can select only one “iconic staple” for Mask, it would have to be Rocky’s map of Europe. Throughout the film, Rocky dreams about taking a motorcycle trip across Europe with his friend, Ben. He even places pins on the map to keep track of which cities he’d like to visit. Rocky’s map of Europe is a perfect visual representation of why dreams are important. However, the map is also a good representation of a lesson Rocky learned from one of Rusty’s motorcycle friends, Red. Rocky shares with Rusty how Red said a person’s spirit is everywhere after they pass away. This lesson, along with the map, show just how powerful the human spirit can be, even long after a person’s death.

8. The Golden Girls takes place in Miami, Florida. This location has been referenced throughout the show, from mentions within the dialogue to an entire song about the city. Does the setting in Mask impact the film’s story like Miami impacted The Golden Girls? If so, how?

Mask not only takes place in California, it was also filmed there. But this location doesn’t impact the story like Miami impacted The Golden Girls. That is because the script prioritized the connections Rocky had with the people in his life. This creative decision was reminiscent of home being more about who you share it with.

9. Mask was released on March 22^nd, 1985 (six months before The Golden Girls premiered). Was there any element from the movie you think could have impacted the show?

Throughout Mask, Rocky is concerned about Rusty’s addiction to drugs. He not only places pamphlets about the subject in his home, he also directly confronts his mom about her addiction. The topic of drug addiction was woven into Mask in an honest way, realistically showing viewers how it can affect the person with the addiction as well as their family. As I mentioned in this review, the overarching story of The Golden Girls is grounded in reality, with several episodes incorporating real-life topics into the script. One example is the eighth episode from the first season, ‘Break In’. In this episode, Rose is shaken after a burglary takes place in the home she shares with Dorothy, Blanche, and Sophia. It not only gets to the point where Rose’s sleep schedule is impacted, the other “golden girls” (Blanche, Sophia, and Dorothy) encourage Rose to seek counselling. To answer question number nine, I believe Mask showed the creative team behind The Golden Girls how to honestly address real-life topics in their stories.

10. After watching Mask, is there anything you can take away from your movie-viewing experience?

Mask perfectly embodies the quote, “Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind”. The genuineness of the acting performances helped contribute to this embodiment, showing each actor’s and actress’s portrayal as someone realistically living their life. What also contributed to this embodiment was how Rocky’s story was told. Instead of adopting a chronological presentation, the creative team behind Mask chose the “slice of life” route, giving viewers a glimpse into Rocky’s life. Like I said in answer number one, I had heard good things about the movie. Now that I’ve seen Mask, I can honestly say this praise is warranted! In fact, I’d say this is one of the best biopics I’ve ever seen. Watching this movie reminded me of Amadeus, as both biopics brought something different to the genre’s table.

Thank you for being a friend!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine Review (Golden Double Double Feature Part 1)

On April 13, 2026 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Thanks for joining me for the first part of my Golden Double Double Feature! The majority of my review of Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine is spoiler-free. If you’d like to learn more about why I chose this year’s double feature theme, you can check out the introduction in the link below.

Announcing The Golden Double Double Feature!

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s *The Lost Valentine* poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Ridini Entertainment, and CBS

1. Out of the movies from Betty White’s filmography, why did you select Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine?

When I created my Hallmark Hall of Fame tier rank list in 2020, I not only placed The Lost Valentine in the “Get It On Sale for Half Off” (a.k.a. Good) tier, I also recommended the film because of the use of flashbacks and recognition of Valentine’s Day. But it’s been over eight years since I’ve seen The Lost Valentine. While selecting the 2011 Hallmark Hall of Fame picture for this review, I didn’t know if my opinion on the film would remain the same as it was years ago. On my Year-Long Bingo Card, three of the bingo squares are “Review at least 2 Hallmark Hall of Fame films”, “Revisit a movie you haven’t seen in over 5 years”, and “Review a holiday themed movie that isn’t Christmas”. So, when I saw The Lost Valentine on Betty’s filmography, I remembered liking the movie, as well as how the movie would complete those aforementioned bingo squares.

2. In Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, Betty portrays Caroline Thomas. How is Caroline Thomas similar or different from Rose?

On The Golden Girls, Rose Nylund is known for her innocence and naivete. These qualities add charm to Rose’s character, as well as provide some of the show’s comedic moments. Betty’s character in The Lost Valentine, Caroline Thomas, lacks Rose’s naivete for two reasons. Caroline’s experiences during World War II and even afterwards give her an awareness of how unpredictable life can truly be. Her lack of naivete also makes sense with the story itself, as The Lost Valentine is a serious drama grounded in reality.

3. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine is based on a book by James Michael Pratt. What book adaptation would you have liked to see Betty star in?

For 2024’s Eurovisionathon readathon, I read The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald. From what I remember of the book, I could picture Betty portraying a character from that story. Katarina crafted characters that sounded and felt distinct from one another. Plus, the small-town setting seemed Hallmark-esque, creating a sense of community through dramatic and comedic character interactions. The “golden girls” have distinct personalities on The Golden Girls, allowing each character to be unique. Even though the show is classified as a sit-com, there were emotional, serious moments woven into episodes. With all that said, I think a story like The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend would have complimented Betty’s acting talents, as The Lost Valentine perfectly showcased her comedic and dramatic timing.

4. Was there anything about Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine you liked or didn’t like?

As I mentioned in answer number one, I recommended The Lost Valentine because of the use of flashbacks. These flashbacks added context to the events presented on screen, especially when it came to Caroline’s part of the story. Meghann Fahy portrayed Caroline’s younger self while Billy Magnussen portrayed Caroline’s husband, Neil. Both Meghann’s and Billy’s acting performance was strong. But together, their on-screen chemistry effectively sold the believability of Neil and Caroline’s relationship! What works in the favor on this relationship is the emotional depth Billy and Meghann bring. A great example is how Caroline’s and Neil’s eyes possessed the pain of being apart from each other. Watching Meghann’s and Billy’s performance felt like witnessing a couple upholding their promise of love instead of two actors simply portraying characters. I wish Billy and Meghann had been cast in more Hallmark projects together.

Jennifer Love Hewitt stars in The Lost Valentine as a television reporter named Susan Allison. Susan received a subplot where she contemplates her future with her boyfriend, Andrew. This is one of those subplots where you know the relationship isn’t going to last because the film’s female protagonist will eventually fall in love with the male protagonist, which, in The Lost Valentine, is Caroline’s grandson, Lucas. That creative decision led to Susan’s subplot being predictable. Instead, her subplot should have prioritized her reconciliation with her family, especially since Susan mentioned toward the beginning of The Lost Valentine how she doesn’t have a strong relationship with them.

5. The Golden Girls didn’t receive any television films (like other shows such as Little House on the Prairie, Murder, She Wrote, etc.) In your opinion, why do you think this creative decision was made?

A typical episode of The Golden Girls is about thirty minutes long. Meanwhile, most television movies receive a run-time between an hour and thirty minutes to two hours. If a tv show’s creative team chooses to make a made-for-TV movie, they need to create a story that justifies a longer length of time. So, I’m guessing the creative team behind The Golden Girls never figured out a story that couldn’t be told in half an hour.

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6. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

Like I said in my number one answer, it’s been over eight years since I’ve seen The Lost Valentine. Because of this, I had completely forgotten the humor woven into the story. Comedic moments sprinkled throughout the film was such a pleasant surprise for me. One of my favorite scenes was when Caroline reads a sports magazine to a group of veterans at a local hospital. While she’s talking about the New York Yankees, Caroline says she doesn’t hate the team, she just doesn’t like it when they beat a team she likes more. How that piece of dialogue was written, as well as Betty’s sweetly honest delivery, created a scene that was genuinely hilarious. Moments like the one I described alleviated some of The Lost Valentine’s heavier scenes yet never overshadowed the story’s serious subject matter.

For this part of my review, I will spoil The Lost Valentine. If you have not seen this movie and are planning on watching it, skip ahead to question number seven.

Toward the end of The Lost Valentine, after Caroline welcomes Neil home, she discovers rose buds growing on a rose bush in her garden. That specific rose bush was not only the first plant Caroline and Neil planted when they moved into their home, the rose bush was believed to be dead for the majority of the movie. When Caroline discovers the rose buds, she reminisces about Neil as she dances to music from the past. All of a sudden, a man who I assumed was Neil’s ghost appeared behind Caroline. After that, the hose Caroline was holding falls to the ground. But the scenes that follow are flashbacks of Caroline and Neil and scenes featuring Lucas and Susan. Is the fallen hose implying Caroline passed away, joining Neil in the afterlife? Or was Caroline so caught up in remembering the past, she dropped the hose by accident? That part of the story was, in my opinion, too open-ended for a stand-alone film. But because The Lost Valentine is based on a book, maybe the source material would provide a clearer explanation than the adaptation did.

7. Throughout The Golden Girls, cheesecake became an iconic staple of the show. What would you say is the iconic staple of Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine?

You’d think I’d pick the titular valentine, as it plays a significant role in The Lost Valentine. But, instead, I’m choosing the red rose. When it comes to growing roses, it takes time, patience, commitment, and care. Even as Lucas wants to uproot a rose bush he believes is dead, Caroline reminds her grandson how she doesn’t give up on things that easily. These aspects perfectly represent some of the major themes of The Lost Valentine; like serving others and putting your love toward something you believe matters. Caroline’s rose bush also provides the story with a nice full-circle moment.

8. The Hallmark Hall of Fame collection overlapped with The Golden Girls (in terms of existence). Why do you think Hallmark Hall of Fame didn’t try to capitalize on the popularity of the “golden girls”?

From 1979 to 2011, Hallmark Hall of Fame movies aired on CBS. The Golden Girls existed on NBC. While Hallmark Hall of Fame and The Golden Girls overlapped (between 1985 to 1992), there were two to four Hallmark Hall of Fame films released per year, implying tighter production schedules. Though a typical season of The Golden Girls ran from September to May, a certain amount of time needed to be set aside to film episodes, especially since The Golden Girls was filmed in front of a live studio audience. These factors may have made casting any of the “golden girls” in a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation difficult, but not impossible. However, trying to accommodate any of the “golden girls” schedules could have affected the schedules of the other cast and crew members of a Hallmark Hall of Fame project.

9. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine was released in 2011 (19 years after The Golden Girls ended). Is there any element from the movie you wish was incorporated on the show?

One of the overarching themes of The Lost Valentine is serving others. A great example is when Caroline visits veterans at a local hospital. On The Golden Girls, there were two episodes involving veterans; ‘From Here to the Pharmacy’ and ‘Charlie’s Buddy’. However, these episodes prioritized Rose’s and Blanche’s attempt to finding romance. As far as I know, there wasn’t an episode of The Golden Girls where the “golden girls” took the time to honor veterans. Therefore, I wish this type of story had been incorporated on the show. One example is the “golden girls” volunteering at an Honor Flight ceremony.

10. After watching Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, is there anything you can take away from your movie-viewing experience?

For years, Hallmark’s motto has been “When you care enough to send the very best”. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine perfectly represents that motto! The amount of care that Caroline put into waiting for Neil is a beautiful display of putting the needs of others before oneself, one of the major themes of The Lost Valentine. Other parts of the story represent this theme as well, such as Susan’s quest to find the truth about Neil’s whereabouts. By revisiting the 2011 Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, I was reminded why I like it. Strong elements, such as the acting performances and the screenwriting, made my movie-viewing experience enjoyable. I was also reminded of things I had completely forgotten, like the humor woven into the story. As I said in this review, the comedic moments alleviated some of The Lost Valentine’s heavier scenes yet never overshadowed the story’s serious subject matter. This is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie that still holds up, even fifteen years later. Therefore, it will stay in the “Get It On Sale for Half Off” (a.k.a. Good) tier of my Hallmark Hall of Fame tier rank list!

Thank you for being a friend!

Sally Silverscreen

Announcing The Golden Double Double Feature!

On March 31, 2026 By 18cinemalane4 Comments

When I publish one hundred posts, I create a double feature as one of 18 Cinema Lane’s traditions. My review of Autumn Sonata achieved the aforementioned milestone by becoming my one thousandth published post! But this was not the only milestone my Autumn Sonata review reached. That would also be becoming my four hundred and fiftieth published movie review! Because one post accomplished both milestones, I decided to do something different for this double feature. Instead of reviewing two movies, I’ll be reviewing four of them. As I thought about possible double feature themes, I came to a realization. Each of the “golden girls” (Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty) has a filmography. So, for this double feature, I will cover movies featuring the stars of The Golden Girls! These films will be Mame, Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, The Little Match Girl, and Mask.

Thank you for being a friend!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder Review

On March 27, 2026 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Compared to the previous decade, Hallmark hasn’t prioritized the mystery genre. While the network has released new titles, the overall quality has greatly fluctuated. Some pictures, like Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major and Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans, were solid projects that brought uniqueness to Hallmark’s table. But other pictures, like Mystery Island and Francesca Quinn, PI, left audiences desiring more. Hallmark also seems to be more selective about which titles receive a sequel. One of those titles is Nelly Knows Mysteries. I reviewed Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement in 2024. Though I thought the movie was just ok, there were aspects that I believed could have provided multiple chapters to the story. So, when I discovered Nelly Knows Mysteries would receive a sequel, Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, I wanted to check the film out (and review it) with an open mind. Is the second Nelly Knows Mysteries chapter better or worse than the first one? In order to solve this mystery, you’ll have to read this review!

*Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder* poster created by Muse Entertainment, Hallmark Channel, and Hallmark Mystery

Things I liked about the film:

The set design: The majority of Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder takes place at Palmer Arlott’s house. Because the Arlott family is one of the more affluent families in Nelly’s neighborhood, the set design throughout Palmer’s home perfectly reflects this aspect of her life. One notable example is Palmer’s dining room. In the dining room, black walls surround the space, including a black wood wall over the fireplace. Gold frames around paintings nicely contrast with the dark hue of the walls. A detailed maroon rug is placed over the cherry wood floor. The cherry wood dining room set and the antique gold and crystal chandelier help balance the darker and lighter colors of the room. Even the fireplace boasted stone carvings. All of these details created a dining room that exuded elegance!

How the mystery affects the protagonist: Murder mystery stories will often place so much emphasis on the protagonist solving the case, the case’s effect on the protagonist is rarely brought up. In Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, Nelly shares her feelings about the murder to Michael. After the murder victim is discovered, Nelly feels guilty about the crime that took place. She believes if the dinner party the murder victim attended (and was hosted based on advice her advice column provided) hadn’t happened, no one would have been murdered. Not only does Nelly honestly express these feelings with Michael, Michael reassures Nelly what happened was beyond her control. Similar to Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement adding realism by addressing one of Nelly’s flaws, acknowledging Nelly’s feelings about the murder mystery brought realism to Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, as well as added a different story element to the realm of Hallmark mysteries.

The costume design: When I reviewed Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement, I praised Nelly’s wardrobe because it not only complimented Pascale herself, it was also stylishly presented on screen. This strength continues in Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder! Once again, Nelly incorporates pink into her attire, wearing a pink tweed jacket in one outfit. But the rest of the outfit was built around the jacket, with simple gold jewelry, black shoes, and black pants coordinating nicely with the jacket’s black and gold buttons. Green provides a bridge between the darker and lighter hues of the outfit, with Nelly wearing a green shirt and a green crossbody purse. While watching Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, I noticed how the wardrobe of the other characters stood out! One great example is what Palmer wore when she was first introduced in the film. Similar to Nelly’s aforementioned outfit, Palmer wore a grayish blue tweed jacket, with the rest of the outfit built around the jacket. A white blouse, faded powder blue pants, and black shoes give a nice blend to the outfit’s varying colors. Palmer’s simple silver belt adds elegance to the outfit!

Magnifying glass and fingerprint image created by Alvaro_Cabrera at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/loupe-over-a-fingerprint_853908.htm’>Designed by alvaro_cabrera</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/glass”>Glass vector created by Alvaro_cabrera – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Lack of urgency: In my review of Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, I criticized the film’s lack of urgency. That flaw caused the movie’s pace to slow down and it drew the story out a bit. Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder also lacked urgency. More often than not, Nelly and Michael are shown sharing conversations between each other and other characters than actively solving the case. This made it seem like the protagonists took their time catching the culprit. Like Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, the pace of Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder was slowed down and the story felt drawn out due to the amount of urgency in the movie.

Prioritizing the family drama: Prior to the murder taking place, Palmer invited her family over to her house to discuss who would receive her inheritance. Her decision causes drama among the Arlott family, every member having their reason for disagreeing with Palmer’s choice. But the script placed so much emphasis on the family drama, it ended up overshadowing the mystery. In fact, Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder felt less like a mystery story and more like an extended episode of a soap opera. If the script had found a balance between the family drama and the mystery, more intrigue would have been added to the film.

Underutilizing Eli Flint: When Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder was announced back in January, it was revealed Eli Flint (from True Justice: Family Ties) would appear in the movie. I was looking forward to his inclusion in the story, especially since I believe this is the first cross-over between two Hallmark mystery titles. But when I saw Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, Eli only appeared in two scenes. Not only that, his role in the mystery was minimal. Because Eli now has experience solving a mystery, it would make sense for him to play a larger role in the story. Underutilizing Eli’s skills and perspective was, in my opinion, a missed opportunity. For Hallmark’s first mystery cross-over, it was disappointing.

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My overall impression:

I recently said Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery was an ok film not only because of the movie’s lack of urgency, but also because Hannah’s sister, Michelle, was underutilized in the story. I feel similarly about Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder. Like the latest Hannah Swensen Mystery chapter, the newest Nelly Knows Mysteries film lacked urgency, making it seem like the protagonists took their time catching the culprit. Eli Flint, from True Justice: Family Ties, was underutilized, despite his inclusion providing the first cross-over in Hallmark mystery movie history. But, like Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder possessed elements I liked. The story, once again, welcomed realism by acknowledging Nelly’s feelings about the murder mystery. Another consistent strength was the costume design, perfectly suiting Nelly as well as the rest of the characters. The set design in the Nelly Knows Mysteries sequel was visually appealing and perfectly represented the affluence in Palmer’s life. But with me finding both Nelly Knows Mysteries titles just ok, I wonder what the future of this series is?

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder? Would you like to see Hallmark cross over more of their mystery films? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Comparing with the Critics – Best of 1978 – Autumn Sonata

On March 15, 2026March 15, 2026 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

This review is from my series, Comparing with the Critics. If you’d like to learn more about the series, click on the link below.

Introducing my new series, Comparing with the Critics!

March’s theme for Genre Grandeur is “Oscar Losing Movies (Oscar nominees that failed to garner even one win)”. Upon learning this theme, I was going to select a movie nominated for the 76^th Academy Awards, when The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won a history-making eleven awards. But after researching which films were nominated the evening of February 29^th, 2004, I discovered other pictures besides The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King walked away with a trophy. This discovery meant there weren’t as many Oscar “losers” as I initially believed. So, as I continued my research for March’s Genre Grandeur, I learned Autumn Sonata was nominated for two awards at the 51^st Academy Awards. These categories were Best Writing and Best Leading Actress. Sadly, Autumn Sonata lost both categories to a movie titled Coming Home. I have heard of Autumn Sonata prior to choosing it for this particular review. Not only was the film recommended to me by Virginie (from The Wonderful World of Cinema), it was also featured in ‘The Best Films of 1978’ episode of Gene Siskel’s and Roger Ebert’s show, Sneak Previews. In that episode, both Roger and Gene admitted to placing Autumn Sonata on their lists of the ten best films of 1978. Now that I’ve seen the movie for myself, I can understand why it would find a place on their lists. I can also understand why Autumn Sonata was nominated for its respective categories at the 51^st Academy Awards in 1979.

*Autumn Sonata* poster created by Persona Film, Suede Film, Incorporated Television Company (ITC), Svensk Filmindustri, Constantin Film, ITC Film Distributors, and New World Pictures

As I just mentioned in this review’s introduction, Autumn Sonata was nominated for two awards at the 51^st Academy Awards. One of these categories was Best Leading Actress, with Ingrid Bergman as one of five actresses to receive a nomination. While discussing Autumn Sonata in Sneak Previews’ ‘The Best Films of 1978’ episode, Gene called Ingrid’s portrayal of Charlotte Andergast “riveting”. Even after a scene featuring Ingrid and Liv Ullmann (who portrayed Charlotte’s daughter, Eva) is presented in the episode, Gene says “Again, some real pain there”, referring to the emotions on display through Liv’s and Ingrid’s performance. Though I agree with Gene’s assessment of Ingrid’s portrayal of Charlotte, the word I’d use to describe it (as well as Liv’s portrayal of Eva) is captivating. In one of the best scenes from Autumn Sonata, Charlotte shares with Eva how her close friend, Leonardo, passed away. Throughout her recount of Leonardo’s last days in the hospital, Charlotte has a pained, disgusted look on her face. With a glossy, teary-eyed stare and a drawn-out frown, Charlotte is heartbroken over the loss of her friend. When I saw that scene, I wasn’t watching an actress portraying a character. I was witnessing a woman experiencing grief, with Ingrid’s performance possessing a strong sense of realism.

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Like I also said in my review, Liv Ullmann’s portrayal of Charlotte’s daughter, Eva, was captivating. This is because Liv was able to go toe-to-toe with Ingrid, acting-wise, understanding how to utilize emotion to her character’s advantage, as well as when to increase or decrease the intensity of those emotions. As I previously mentioned, there was a scene from Autumn Sonata featuring Ingrid and Liv in Sneak Previews’ ‘The Best Films of 1978’ episode. In that scene, Charlotte and Eva share an emotionally explosive conversation over the reasons why their relationship is strained. Eva states how she didn’t like Charlotte’s desire to turn her daughter into someone she wasn’t. During her reflections of her past, Eva is visibly distraught. With gritted teeth and eyes overflowing with tears, even shaking at one point, Eva confesses how Charlotte’s decisions have deeply impacted her and her life choices. Because of her performance in Autumn Sonata, I wish Liv Ullmann had been nominated for an Oscar as well.

During their discussion of Autumn Sonata in ‘The Best Films of 1978’ episode of Sneak Previews, neither Roger nor Gene brought up the film’s screenwriting. This is a shame, as the screenwriting was one of the movie’s strengths. Autumn Sonata is a character-driven, “slice of life” story. However, the quality of the dialogue made conversations between characters sound emotionally deep and thought provoking. In one scene, Eva asks her husband, Viktor, if he thinks she’s an adult. Viktor responds by telling her, “I guess being an adult is being able to handle your dreams and hopes, not longing for things”. He could have simply given his wife a “yes” or “no” answer. But Viktor’s response gives Eva, as well as the audience, meaningful insight about growing up, managing expectations, and even gratitude. Later in Autumn Sonata, Charlotte confesses one of her realizations to Eva. She says, “I have never grown up. My face and my body have aged. I acquire memories and experiences but inside all that I haven’t even been born.” Similar to Viktor’s aforementioned quote, Charlotte’s quote addresses growing up. In Charlotte’s case, however, her reflections sound more regretful. Disappointment can even be heard in her voice, with those pent-up feelings finally being addressed through words. As I stated in this review’s introduction, Autumn Sonata was nominated for the Best Writing category. Through a thoughtfully crafted script, that nomination was, in my opinion, earned.

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While continuing their discussion of Autumn Sonata, Roger tells Gene about a call he received from a reader who was interested in seeing Autumn Sonata. Roger then says the reader told him, “I couldn’t make head or tail of it. What is it about?” Meanwhile, Gene claims “the conflict is how do you reconcile your public career with your personal responsibilities to your family”. Based on my experience watching Autumn Sonata, I think it’s not just about balancing a public and personal life. I think it’s also about the brutal honesty of strained familial relationships. When Eva and Charlotte talk about the past, no figurative punches are held back. They tell each other exactly what’s on their minds and hearts, no matter who’s feelings get hurt. It would have been easy for Autumn Sonata’s creative team to paint either Charlotte or Eva as the “villain” of the story. Instead, both women are not only flawed, they have valid points to their sides of the narrative. How the story plays out kind of reminds me of The Royal Tenenbaums, where the strained relationship between Eva and Charlotte is the result of little things culminating over time. The acting performances and the screenwriting successfully bring a sense of realism to Autumn Sonata.

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According to IMDB, Autumn Sonata was filmed in Norway. Based on the scene where Charlotte drives to Eva and Viktor’s house, the Norwegian scenery looked like a beautiful painting. But the majestic hills, mountains, and large body of water from Norway wasn’t incorporated into Autumn Sonata beyond that one scene. I wish the “autumn” in Autumn Sonata played a larger role in the story, perhaps visually representing some of the movie’s themes. Another aspect of the story I wish had been utilized more was Eva’s sister, Helena. When Charlotte first arrives at Eva and Viktor’s house, Eva reveals how Helena is now living at their house instead of at a hospital. Throughout Autumn Sonata, Helena deals with an illness that greatly affects her mobility. I thought she was intended to be a bridge between Eva and Charlotte, helping them find a more peaceful middle ground. One reason for this belief came from Helena falling out of her bed during an emotionally explosive conversation between Charlotte and Eva. Sadly, it seems like Helena was in Autumn Sonata just for the sake of it.

Comparing with the Critics banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. TV show title cards created by WTTW National Productions, WTTW, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Lifetime Television, Tribune Entertainment, Buena Vista Television, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television

Prior to reviewing Autumn Sonata, the only movie I agreed with Gene and Roger on was 1984’s Amadeus. I could also see why the film was, at least, nominated for an Oscar. Now I can confidently say that Autumn Sonata is the second film I agree with Roger and Gene on! While I typically don’t gravitate toward “slice of life” stories, the 1978 movie works because of the strength of the screenwriting and acting performances. Similar to The Royal Tenenbaums, the brutal honesty woven into the script brought a sense of realism when to came to addressing strained familial relationships. The story itself was emotionally deep and thought provoking because of the effort put into it by Autumn Sonata’s creative team. I understand why the movie is titled Autumn Sonata, as music plays an integral role in Charlotte’s life. However, I wish the “autumn” in Autumn Sonata was utilized more in the story, especially considering how beautiful the Norwegian landscape was in the film. The movie also doesn’t have a high rewatchability rate due the some of the heavier subject matter incorporated into the story. But I can honestly say that Autumn Sonata is one of the best films I’ve seen in 2026, so far!

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Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: DreamWorks’ Animated Film, ‘The Wild Robot’, Has Been Granted a Sequel

On March 6, 2026 By 18cinemalane2 Comments

I first brought up The Wild Robot last March in my list of the Top Ten Best Stand-Alone Films. Then, in another list, I brought up the 2024 movie again. This time it was The Best and Worst Movies I Saw in 2025. As I was talking about the second best film I saw last year, I said while it was too early to say how The Wild Robot will stand in the test of time, I think it has potential. With the announcement of a sequel, this second chapter could help strengthen The Wild Robot’s legacy. Jeff Dodge, from ScreenRant, reported the creative talent involved in the upcoming project. The sequel, which is currently titled The Wild Robot Escapes, will be directed by Troy Quane. Directing alongside Troy is Heidi Jo Gilbert, who was promoted from The Wild Robot’s story team. Jeff Hermann will return as one of the sequel’s producers and Chris Sanders will also return to write the film’s screenplay. At the time of this Word on the Street article’s publication, the cast list and release date for The Wild Robot Escapes are still unknown.

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As I said in this Word on the Street article, The Wild Robot was the second best film I saw last year. Not only was the animation itself impressive, I was pleasantly surprised by the movie’s emotional depth as well as an abundance of good messages and themes. With all that said, the news about The Wild Robot Escapes is, for me, an intriguing piece of movie news! What’s also intriguing is how The Wild Robot and The Wild Robot Escapes are adaptations of a pre-existing book trilogy. I honestly didn’t know about the book trilogy until I learned about The Wild Robot’s upcoming sequel. It looks like I may have some reading to do while waiting for the release of The Wild Robot Escapes!

What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Have you seen The Wild Robot? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Reference: https://screenrant.com/the-wild-robot-2-confirmed-story-director-details/

Take 3: Aladdin and the Forty Thieves (1984) Review

On February 23, 2026February 23, 2026 By 18cinemalane5 Comments

I will admit I wasn’t familiar with Kenneth Williams as an actor before joining the Carry On Kenny! 100 Years of Kenneth Williams Blogathon. But like other blogathons I’ve participated in, I saw the event as an opportunity to expand my cinematic horizons. As I looked through Kenneth’s filmography, I discovered he starred in the 1984 made-for-tv movie, Aladdin and the Forty Thieves. Since I cover my fair share of television films, including those from the 1980s, I chose this production as my blogathon entry! When I recently wrote about Brigadoon, I said the fantasy genre was underrepresented on 18 Cinema Lane. I also said Brigadoon itself was a fine, pleasant presentation. With Aladdin and the Forty Thieves being the second movie from the fantasy genre to be reviewed this year, it almost seems like I’m making up for lost time. And now that I’ve seen the 1984 television film, I can say whether its stronger or weaker than Brigadoon.

Since *Aladdin and the Forty Thieves* doesn’t have an offical movie poster, I have to use this title card for my review. Title card created by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Things I liked about the film:

Kenneth Williams’ performance: Since Kenneth Williams is the reason why I chose to review Aladdin and the Forty Thieves, I’ll talk about his portrayal of Mustapha Drink. In the 1984 movie, Mustapha is a storyteller who shares a tale about two Mandarins named Wing and Wong. Throughout this tale, Kenneth utilizes facial expressions and vocal inflictions to bring the story to life. He even gives the characters distinct voices to add memorability to the tale. Even though Mustapha appeared in only one scene, Kenneth did a good job, acting wise, with the material he was given. I, honestly, wish Kenneth had been the narrator of Aladdin’s story, presenting the illusion he was reading a storybook to the audience.

The costume design: While we’re on the subject of Kenneth’s portrayal of Mustapha Drink, I want to talk about the movie’s costume design. As he told the tale of Wing and Wong, Mustapha wore a long blue jacket with gold trim and detailing. Whether he walked or sat, the jacket sparkled in the light. Mustapha also wore a long red gown boasting an intricate gold design. The elegance of his outfit allowed Mustapha to stand out, even though he appeared in only one scene. This is just one example of the attention to detail and effort that went into the costume design of Aladdin and the Forty Thieves!

Certain ways Aladdin’s story was adapted: I must confess the adaptation of Aladdin’s story I’m most familiar with is the Disney animated picture from 1992. With that said, it was interesting to see how Aladdin and the Forty Thieves adapted Aladdin’s story compared to Disney’s production. The 1984 film features two genies, Genie of the Lamp and Genie of the Ring. Though I think it was a missed opportunity not to have the genies interact with one another, it was still an interesting creative decision to have more than one genie solve the characters’ problems. Toward the end of Aladdin and the Forty Thieves, Aladdin and The Princess Balroubador receive a magic carpet as a wedding gift. From what I remember of the 1992 movie, the magic carpet was more of a sidekick for Aladdin. The iconic “A Whole New World” scene just wouldn’t be the same without the magic carpet. Though Aladdin and the Forty Thieves and the Disney film each approached the same story, they brought it to life in their own unique way!

The Carry On Kenny! 100 Years of Kenneth Williams Blogathon banner created by Virginie from The Wonderful World of Cinema

What I didn’t like about the film:

The musical numbers: Before I selected Aladdin and the Forty Thieves for the Carry On Kenny! 100 Years of Kenneth Williams Blogathon, I had no idea it was a musical. So, you can imagine my surprise when Genie of the Ring started randomly singing and dancing. Though the musical numbers themselves weren’t bad, some of them seemed like they were added to the movie just for the sake of including a musical number. When Aladdin’s Chinese village was first introduced in Aladdin and the Forty Thieves, some of the residents sang “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”. As I was watching this musical number unfold, I kept wondering what this song had to do with Aladdin and his story, especially considering the song itself was released in 1946. Creative decisions like this musical number left me confused of the creative team’s intent.

Unclear time period: Remember when I questioned the inclusion of “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” in Aladdin and the Forty Thieves, pointing out how the song was released in 1946? I brought this up to address one of the flaws of the 1984 television film; an unclear time-period. Based on the set and costume design, it appears the story takes place in Ancient China. Yet, in one scene, a vending machine not only served drinks, but also “hot & cold food”. Because of creative choices like the two I described, it makes Aladdin and the Forty Thieves look like it’s having an identity crisis.

The special effects: I know a television movie is, more often than not, going to receive a smaller budget. I’m also aware how cinematic technology from the 1980s is going to be different from today’s cinematic technology. But with all that said, I couldn’t look past the poor special effects throughout Aladdin and the Forty Thieves. One painfully obvious example is when, toward the beginning of the film, Abanazar transforms into a bird. This very fake-looking bird is superimposed over still photographs of landscapes, trying to present the illusion of traveling from one place to another. Making a movie isn’t easy and does require working within your means. However, I think using special effects hurt Aladdin and the Forty Thieves instead of helped it.

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My overall impression:

Have you ever watched a movie and wondered “what the heck did I just watch”? That’s what I was thinking when I saw Aladdin and the Forty Thieves. Was the 1984 movie supposed to be taken seriously or was it supposed to be silly, goofy fun? Why was it difficult to determine the story’s time period? It’s a shame this wasn’t a stronger picture because there are aspects of it I liked. Kenneth Williams did a good job, acting wise, in his role as Mustapha Drink. In fact, I think Kenneth should have been the one narrating Aladdin’s story. It looked like there was a good amount of effort and detail put toward the set and costume design. I even liked some of the ways Aladdin’s story was adapted in the 1984 film. But I have no idea what I was supposed to get out of Aladdin and the Forty Thieves. Therefore, I hesitate recommending it.

Overall score: 5.3 out of 10

Have you seen Aladdin and the Forty Thieves? Which adaptation of Aladdin’s story is your favorite? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Blue Hawaii Review

On February 22, 2026 By 18cinemalane2 Comments

I have a confession to make: up until this month’s edition of Genre Grandeur, I had never seen an Elvis Presley movie before. Hence the reason why I put “Check out one of Elvis Presley’s movies” on my Year-Long Bingo Card, to expand my cinematic horizons. The opportunity to finally see one of his films presented itself with February’s Genre Grandeur theme; “Movies Featuring Surfing”. According to the official IMDB page for the 1961 title, Blue Hawaii, there are some pictures of Elvis surfing or on a surfboard. Because of that, I selected Blue Hawaii for Genre Grandeur! Based on what I know about his career, there are three locations associated with Elvis Presley; Graceland, Las Vegas, and Hawaii. Now that I’ve seen Blue Hawaii, it makes me wonder if Elvis’ association with Hawaii was a result of this film or other factors? I admit this question is a discussion for another time. But for now, let’s review Blue Hawaii!

*Blue Hawaii* poster created by Hal Wallis Productions and Paramount Pictures

Things I liked about the film:

The on-screen chemistry: Elvis Presley stars in Blue Hawaii as Chad Gates. When he returns home from the Army, his girlfriend, Maile Duval (portrayed by Joan Blackman), excitedly waits for him at the airport. From the film’s very first musical number, “Almost Always True”, Elvis and Joan’s on-screen chemistry lit up the screen! Their acting performances helped sell the believability of Chad and Maile’s relationship, his consistently laid-back personality pairing nicely with her genuine sweetness. The delivery of the script’s clever banter felt like a friendly game of beach volleyball, with Maile and Chad’s conversations sounding pleasant to listen to. I honestly wish Joan and Elvis shared more screentime together because Chad and Maile’s relationship added a nice romantic touch to Blue Hawaii!

The musical numbers: Elvis’ forte is music, which is why Blue Hawaii features over ten musical numbers. When I think about these musical numbers, I take note how they are, more often than not, joyful in tone. This reminded me of when Frederick told his daughter, Annette, in Million Dollar Mermaid how music should be a source of joy. But I also took note of how Blue Hawaii’s musical numbers were utilized in the story’s context. In one scene, Chad attends the birthday party of Maile’s grandmother. He gives Maile’s grandmother an Austrian music box as a present, with the tune being “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. This song is one of the most iconic from Elvis’ discography. However, its inclusion in the movie didn’t feel like it was there just because it was a popular Elvis Presley tune. Instead, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” feels like it had an intended, meaningful purpose within the story. Creative decisions like this one helped make Blue Hawaii’s musical numbers one of the strengths of the movie!

The dialogue: Since watching Blue Hawaii was my first time watching any of Elvis Presley’s films, I really didn’t know what to expect. But what I didn’t expect was the dialogue being cleverly written! One of my favorite examples of cleverly written dialogue is when one of Chad’s friends is preparing lunch. During these preparations, he realizes he doesn’t have any ketchup. Chad’s friend then asks Maile if she has any ketchup, with her response being how she only has lipstick, which happens to share a similar shade to the condiment. How this conversation was written and delivered made this one of the funniest moments in Blue Hawaii! Like I mentioned earlier in this review, Chad gives Maile’s grandmother an Austrian music box as a birthday present. As he’s giving Maile’s grandmother the music box, Chad says, “it plays European love songs, but they’re the same in any language”. Through this one quote alone, Chad is acknowledging how love, especially expressing love through music, is a universal and relatable theme. It ended up being a profound statement without trying too hard to be.

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What I didn’t like about the film:

A drawn-out story: Blue Hawaii’s story revolves around Chad wanting to create his own career path instead of accepting a position at his family’s fruit company. While this was an interesting conflict, it was too drawn-out. With Blue Hawaii’s run-time set at one hour and forty-two minutes, it feels like the story was drawn-out to satisfy the run-time. For the first thirty minutes of the film, Chad simply talks about wanting to solve his problem instead of actually solving his problem. Even though he and Maile come up with a resolution to the conflict, it took too long, in my opinion, for that resolution to be found. Maybe if Blue Hawaii’s run-time had been trimmed, Chad could have created his career path sooner.

Ellie’s subplot: In Blue Hawaii, Chad becomes a tour guide and leads a group consisting of a female teacher named Abigail Prentice, and her four female teenage students. One of these students is a 17-year-old named Ellie Corbett. I wasn’t a fan of the subplot Ellie received for two reasons. She was a static character for the majority of the movie. Plus, Ellie’s attraction for older men (including Chad) made me uncomfortable, as it was too inappropriate for a character her age. When it comes to Ellie’s part of the story, she was dealing with some serious issues of self-esteem and even self-worth. So, her aforementioned attraction was completely unnecessary because she already had a conflict she could have worked through during the movie. Had the script prioritized Ellie growing as a character by building a healthy sense of self, it would have been a much stronger (and age-appropriate) subplot.

Lack of surfing: As I said in my review’s introduction, the pictures of Elvis surfing or on a surfboard from Blue Hawaii’s official IMDB page are one of the reasons why I reviewed the 1961 movie for February’s Genre Grandeur. A quote on Blue Hawaii’s poster even says, “Elvis Presley rides the crest of the wave in Blue Hawaii”. But throughout the hour and forty-two-minute film, there wasn’t any surfing to be seen. Sure, Chad is on a surfboard in one scene and he teaches Abigail and her students how to surf. But none of the characters actually go surfing. Not only was this creative decision disappointing, it contributed to false advertising.

My overall impression:

In the past, I’ve talked about films that emphasized style over substance. While these films have looked beautiful or offered aesthetically pleasing worlds through cinema, the script itself left me desiring more. This is exactly how I felt about Blue Hawaii. But in the case of the 1961 picture, it wasn’t just style over substance; it was also music over substance. I did enjoy the musical numbers, as they were mostly joyful and even had a purpose within the story. However, the story ended up becoming overshadowed by the music. Even though the conflict of Chad trying to create his own career path was interesting, it was too drawn-out, likely due to the film’s run-time. I also wasn’t a fan of Ellie’s subplot because it was too inappropriate for her age and she spent most of the movie being a static character. Despite these flaws in the script, Blue Hawaii does have its strengths. Besides the musical numbers, I liked the on-screen chemistry between Elvis Presley and Joan Blackman. To me, they effectively sold their characters’ relationship as being believably loving. I also found the dialogue cleverly written, which was such a pleasant surprise. But overall, I found Blue Hawaii to be just ok.

Overall score: 6.1 out of 10

Have you seen Blue Hawaii? Which other films from Elvis Presley’s filmography would you like me to review next? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hawaii!

Sally Silverscreen

Top Ten Actors and Actresses Who Should Have Starred in a Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie

On February 1, 2026 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

I haven’t talked about anything Hallmark Hall of Fame related since last August, when I reviewed the 1990 presentation, Face to Face. To make up for lost time, I decided to write a list article about a topic associated with this collection of Hallmark’s movies. With Hallmark Hall of Fame lasting from 1951 to 2019, numerous actors and actresses have graced television screens in one or several projects from this branch of Hallmark programming. But there are some actors and actresses who never received that opportunity. So, in this list, I will be selecting five actors and five actresses who, in my opinion, should have starred in a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. While the chosen actresses and actors are categorized in no particular order, they were selected based on two criteria: 1) the trajectory of their career in correlation with the existence of Hallmark Hall of Fame and 2) if their acting talents would have been well utilized within the types of stories Hallmark Hall of Fame told.

Hallmark Hall of Fame logo created by Hallmark Entertainment and Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

1. Stephen Lang

I will admit I’ve seen only three projects from Stephen Lang’s filmography; Don’t Breathe, Death of a Salesman, and 2009’s Avatar. But from what I remember, Stephen put a great amount of effort and care into his roles. Even based on some of his interviews I have seen and heard, it seems like Stephen takes the roles given to him very seriously. With all this said, I truly believe he would have brought that same amount of care and effort into a Hallmark Hall of Fame title. Plus, according to IMDB, Death of a Salesman is labeled a “tv movie”. Therefore, Stephen has some experience working in the realm of made-for-tv cinema. Had the opportunity to star in a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie presented itself, I wonder what type of role Stephen would have received, let alone what type of movie he would have been cast in?

2. Jane Seymour

Throughout her career, Jane Seymour has starred in several Hallmark films; Lake Effects, Dear Prudence, Perfectly Prudence, and A Royal Christmas. You’d think with Jane’s connection to Hallmark, as well as her star power, she would have starred in, at least, one Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. But surprisingly, this opportunity never came to be. Besides her appearance in Hallmark’s movies, Jane has starred in projects that were related to the historical fiction genre, such as Somewhere in Time and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. In fact, I’m surprised Hallmark Hall of Fame and the creative team behind Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman didn’t work together to create a television event related to the show. This idea actually would have made sense, especially since Hallmark Hall of Fame was broadcast on the same network as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman during the show’s lifespan.

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s *A Tale of Two Cities* poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Marble Arch Productions, Norman Rosemont Productions, and Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

3. Michael Wincott

I recently talked about Michael Wincott in my review of an episode from Miami Vice. Based on his performances I’ve seen, Michael has consistently displayed an understanding, as well as control, over his character’s emotions. His adaptability has also been very chameleon-like. If given the opportunity to star in a Hallmark Hall of Fame film, I believe Michael could have helped create a character with a captivating presence. Even though the movies in the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection were primarily dramatic in tone, various genres were covered within this series. Therefore, I think Michael’s acting talents could have been best utilized in a film from either the historical fiction, western, or mystery genre.

4. Bai Ling

I’ve seen several projects from Bai Ling’s filmography, including the 2001 Hallmark movie, The Lost Empire/The Monkey King. The one consistent strength I have noticed within these projects is Bai’s strong sense of emotionality. Whether in a made-for-tv movie or a theatrically released title, Bai’s understanding and utilization of her character’s emotions have added depth to her performances. I could have seen this acting strength incorporated into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, especially since, like I mentioned earlier, movies in the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection were primarily dramatic in tone. Since I have seen Bai star in at least one film from the mystery and fantasy genre, it would have been interesting to see what a fantasy or mystery Hallmark Hall of Fame movie starring Bai would have looked like. Or perhaps the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection could have given her a chance to tackle a genre I haven’t seen her appear in before.

5. Vincent Perez

If you have followed 18 Cinema Lane long enough, you would know one of the best movies ever reviewed on the blog was Swept from the Sea. Vincent Perez’s portrayal of Yanko is one of the reasons why. There were times in Swept from the Sea where, by utilizing emotion, he was able to say so much without saying anything at all. Vincent’s acting versatility not only made his performance captivating, it was also both heart-warming and heart-breaking. I’ve liked his performance from his other movies I have seen, from his emotional intensity in The Crow: City of Angels to his sincerity in Cyrano de Bergerac. Even in 2004’s Frankenstein (a movie I didn’t like), Vincent’s performance is one of the few good aspects of that film. I guess the 1998 HBO movie, Shot Through the Heart, is the closest thing to seeing Vincent in a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation I’ll ever get.

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s *Caroline?* poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame productions, CBS, and Republic Pictures Home Video

6. Jasmine Guy

Whenever I think of Jasmine Guy, I think of her portrayal of Kathleen on Touched by An Angel. I also think about how strong Jasmine’s performance was on that show. Kathleen became a character I looked forward to seeing appear on screen. This was the result of the expressiveness, sassiness, and charisma Jasmine brought to her role. She even had good on-screen chemistry will Bill Nunn in the Touched by An Angel episode, “Lost and Found”, as it sold the concept of Kathleen and Bill’s character, Frank, being compatible, under different circumstances. Since Touched by An Angel was more dramatic in tone, like the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection, Jasmine’s portrayal of Kathleen gave me an idea how Jasmine’s acting talents could have been utilized within a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation.

7. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Fans of the television show, Lost, will recognize Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as the actor who portrayed Mr. Eko. Adewale’s performance on that show is one of the reasons why I liked Mr. Eko as a character. His captivating presence commanded attention from the audience, which sometimes made Mr. Eko intimidating. Yet, the kind-hearted and thoughtful persona Adewale gave to Mr. Eko also allowed his character to be approachable, making the audience want to get to know Mr. Eko and see where the story took him next. Adewale’s acting versatility would have been such a valuable asset in a Hallmark Hall of Fame project. What also worked in Adewale’s favor is his chemistry with the other cast members on Lost. This acting element would have been beneficial to any Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, especially since some films from Hallmark Hall of Fame featured ensemble casts.

*Redwood Curtain* poster created by Chris/Rose Productions, Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, American Broadcasting Company (ABC), and Republic Pictures (II)

8. Hayley Mills

Hayley Mills was at the height of her popularity in the 1960s. Plus, based on her performances I have seen, Hayley has been able to utilize her expressions and emotions to make her characters seem as believable as possible. With these facts in mind, I’m surprised Hallmark Hall of Fame didn’t try to capitalize on Hayley’s popularity and talent by offering her a role in one of their films. When it comes to Hallmark Hall of Fame’s movies from the 1960s, I haven’t seen any of them. But based on my research, it appears these projects were either adaptations of plays, literature, or historical events. Because Hayley has starred in dramatic films like The Chalk Garden, I believe Hayley’s acting talents could have been incorporated well into one of these genres.

9. Dulé Hill

Dulé Hill is best known for his role as Burton “Gus” Guster from the television show, Psych. However, I’m more familiar with his performance on Suits as Alex Williams. Though it’s been a while since I’ve seen Suits, I remember Alex was introduced later in the show’s lifespan. Despite this, Dulé’s adaptability allowed his character to share chemistry with the other characters, making me as a viewer feel like Alex was always meant to be on the show. Dulé’s television experience, as well as his experience alongside an ensemble cast, worked in his favor. These acting qualities and Dulé’s name recognition from Psych could have given a Hallmark Hall of Fame film a built-in audience. Plus, I have heard Dulé is a tap dancer, so maybe Hallmark Hall of Fame could have incorporated his dancing talents into a musical.

10. Joanne Whalley

Back in 1994, Joanne Whalley starred in the movie/mini-series, Scarlett. When I reviewed it back in 2021, I said the mini-series/movie was a competently made project where the creative team behind it clearly knew what they were doing. This statement holds true for Joanne’s performance, as she did a fine job with the acting material provided. Since Hallmark was one of Scarlett’s distributors and since the movie/mini-series premiered on the same network Hallmark Hall of Fame’s movies aired on, it would have made sense if Joanne had been chosen to star in a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. I’ve also seen Joanne star in at least one historical fiction and one fantasy film, which are two genres that have been explored within the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. But, for whatever reason, the opportunity to work on a Hallmark Hall of Fame project never came to fruition for Joanne.

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s *Christmas Everlasting* poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Christmas+Everlasting

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Royal Tenenbaums Review

On January 26, 2026January 26, 2026 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

I’ve mentioned in the past how my favorite character from Freaks and Geeks is Harris Trinsky. To show my gratitude to one of the people responsible for bringing this character to life, Stephen Lea Sheppard (the actor who portrayed Harris), I decided to review one of the projects from Stephen’s filmography on his birthday. When I looked at his official page on IMDB, I discovered Stephen has only one movie on his filmography. That film is 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums. While I have heard of this movie, I had never seen it before. Stephen’s birthday was the perfect opportunity to, once again, expand my cinematic horizons! Two years ago, I published a list of the Top 10 “Icks” from Hallmark Hall of Fame Movies. In that list, I discuss how Saint Maybe did a better job than Back When We Were Grownups at showcasing a dysfunctional family. When I learned The Royal Tenenbaums revolved around a dysfunctional family, I wondered if the film would remind me more of Back When We Were Grownups or Saint Maybe. Now that I’ve seen the 2001 movie, I can find the answer to that question in this review!

*The Royal Tenebaums* poster created by Touchstone Pictures, American Empirical Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, and Vantage Media, and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Things I liked about the film:

Dudley’s bluntness as comic relief: In The Royal Tenenbaums, Stephen portrays Dudley Heisenbergen. Throughout the story, Dudley resides with Bill Murray’s character, Raleigh St. Clair, because he is researching Dudley’s medical condition. Though he receives a very limited amount of screen-time, as well as lines within the script, Dudley left a memorable impression on me. That’s because his bluntness was effectively utilized as comic relief. One example is when Raleigh discusses Dudley’s medical condition through a tape recorder. Raleigh addresses how Dudley has Color Blindness, yet marvels at Dudley’s exceptional hearing. In the very next scene, while Dudley is in another room, Dudley asks Raleigh if he is Color Blind, with Raleigh confirming this fact. Why I found this exchange hilarious is how Dudley’s bluntness felt reminiscent of Stephen’s portrayal of Harris on Freaks and Geeks, as Harris’ brutal honesty sometimes led to humorous moments. I wish Dudley’s bluntness was incorporated more in The Royal Tenenbaums.

Use of mixed media: Before watching The Royal Tenenbaums, I knew the movie had an offbeat and quirky presentation. But because I hadn’t seen the movie before, I didn’t give much thought to why it was presented this way. Now that I’ve seen The Royal Tenenbaums, I know what gave the 2001 film its unique identity was the creative team’s use of mixed media. The entire story is told as if the audience is reading a book, complete with parts of the film being separated by “chapters”. If a character wrote a book, a cover of their book was presented on screen to emphasize that character’s progress and/or success. When Richie and his father, Royal, talk about a disastrous tennis match, the tennis match is shown in the movie as a television broadcast, which provided additional context to what Royal and Richie were saying. Details like the ones I described show how The Royal Tenenbaums’ creative team creatively and cleverly told their story!

Brutal honesty about family dysfunction: I brought up in the introduction of this review how Saint Maybe did a better job than Back When We Were Grownups at showcasing a dysfunctional family. This is because there was a very clear reason for the family in Saint Maybe to be dysfunctional, as a death in the family caused a ripple effect which led to the family’s dysfunctionality. The Tenenbaum family’s dysfunctional nature felt reminiscent of the 1998 Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. But in the case of The Royal Tenenbaums, the Tenenbaum’s dysfunction was caused by a series of little things that culminated over time. A great example is when Margot debuted a play she created on her 11^th birthday. When Margot asks her dad, Royal, what he thought of her play, Royal honestly tells his daughter the play didn’t feel believable because it seemed like a child wrote it. Prior to that moment, Margot had been praised as a playwright protégé, so her father’s criticism affected her in the long run. Scenes like the one I described showcase the brutal honesty of what can lead families to become dysfunctional. The acting performances and screenwriting made this dysfunctionality feel realistic.

Birthday party set-up image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food photo created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Margot and Richie’s romantic attraction for each other: As the story of The Royal Tenenbaums carries on, the script reveals Margot and Richie have developed romantic feelings for each other. These feelings come years after Richie and Margot grew up together as brother and sister. However, Margot was adopted into the Tenenbaum family, so she and Richie are only related by familial connection. But despite this fact, Margot and Richie’s romantic attraction creates an awkwardness that can’t be overlooked. Plus, this attraction has little bearing over the plot. It would have made more sense if Richie and Margot’s subplot had instead revolved around helping their friend, Eli, overcome his addiction, especially since Eli grew up infatuated with the Tenenbaum family.

Endings wrapping up too neatly: Earlier in this review, I talked about the brutal honesty about family dysfunction in The Royal Tenenbaums. The script’s brutal honesty brought a sense of realism to the family dysfunction, even addressing issues family dysfunction can cause, like addiction and self-harm. But by the end of the movie, all of the stories are wrapped up in neat little packages, giving the characters a semblance of a “happily ever after”. It seems like The Royal Tenenbaums’ creative team wanted to have their cake and eat it too. What I mean by this is they didn’t want to sugarcoat family dysfunction, yet, at the same time, they wanted to make sure all the characters were ok. One solution to this flaw is showing the characters gradually working through their dysfunction as the story goes on. This way, the “happily ever afters” would have felt more earned and complimentary to the story’s realism.

Dudley’s unclear connection: When I discussed Dudley’s bluntness as comic relief in The Royal Tenenbaums, I brought up how Dudley resides with Bill Murray’s character, Raleigh St. Clair, because he is researching Dudley’s medical condition. But other than this fact, the script never provides a clear explanation how Dudley connects to the other characters. Did Raleigh and Margot adopt Dudley? Does Dudley’s parents allow him to spend time with Raleigh whenever he feels like it? Are Raleigh or Margot Dudley’s legal guardian? This lack of explanation left me confused, especially since the connections between the other characters in The Royal Tenenbaums were made clearer.

Since I’m reviewing *The Royal Tenenbaums* in honor of Stephen Lea Sheppard’s birthday, I decided to include this photo of Shephen’s character, Dudley, and Bill’s character, Raleigh. Photo created by Touchstone Pictures, American Empirical Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, Vantage Media, and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

My overall impression:

The 1998 Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Saint Maybe, proves stories about family dysfunction can work. What helped Saint Maybe was not only providing a clear reason for the family’s dysfunction, but also showing the family using their dysfunction as motivation to make impactful changes in their lives. Like the 1998 film, The Royal Tenenbaums gives the audience reasons to explain why the titular family is dysfunctional. However, the impactful changes in the Tenenbaum family’s lives don’t happen until toward the end of the film. In my opinion, these changes should have been more gradual throughout the story. What I can appreciate about The Royal Tenenbaums is the brutally honest approach to the subject of family dysfunctionality. A sense of realism was brought to the story because of this creative decision. But as I stated in the introduction of this review, Stephen Lea Sheppard is the reason I sought out The Royal Tenenbaums. His character’s bluntness left a memorable impression on me and even reminded me a bit of Harris Trinsky. So, if you’re reading this, Stephen, I just want to say Happy Birthday and thank you for making Harris Trinsky a sparkling, shooting star in our landscape known as entertainment.

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen The Royal Tenenbaums? What stories about family dysfunction do you think work in film? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

1. Out of the movies from Estelle Getty’s filmography, why did you select Mask?

2. In Mask, Estelle portrays Evelyn Steinberg. How is Evelyn Steinberg similar or different from Sophia?

3. Mask is based on the real-life story of Roy L. “Rocky” Dennis. Can you think of a time on The Golden Girls when real-life stories, themes, or ideas were woven into the script?

4. Was there anything about Mask you liked or didn’t like?

6. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

7. Throughout The Golden Girls, cheesecake became an iconic staple of the show. What would you say is the iconic staple of Mask?

8. The Golden Girls takes place in Miami, Florida. This location has been referenced throughout the show, from mentions within the dialogue to an entire song about the city. Does the setting in Mask impact the film’s story like Miami impacted The Golden Girls? If so, how?

9. Mask was released on March 22nd, 1985 (six months before The Golden Girls premiered). Was there any element from the movie you think could have impacted the show?

10. After watching Mask, is there anything you can take away from your movie-viewing experience?

1. Out of the movies from Betty White’s filmography, why did you select Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine?

2. In Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, Betty portrays Caroline Thomas. How is Caroline Thomas similar or different from Rose?

3. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine is based on a book by James Michael Pratt. What book adaptation would you have liked to see Betty star in?

4. Was there anything about Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine you liked or didn’t like?

5. The Golden Girls didn’t receive any television films (like other shows such as Little House on the Prairie, Murder, She Wrote, etc.) In your opinion, why do you think this creative decision was made?

6. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

7. Throughout The Golden Girls, cheesecake became an iconic staple of the show. What would you say is the iconic staple of Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine?

8. The Hallmark Hall of Fame collection overlapped with The Golden Girls (in terms of existence). Why do you think Hallmark Hall of Fame didn’t try to capitalize on the popularity of the “golden girls”?

9. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine was released in 2011 (19 years after The Golden Girls ended). Is there any element from the movie you wish was incorporated on the show?

10. After watching Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, is there anything you can take away from your movie-viewing experience?

1. Stephen Lang

2. Jane Seymour

3. Michael Wincott

4. Bai Ling

5. Vincent Perez

6. Jasmine Guy

7. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

8. Hayley Mills

9. Dulé Hill

10. Joanne Whalley

9. Mask was released on March 22^nd, 1985 (six months before The Golden Girls premiered). Was there any element from the movie you think could have impacted the show?