Tag: travel

Take 3: Murder on the Orient Express (1974) Review

On By 18cinemalane4 Comments

For The 8th Wonderful Ingrid Bergman Blogathon, I had two movie options for this review; Murder on the Orient Express and Cactus Flower. With both films recommended by this blogathon’s creator (Virginie from The Wonderful World of Cinema), I selected the 1974 mystery picture. Though this is the first time I’ve seen this version of Murder on the Orient Express, this is not the first time I’ve seen any adaptation of this story. Years ago, I saw the 2017 version of Murder on the Orient Express. Though I thought the film was fine, I was not a fan of the movie’s ending. Since then, I have searched for an Agatha Christie adaptation I like. But, as of 2026, the only ones I’ve seen have been either ok or decent. Will this version of Murder on the Orient Express change this pattern? Keep reading my review in order to solve this mystery!

Murder on the Orient Express poster created by EMI Film Distributors, G. W. Films Limited, StudioCanal International, Anglo-EMI Film Distributors, and Paramount Pictures

Things I liked about the film:

The distinctness of the characters: On the poster for Murder on the Orient Express, a quote states the movie is “the who’s who in the whodunit!”. This quote is placed in the center of the poster, boasting the ensemble cast working together to carry the story. But the ensemble cast in Murder on the Orient Express portrays a collection of characters with distinct characteristics, personalities, and backstories. While the screenwriting contributes to this strength, the acting performances also deserve praise. The anxious look in Ingrid Bergman’s eyes and the way her face always appears fearful allows her character, Greta Ohlsson, to seem less confident than Lauren Bacall’s character, Mrs. Harriet Belinda Hubbard. The outspoken persona of Harriet helps the audience tell her and Greta apart. Some of the performances not only allowed characters to be memorable, it also allowed actors to work with different material than in other projects they starred in. Anthony Perkins is known to many film fans as Norman Bates in Psycho. The most memorable aspect of that character is the sinister stare he gives the camera (and audience), emphasizing the disturbing persona bubbling under the surface. But in Murder on the Orient Express, he portrays a secretary named Hector McQueen. He sometimes appears unsure of himself, but not to the same degree as Greta. Hector’s personality appears more easy-going, always finding a way to help his boss, Ratchett. His genuine smile and business-like way he carries himself lets the other characters (and the audience) know how seriously he takes his job. Anthony’s performance in Murder on the Orient Express was quite different from his performance in Psycho, showing off how capable he is of effectively portraying a different type of character.

Interior design of the boat: On his way to the titular Orient Express, Hercule Poirot (the protagonist of Murder on the Orient Express) boards a luxurious boat. Despite this boat appearing in only a handful of scenes, the interior design left a strong impression on me because of how gorgeous it was! Railings surrounding the dining space were constructed in what looks like golden metal, the zigzag design giving off the impression of shiny lightning bolts. Gold is also used in other pieces of décor, from giant palm tree lamps to a golden based dish that sat on a table. I recall seeing large red and green gemstones brightly glistening on wall sconces, providing a burst of color to the dining space. Green foliage is strategically placed throughout the set, achieving the illusion of a private oasis on the water. Because the interior design was aesthetically pleasing to the eye, I wish this boat was featured on screen longer in Murder on the Orient Express!

How blue light was used: Lighting is an important component of any film, as film is a visual medium. Not only can it help the audience see what’s happening on screen, it can also be utilized in creative ways, such as to emphasize a specific part of the story. Throughout Murder on the Orient Express, blue light was incorporated into the production. Toward the beginning of the movie, a blue glow covered landscapes, indicating the early morning hours the story is taking place in. Then, when a murder is discovered on the Orient Express, a blue light shines in the room the body was found in. This moment is what sparks Hercule’s investigation, a significant turning point in the script. The interesting ways blue light was woven into Murder on the Orient Express were such memorable creative choices!

The 8th Wonderful Ingrid Bergman Blogathon banner created by Virginie from The Wonderful World of Cinema

What I didn’t like about the film:

Keeping track of who’s who: Because Murder on the Orient Express contains an ensemble cast, they are a larger group of characters for the audience to keep track of. Distinct characteristics, personalities, and backstories certainly help viewers tell these characters apart. But in the case of the 1974 picture, the characters don’t consistently interact with one another. That’s because Hercule is interrogating each character about the story’s mystery. When a character was referenced in another character’s recollection, it took a little while for me to remember which character was being brought up. Some of my focus on the story was taken away due to more time being spent on figuring out who was who.

A dialogue heavy story: In any movie, dialogue plays a key role in the story. When it comes to the mystery genre, dialogue may contain clues, details about potential suspects, and important information relevant to the case. But if a movie, let alone one from the mystery genre, is heavy on the dialogue, it forces the audience to actively pay attention to what is happening on screen. If they don’t, they’ll miss important context, which will lead to frustration and confusion. Murder on the Orient Express is a dialogue heavy story, with the majority of the mystery contained within the dialogue. While there are physical clues woven into the movie, the script’s emphasis rests in the conversations among the characters. The priority placed on the dialogue actually took away some of the story’s sense of urgency. Instead of watching a detective race against the clock to stop a murderer, Murder on the Orient Express shows Hercule taking his time discussing the case with each passenger. This weaker sense of urgency kind of made Murder on the Orient Express feel longer than its two hour and eight-minute run-time.

The ending: For this part of my review, I will spoil Murder on the Orient Express. If you haven’t seen this movie and are planning on watching it, skip ahead to the part of my review titled, “My overall impression”.

At the beginning of Murder on the Orient Express, a collection of newspaper articles and spliced together scenes reveal the kidnapping and murder of a little girl named Daisy Armstrong. Five years later, Hercule discovers a passenger named Ratchett (his real name is Lanfranco Cassetti) was responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Daisy. Hercule learns over the course of the story that Ratchett’s/Lanfranco’s actions created a domino effect of tragedy for those directly connected to the Armstrong family, which happens to be all of the passengers on the Orient Express. Fueled by revenge, each passenger plays a role in murdering Ratchett/Lanfranco. After figuring out the truth, Hercule decides to tell the police a different explanation for how Ratchett/Lanfranco died, claiming this explanation is “simpler”. Following Hercule’s decision, the passengers are shown hugging one another and toasting champagne, with joyous music playing over the scene. I recognize what Murder on the Orient Express was trying to say; actions have consequences. Ratchett/Lanfranco definitely should have faced the consequences for his horrible actions, with his comeuppance emphasizing that message. However, Hercule’s decision to stay quiet about what the passengers did prevents them from facing the consequences of their actions. That creative choice made the film’s message incredibly inconsistent. Plus, the addition of hugging, champagne toasting, and joyous music downplays the severity of the passengers’ actions.

Railway Train image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-train-retro-background_1112415.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Have you ever watched an adaptation and felt like you ended up seeing the same movie twice? That’s kind of how I feel about the 1974 version of Murder on the Orient Express. As I stated in this review’s introduction, I had seen the 2017 adaptation prior to checking out the film from 1974. Other than casting and stylistic choices, both presentations follow the same story patterns. They even have an ending I wasn’t a fan of. However, both movies do have their strengths. Specifically speaking about 1974’s Murder on the Orient Express, the acting talents from every cast member, as well as the screenwriting, helped the characters be memorably distinct from one another. The multi-purpose way blue light was incorporated into the film was creative. Even the interior design of a boat Hercule briefly boarded left a beautifully strong impression. But if you’ve seen Murder on the Orient Express from 1974, you’ve already seen the version from 2017, and vice versa.

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen 1974’s Murder on the Orient Express? What’s your favorite movie from Ingrid Bergman’s filmography? Please let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Brigadoon Review

On By 18cinemalane4 Comments

As I said in my Comparing with the Critics review of Willow, the fantasy genre is underrepresented on 18 Cinema Lane. This is one of the reasons why I put “Review a movie from the Fantasy genre” on my Year-Long Bingo Card, so I could add more fantasy titles to my collection of movie reviews. Hamlette’s Soliloquy’s We Heart Fairy Tales Week Blogathon provided the perfect opportunity for me to accomplish this goal. It also gave me a reason to finally check out the 1954 movie, Brigadoon! Recommended by a reader named Becky, this is a title I had heard of, but had never seen. In fact, I knew very little about the film, like how the story takes place in Scotland. But now that I think about it, Scottish-related titles are also underrepresented on my blog. Only four movies having something to do with Scotland have been reviewed in the eight years 18 Cinema Lane has existed. These films have ranged in quality from fine, ok, or underwhelming. How will Brigadoon compare to these other movies? Let’s journey through this review to find out!

Brigadoon poster created by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Things I liked about the film:

A colorful picture: According to the film’s poster, the color photography in Brigadoon was provided by a company called Ansco. The creative team behind the 1954 picture certainly took advantage of color photography’s incorporation, as Brigadoon is a very colorful film! Just in the opening number, “Down on MacConnachy Square” alone, the residents of the titular town boast attire in bright shades of orange, yellow, and red. Even the props add bursts of color to the number, from a stand of orange pumpkins to baskets of red flowers. Light colors are also woven into the scene. Some of them include lilac, blue, and green. These bold hues make Brigadoon feel like the perfect movie to watch during Springtime!

Van Johnson’s performance: In Brigadoon, Van Johnson portrays Jeff Douglas, who joins his friend, Tommy Albright (portrayed by Gene Kelly) on a trip to Scotland. Because Jeff is a man who needs to see things to believe them, he possesses a down-to-earth personality. This personality is effectively showcased throughout Van’s performance to the point Van ended up stealing the show! During the musical number, “Almost Like Being in Love”, Tommy expresses his love for Fiona (portrayed by Cyd Charisse). At one point, Jeff looks at his friend with genuine surprise. This combination of slightly dropped jaw, wide eyes, and even a small lean away from Tommy presents a priceless reaction. Van’s line delivery, as well as how the dialogue was written, also contributed to his scene stealing performance. When Tommy and Jeff are discussing Tommy’s upcoming wedding, Jeff tells his friend, “There’s nothing a woman hates more than her fiancée’s best friend. He knows all the secrets she’s going to spend the rest of her life trying to find out”. Jeff stated this in a matter-of-fact way paired with an easy-going flare. Though it’s only February, Van’s performance in Brigadoon is one of the best I’ve seen this year, so far!

The set design: Though Brigadoon takes place in the woodlands of Scotland, the movie was filmed at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in California. Despite this, the set design was a consistent strength in the film! What appears to be painted backgrounds present the illusion Brigadoon is surrounded by tall, rolling hills. A mixture of foliage like trees, grass, and flowers create a peaceful tranquility that makes Brigadoon inviting. From time to time, vines can be seen growing on one of the village’s houses. There are even live animals, such as Highland Cattle and sheep, spotted by the characters. The combination of these creative choices allowed the set design in Brigadoon to give the audience an immersive experience!

The We Heart Fairy Tales Week Blogathon banner created by Hamlette from Hamlette’s Soliloquy

What I didn’t like about the film:

A prolonged mystery: One of the reasons why I was interested in checking out Brigadoon was the mystery within the story. The synopsis on IMDB not only reveals the people of Brigadoon “harbor a mysterious secret”, the village itself is “not on the map”. While the truth behind the mystery is eventually discovered, that revelation didn’t come until about the film’s halfway point. For the first half of the movie, it almost seemed like the mystery was an afterthought. I wish the discovery of the mystery was gradually written into the script, to give the audience a chance to solve the mystery for themselves.

An unnecessarily long scene: Toward the end of the movie, Tommy and Jeff return home from Scotland. While at a bar, Tommy crosses paths with his fiancé, Jane. During their conversation, Tommy keeps thinking about Fiona from Brigadoon, especially when Jane says something that reminds Tommy of his Scottish trip. The whole scene was approximately ten minutes long. While I understand the creative team of Brigadoon’s point that Tommy left his heart with Fiona, the scene itself was too drawn out. To reach its intended point sooner, I believe this scene should have been trimmed down.

Harry’s subplot: For this part of my review, I will spoil Brigadoon. If you haven’t seen the movie and are planning on watching it, skip to the part of my review titled “My overall impression”.

One of the villagers of Brigadoon is a man named Harry. Throughout the movie, he’s unhappy because the woman he loves, Jean, is marrying a man named Charlie. Harry is so upset that he not only feels he no longer has a purpose, he also wants to leave Brigadoon. If Harry were to leave the village, it would cause the rest of the villagers to disappear. At one point, all of the men from Brigadoon search for Harry in order to prevent him from leaving. But Harry ends up dying while Jeff was bird hunting. Harry’s subplot was, in my opinion, underutilized, only providing conflict toward the end of the film. I also believe Harry’s subplot could have received a better resolution, especially considering Brigadoon was released at the very end of the Breen Code era. Maybe Harry and Meg, a shepherdess who was attracted to Jeff, could have healed each other’s broken hearts.

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

My overall impression:

Now that I’ve finally seen Brigadoon, I have covered five Scottish-related films on 18 Cinema Lane. Like I said in this review’s introduction, the other four titles ranged in quality from fine, ok, or underwhelming. However, I found Brigadoon to be a fine, pleasant presentation! Though I didn’t talk much about the musical numbers in the 1954 movie, they were definitely one of the film’s strengths. Other strengths of the movie include the set design and the creative team’s use of color. But a major highlight was Van Johnson’s portrayal of Jeff Douglas, stealing the show and giving me one of the best performances I’ve seen this year, so far! Even though Brigadoon had its merits, it had its flaws too. I wish the mystery’s discovery had been gradually written into the script, so the audience could try to solve the mystery for themselves. I also believe Harry’s subplot should been better utilized, as well as received a better resolution. Brigadoon, as I’ve already said, is a pleasant presentation. In my opinion, though, there are musical movies I like more than this one.

Overall score: 7-7.1 out of 10

Have you seen Brigadoon? Are there any Scottish related films you’d like to see me cover on 18 Cinema Lane? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Have fun in Scotland!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: An Affair to Remember (1957) Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

January’s theme for Genre Grandeur seems fitting; “Movies That Celebrate a New Year”. When I learned this was the theme of this edition of Genre Grandeur, I was excited because I don’t often receive an opportunity to review New Year’s themed films. As I was looking for a movie to select, I learned the protagonists in 1957’s An Affair to Remember meet on New Year’s Eve. With this piece of information in mind and because An Affair to Remember was recommended by Maddy (from Maddy Loves Her Classic Films) as well as Emily (from The Flapper Dame), I found the perfect time to check out the 1957 picture! Out of all the actresses I’ve talked about on 18 Cinema Lane, Deborah Kerr is the one I’ve discussed the most. As of early 2026, I have reviewed ten of her films, with An Affair to Remember now being the eleventh film. But some of these pictures have been better than others. How will An Affair to Remember stand against the aforementioned ten titles? Check out my review to find out!

An Affair to Remember (1957) poster created by Jerry Wald Productions and Twentieth Century Fox

Things I liked about the film:

The on-screen chemistry: In a movie like An Affair to Remember, where the story heavily revolves around one romantic relationship, it’s important to cast an actor and actress who possess such strong on-screen chemistry. This element of their combined performance will help them sell the believability of their characters’ relationship to the audience. As soon as their characters, Terry and Nickie, first meet in An Affair to Remember, I could immediately sense the strong on-screen chemistry between Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant! The fluidity of their acting abilities allowed them to compliment each other’s performance. Clever, witty banter also worked in their favor because of how it was written and delivered. Because of the combination of acting, screenwriting, and on-screen chemistry, Cary and Deborah helped create a couple that was captivating to watch!

The dialogue: When a film’s screenwriting is good, the dialogue of the characters can sound realistic. But if the screenwriting is thoughtfully and carefully curated, like in An Affair to Remember, the characters are allowed to say what’s on their minds and hearts in eloquent and even profound ways. As Nickie and Terry visit Nickie’s grandmother, Janou, Terry confesses how she’d like to stay in Janou’s garden forever. Janou then responds by telling Terry, “It [the garden] is a good place to sit and remember, but you have still to create your memories”. By Janou saying this to Terry, she is kindly yet artfully encouraging Terry to create her own space of reflection and tranquility. Later in the movie, when Terry and Nickie are creating their plan to reunite in six months, they agree to meet at the Empire State Building. Terry explains how “It’s the nearest thing to heaven we have in New York”. While I’ve always known the Empire State Building held great importance within New York City, I’ve never heard it described the way Terry described it before. Because the dialogue in An Affair to Remember received such quality screenwriting, I was given the opportunity to see an iconic landmark in a completely new way!

Janou’s garden: As I talked about the dialogue in An Affair to Remember, I brought up how Terry wants to stay in Janou’s garden forever. Reflecting on this part of the set design, I can understand why Terry would fall in love with this space! The enclosed garden prominently displays a large tree with green leaves and red flowers. Bright hues of other flowers burst within the garden. A small circular pond greets visitors, with yellow and white flowers floating over the tranquil water. There’s even a connected chapel both Terry and Nickie retreat to. Though Janou’s garden was shown in An Affair to Remember for only a limited number of scenes, it left a memorable impression!

New York City skyline with letters image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/new-york-skyline-typographic-silhouette_719554.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:

New Year’s Eve’s limited incorporation: I said in the introduction of this review how Terry and Nickie meeting on New Year’s Eve is one of the reasons why I selected An Affair to Remember for this month’s Genre Grandeur. Based on that aforementioned detail, I believed the holiday would play a bigger role in the story. But when I watched the 1957 movie, I discovered New Year’s Eve is actually an afterthought. If it wasn’t for the passengers on the SS Constitution singing “Auld Lang Syne”, I wouldn’t have known Nickie and Terry’s cruise was taking place around New Year’s Eve. Had the SS Constitution’s passengers participated in counting down to midnight or some of the characters talked about their New Year’s resolutions, it would have better established when the story was taking place.

Scenes that feel like padding: IMDB lists An Affair to Remember’s run-time as one hour and fifty-five minutes. However, some scenes feel like they are padding out the story just to satisfy this run-time. The musical number, “The Tiny Scout (He Knows You Inside Out)” easily comes to mind. I recognize this musical number, as well as the musical number, “Tomorrow Land”, were intended to emphasize the direction Terry’s career has taken. But, in my opinion, featuring only one of these musical numbers would have been enough to make this point. If An Affair to Remember’s creative team had cut scenes like “The Tiny Scout (He Knows You Inside Out)” musical number, the film’s run-time would have been trimmed down.

A drawn-out story: Like I just mentioned in this review, an hour and fifty-five minutes is the run-time for An Affair to Remember. This run-time seemed to give the film’s creative team an excuse to draw their story out. The first half of the movie builds up to the affair of Nickie and Terry. Their affair doesn’t come to fruition until the movie’s halfway point. The second half of the movie chronicles how Terry’s and Nickie’s life turned out after their cruise. Personally, I don’t think the affair’s build-up needed to last half the film. With a tighter script, An Affair to Remember not only could have received a short run-time, the story could have also reached its intended points sooner.

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:

Based on Deborah Kerr’s movies I’ve seen, the quality of these pictures has fluctuated. While I liked The King and I and The Chalk Garden, I wasn’t a fan of Marriage on the Rocks. But I found An Affair to Remember to be just ok. While the on-screen chemistry between Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant was strong and the dialogue was well-written, I didn’t like how drawn-out the story was. Plus, some scenes felt included simply to pad out the script to satisfy the run-time. However, the most disappointing part of An Affair to Remember was how New Year’s Eve was treated as an afterthought. Before seeing the 1957 picture, I was led to believe the holiday would play a larger role in the story. My first movie selected for 2026’s Genre Grandeur was not the best, but not the worst. Hopefully, this year-long blogathon will introduce me to stronger films.

Overall score: 6.2-6.3 out of 10

Have you seen An Affair to Remember? Which film from Deborah Kerr’s or Cary Grant’s filmography would you like to see me review next? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Sharing Your Heart with Everyone

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In the season thirteen premiere of When Calls the Heart, Rosemary and Lee have a conversation about Rosemary’s new Playhouse. She’s discouraged by a news article from the Benson Hills Beatle calling the Playhouse a “vanity project”. Lee reassures his wife by reminding Rosemary how opening the Playhouse is her way of sharing her heart with everyone. As I’ve mentioned in past Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap posts, my introductions are inspired either by what a character says, something that happens in an episode, or an observation I’ve made while watching the show. When Lee’s conversation with Rosemary made her theater finally seem like a reality, I knew I had to bring it up in my re-cap’s introduction! As a Heartie who’s been watching When Calls the Heart since literally day one, I have been waiting for Rosemary’s dream of opening a theater to come true for over ten years. I’ve even brought it up in some of my re-cap posts as well as articles related to the show. Though few details were revealed about the Playhouse, I’m excited to see Rosemary’s dream come to life in Hope Valley! Having a long-awaited wish granted is definitely a good way to start the New Year!

Just a reminder: If you did not see the season premiere of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

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

Season: 13

Episode: 1

Name: Up In the Air

Major stories:

Over the summer, Elizabeth, Jack Jr., Nathan, and Allie have been living at Charlotte’s boarding house in Cape Fullerton while Jack Jr. has received Diabetic treatment. This living situation was meant to be temporary, however, because the Infirmary in Hope Valley was being prepared to become a certified Diabetic center. But this plan is literally and figuratively derailed, as the country’s only medical inspector, Marvin, is unable to travel due to a railroad strike. So, the trip to Hope Valley for Allie, Nathan, Jack Jr., and Elizabeth is planned as a weekend excursion. Assuming she won’t come back to Hope Valley in time for the start of the school year, Elizabeth prepares to give Minnie her lesson plans. But during a conversation with Rosemary, Nathan comes up with an idea to keep his and Elizabeth’s family permanently in Hope Valley. Remembering what a boarder named Skeet Rivington said about his nephew, Nathan recruits Skeet’s nephew to fly Marvin to Hope Valley’s Infirmary. His plan is successful, as not only is the trip safely executed, the Infirmary officially becomes a certified Diabetic center. This allows Jack Jr., Elizabeth, Allie, and Nathan to stay in Hope Valley for good.

The grand opening of Goldie National Park is just around the corner. Hope Valley has been preparing for this day, from Rosemary and Lee posing for press photos to the town being decorated for the occasion. Even the younger residents of Hope Valley are looking forward to Goldie National Park’s grand opening. Oliver sketches a map of the park to include in the children’s park guidebook. Even Jack Jr. draws pictures for the guidebook covers. But when Toby, Cooper, Opal, and Allie go for a hike in the park, the residents of Hope Valley notice smoke coming from the park’s direction. Concerned over the well-being of Cooper, Allie, Toby, and Opal, the Mounties of Hope Valley (Bill, Nathan, and Oliver) ride toward the park to figure out what is going on.

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

Minor stories:

Henry’s son, Christopher, returns to Hope Valley. This time, he is installing the town’s first traffic light. Christopher likes working at the electric company that helped install the traffic light in Hope Valley. While the money is good, he enjoys being able to help others. During a conversation over lunch at the saloon, Christopher tells Henry about a job offer he’s interested in. Henry reminds his son how he’s more than just his job.

Summer was a busy season for Lucas and Edie. While Lucas prepared for his re-election campaign, Edie dealt with land related legal disputes. Edie utilized Lucas’ office at the saloon whenever he worked on governor duties. However, the idea of Edie and Lucas sharing an office was brought up. During a conversation between Lucas and Lee, as well as during a conversation among Edie, Mollie, and Florence, Lucas and Edie discuss how despite both of them being busy, they miss each other’s company. Though the true nature of Edie and Lucas’ relationship is still up in the air.

Small, western town image 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.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • As I mentioned in the introduction of this re-cap post, Rosemary’s dream of opening a theater will finally come true. This could not have come at a better time for me. Lately, I’ve been heart-broken and frustrated about Eddie Munson being denied a second chance at receiving his full potential in the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. So, seeing Rosemary’s theater come to fruition has not only given me some much needed joy, it has also given me something to look forward to for the rest of season thirteen!
  • McGinty, the disgruntled land-owner from season twelve, has returned to Hope Valley in the season thirteen premiere of When Calls the Heart. His conversation with Bill suggests he’s still bitter about how much prime farmland the national park is taking up. Based on the synopsis for upcoming episodes, the wildfire at the national park will be investigated. If the fire was intentionally started, I hope McGinty isn’t the guilty party because that would make the mystery’s outcome predictable. Personally, I’d like to see an interactive and engaging mystery, so the audience can try to solve the mystery alongside the show’s characters.
  • Like I said in this re-cap post’s introduction, I’ve been watching When Calls the Heart since literally day one. Looking back on how past seasons have begun, season thirteen has one of the better season premieres! This season’s first chapter does a nice job reintroducing Hearties to the world of Hope Valley without feeling overwhelming. Resolutions to conflicts also feel earned instead of being created for the sake of plot convenience. With a cliff-hanger conclusion and some pleasant surprises, season thirteen’s premiere provides enough story points to give the rest of the season intrigue!
  • Last July, I created a list of thirteen questions for When Calls the Heart’s thirteenth season. One of those questions was whether Edie would actually start her law firm in Hope Valley. Based on how Edie’s story has turned out, so far, in the season thirteen premiere, that law firm hasn’t become a reality yet. But since the season has just started, only time will tell where Edie’s story will go.
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on When Calls the Heart’s thirteenth season premiere? What are you looking forward to this season? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

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

On By 18cinemalane4 Comments

When I signed up for Midnite Drive-In’s Hit The Road Blogathon, one of the basic rules was to choose “a movie, TV show or book” that had something to do with travel. Since I figured I’d be one of the few participants selecting a book for the event, I found an opportunity to write a book review! On 18 Cinema Lane, I occasionally talk about books in an effort to bring a sense of variety to my blog’s content. My last book review was published last September, when I wrote about Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain. This is ironic, as that book revolved around Jessica traveling to Florida. For the Hit The Road Blogathon, I selected another mystery story; Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark! Years ago, I saw this book’s film adaptation, 2013’s The Mystery Cruise. Though I was not a fan of the film, I still wanted to read its source material, as I had heard of the book before seeing the movie. Is this a case where the book is better than the film? Keep reading my review to solve this mystery!

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

If you’re going to write a story that involves travel, the journey or destination needs to sound appealing. Whether the travels of characters are exciting or the characters arrive somewhere intriguing, the reader may stay invested in what is happening in the story. In Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea, the protagonist, Alvirah, won an all-expenses paid cruise through a charity auction. She, along with her husband, Willy, and their friends embark on an oceanic adventure where there is never a dull moment. Mary and Carol worked well together to create a setting that felt realistic. Descriptive imagery and attention to detail worked in the favor of the story’s world-building. One example is when rooms on the ship, Royal Mermaid, are described. While observing Alvirah and Willy’s room, one of their friends, Nora, states “The closet is practically a room unto itself”. This statement alone provides context for the size of the space. It also addresses the luxurious nature of not just the room itself, but the ship as a whole.

Cruise ship near an island image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/holiday-background-on-a-cruise_1182003.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Mystery stories, sometimes, include a group of characters. If these characters are working together to solve a mystery, it’s important for them to maintain a sense of camaraderie. This way, genuineness can be felt as the characters come together to reach a common goal. Throughout Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea, solving mysteries was a team effort among Alvirah, Willy, and their friends, the Reillys. It helped how these characters possessed their own set of skills and life experiences, allowing them to bring something unique to the table. It also helps how they knew each other before the events of the story. Because of how well-written the dialogue was, readers can pick up on how Willy, Alvirah, and the Reillys got along. Toward the beginning of the book, Alvirah is encouraging her friends, Regan and Jack, to join her and Willy on the cruise. Bringing up the couple’s already known vacation plans, Alvirah says, “I just heard from Jack’s own lips that he’s on vacation for two weeks”. She addresses this in an effort to give them a once-in-a-lifetime experience, keeping the best interests of her friends in mind. Because she recognizes Alvirah’s good intentions, Regan replies to Jack, “we’ve never been on a cruise together. I think it would be fun”.

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

Two of the villains in Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea are Bull’s-Eye and Highbridge. These criminals are on the run to avoid being sentenced for their crimes. There were times while reading this book where I had difficulty telling these characters apart. That’s because their personalities were not distinct enough. Another flaw of Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea was how some mysteries were solved before the reader could figure it out for themselves. During the titular Santa Cruise, two Santa suits go missing, becoming one of the story’s overarching mysteries. But shortly after this mystery is introduced, the “whodunit” is already revealed. This felt reminiscent of an episode of Columbo, where the audience is forced to observe the protagonist solving the mystery themselves instead of interacting with the story by figuring out the mystery alongside the characters.

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

Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea is, in my opinion, a fine book that is interesting and entertaining enough. Carol and Mary use attention to detail and descriptive imagery in their favor to build a literary world that feels realistic. They also utilize dialogue to create strong camaraderie between the protagonists and their friends. However, I wish the story’s villains were given more distinct personalities, as it could have allowed them to stand out more. Having more interactive mysteries for the readers would have helped as well. There were parts of the story that were, sometimes, repetitive. Examples include referencing the number fifteen and the same events being brought up over and over again. Despite these flaws, the book does have a steady to faster pace, which makes Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea a quicker read.

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

Overall score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Have fun sailing!

Sally Silverscreen

Disclaimer: Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea is a mystery story that occasionally features violence and characters receiving injuries. There’s also brief references to grief.

Take 3: A Little Romance (1979) Review

On By 18cinemalane9 Comments

Back in 2022, I wrote a list of the top ten movies I’d love to review. One of the films on that list was 1979’s A Little Romance. Since publishing that article three years ago, I haven’t gotten around to reviewing the movie. But Gill’s (from Realweegiemidget Reviews) and Barry’s (from Cinematic Catharsis) blogathon, Adventure-A-Thon, finally gave me an opportunity to check A Little Romance out! When it comes to “adventure” in cinema, that term can have different meanings depending on who you ask. For me, an “adventure” movie is when the story’s characters go on a journey to achieve something. In the case of A Little Romance, the protagonists, Daniel and Lauren, travel to Italy to prove the legitimacy of a legend. The 1979 film is not the only picture I’ve reviewed this year involving Italian travel. I wrote about Roman Holiday back in January. In my opinion, the movie was just ok, as I wanted to like it more than I did. Was A Little Romance ok like Roman Holiday? Let’s start the adventure of this review!

A Little Romance (1979) poster created by Orion Pictures, Pan Arts, Trinacra Films, and Warner Bros.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: When it comes to teenagers in movies, it can be easy for a creative team to present those characters stereotypically. If written or directed to adopt certain behaviors and attitudes, teenage characters could even come across as caricatures. Fortunately, this was not the case in A Little Romance! Though there are only four teenage characters in the movie, their interactions didn’t feel scripted, making the characters themselves seem realistic. One example shows Lauren (portrayed by Diane Lane) and her friend, Natalie (portrayed by Ashby Semple), looking at sculptures during a class trip. As they observe the sculptures, Lauren nonchalantly tells tall tales about her time spent with Daniel. Natalie naively believes Lauren, her eyes becoming wide and her tone of voice revealing how shocked she is. Lauren, with a casual smile on her face and a giggle in her voice, then shares with Natalie how her tall tales were fabricated. This exchange between the two friends illustrates how teenagers can sometimes tease and joke with each other.

In this review’s introduction, I mentioned how the protagonists, Daniel and Lauren, travel to Italy to prove the legitimacy of a legend. Their journey was enjoyable to watch because of how strong Diane Lane and Thelonious Bernard’s on-screen chemistry was! Every time Lauren and Daniel interacted with one another, they always looked like they got along so well. There was a sweetness to their relationship that was wholesome and charming. It also helps how both Daniel and Lauren had likable personalities that complimented each other. While Thelonious and Diane deserve credit for their performances, credit should also be given to the screenwriting.

An appreciation for film: Before watching A Little Romance, I knew what the basic premise was about. But when I finally saw the 1979 picture, I was pleasantly surprised by the appreciation for film woven into the script! As soon as the movie starts, the audience sees Daniel watching a collection of films in a local cinema. As the story progresses, he sometimes quotes the movies he sees and even wants Lauren to call him “Boggie”, as he believes Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were meant to be together. Daniel’s decisions and perspectives are also influenced by the world of film. When Daniel receives rude comments about his relationship with Lauren from a movie director named George de Marco, Daniel punches George. Not only does Daniel strongly dislike George’s films, Daniel believes George’s comments cheapen the meaning of love he’s learned from movies.

The dialogue: In some of the movies I’ve reviewed this year, one of the strengths was the dialogue. The way it was written and delivered allowed this film-making component to be memorable for the right reasons. The dialogue was also a strength in A Little Romance! Through the screenwriting, the audience can tell how much thought was put into this aspect of the 1979 production. While Lauren talks about her family, Daniel asks her why she calls her stepfather ‘Richard’. Lauren replies by saying “It’s easier to lose a Richard than a dad”. From that one quote, Lauren is able to express how her mother’s multiple marriages have affected the family dynamic. In order to make enough money for their trip to Italy, Daniel and Lauren plan to bet on race horses. They want to figure out the betting odds to increase their chances of choosing a winning horse. When Lauren suggests using a computer to get these numbers, Daniel says “I am not a computer”. This simple quote stresses how humans, as well as betting odds, don’t always provide the correct answers.

The Adventure-A-Thon banner created by Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews and Barry from Cinematic Catharsis

What I didn’t like about the film:

The adventure’s prolonged delay: Like I said in this introduction, Daniel and Lauren travel to Italy to prove the legitimacy of a legend. But their Italian journey doesn’t begin until a little over an hour into an hour and fifty-minute story. That’s because the first half of the movie is devoted to setting up the motives for the journey and building up to the trip itself. It’s important for any creative team to set up their movie’s premise and provide build up to significant parts of the presentation. For A Little Romance, however, that set up/build up took a little too long.

Lack of subtitles: About half of A Little Romance takes place in France. This means some scenes feature characters speaking in French to one another. But when the story presented French dialogue, subtitles did not appear on screen. For viewers who are not fluent in French, they may feel like the creative team is withholding context from them. Even though clues such as body language can help the audience assume what is happening in the story, I still wish subtitles had been included in A Little Romance.

An absence of Daniel’s father: At the beginning of A Little Romance, the audience is introduced to Daniel and his father, Michel. According to Daniel, Michel is a taxi driver who watches horse races from time to time. Throughout the movie, however, Michel’s appearances are so far and few between, I almost forgot he was in the movie. Meanwhile, Lauren’s parents, Richard and Kay, are consistently involved in the story. I recognize A Little Romance revolves around Daniel and Lauren’s relationship and adventure. But I still think Michel should have received a larger role in the film. Perhaps his involvement in the story could have related to one of the movie’s central themes.

Colorful travel suitcase image created by Pikisuperstar at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/beautiful-illustration-of-travel_2686674.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/watercolor”>Watercolor vector created by Pikisuperstar – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

When I first brought up A Little Romance in 2022, I said the story seemed like a light-hearted version of Rich Kids. While there is some truth to this statement, my initial claim now seems a bit too simplistic. Both Rich Kids and A Little Romance revolve around adolescent characters relying on themselves and each other to navigate the world around them. But unlike Rich Kids, there’s a hopeful optimism in A Little Romance! Because the story emphasizes Daniel and Lauren’s Italian journey, the audience witnesses Lauren and Daniel’s relationship grow throughout the story. The acting performances and screenwriting allow these characters to share meaningful and heart-felt moments together. Strong messages and themes are sprinkled into the script, from the importance of being your authentic self to having the courage to achieve dreams. Though it took a little over an hour for the journey to begin, A Little Romance is a delightful, pleasant film! A significant point the film makes is how adventure can come in different forms. The 1979 picture can also cause viewers to think about what it truly means to be a “legend”.

Overall score: 7.3 out of 10

Have you seen A Little Romance? What does the term “adventure movie” mean to you? 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.

Princess tiara image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/ornamental-princess-crowns_1109199.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/gold”>Gold vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

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

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Knock Three Times

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

As a piece of advice to Lucas, Minnie says in order to seek reconcile, you have to knock three times. This was Minnie’s way of encouraging Lucas to reach out to the person he had a disagreement with. Despite not hearing Minnie’s advice, Earl Wyatt came back to Hope Valley and “knocked three times”, seeking reconcile for bullying Opal years ago. But reconciliation is not the only reason characters, figuratively, knock on each other’s doors on When Calls the Heart. Sometimes, it’s in search of help, like when Oliver sought Elizabeth’s guidance on his Mountie writing sample. Other times, characters “knock three times” to find answers. One example is Rosemary’s quest for the origin of a valuable coin. The idea of characters, figuratively, knocking on each other’s doors shows how the residents of Hope Valley, and even guests, rely on each other when it matters most. This is an example of the kind of place Hope Valley is.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

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

Season: 12

Episode: 3

Name: All That Glitters

Major stories:

Oliver’s one-month evaluation is fast approaching. The only step left is his writing sample. After Oliver submits the writing sample, Nathan takes note of its weak writing quality. When Elizabeth makes this discovery, she volunteers to help Oliver improve his writing sample. At the Jack Thornton School, Oliver shows up for his first tutoring session. He claims he attended a school in Hamilton called Briarcliff. But later in the episode, Elizabeth finds out the school closed five years prior to Oliver’s arrival in Hope Valley. This fact, along with Oliver’s decision to resign from the Mounties, raises alarm in Nathan. So, he and Elizabeth confront Oliver at the stables. Oliver confesses he lied about attending Briarcliff. His reason is how he sought a better life for himself, due to being a foster child. Oliver also reveals how he didn’t finish school because his foster parents believed working on their farm was more important. He explains to Nathan his decision to resign from the Mounties was due to not wanting Nathan to get in trouble. Oliver’s loyalty gives Nathan a reason to not give up on Oliver. Later in the episode, Superintendent Hargreaves arrives for the one-month evaluation. Oliver passes with flying colors.

Rosemary has two mysteries on her hands. The first is why Lee is so secretive. She becomes curious after being told Lee created a will and recently had a doctor’s appointment. As Rosemary shares her concerns with Elizabeth at the Mercantile, they overhear Lee telling Ned he’s going on a hike. So, Elizabeth and Rosemary follow Lee and Mike into the forest. After Mike and Lee discover the women’s hiding place among the bushes, Rosemary and Elizabeth learn the purpose of the hike; so Lee could create a hiking trail named after Goldie. Lee explains how he hopes the trail will remind Lucas of the national park’s importance. The second mystery revolves around a coin bearing a double headed bird. When Ned discovers a rare coin, Rosemary makes it her mission to track down its original owner. She writes an article about the coin in The Valley Voice. But no one comes forward. Bill volunteers to help Rosemary crack the case. After he retrieves the Mountie file about the coin, Bill shares with Rosemary how the coin was one of twenty thousand coins stolen in the Rocky Mountain train robbery of 1907.

Silver coin image created by Welcomia at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/american-one-dollar-coin_1180385.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/money”>Money image created by Welcomia – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

At Capitol City, Edwin and Lucas learn Jeanette’s trial is coming up. Edwin encourages Lucas to leave Capital City to avoid more negative press. Lucas takes Edwin’s advice and goes back to Hope Valley. On the train ride home, Lucas learns Edie is also headed towards Hope Valley, in order to take care of her uncle’s ranch. Once in the town, at The Café, Edie reveals to Lucas how she’s considering opening a law firm in Hope Valley. But those plans are on hold because she can’t find the space.

Earl Wyatt returns to Hope Valley and apologizes to Opal for bullying her when she was younger. Earl’s arrival intrigues Allie, as he shares how his father works for the railroad, allowing him to travel wherever he wants. Before meeting Earl, Allie tries to decide what she wants to do for her upcoming 17th birthday. What she does know is she wants to host a party among her friends. At the Queen of Hearts saloon, Allie and some of her friends hear dance music. When she sees Earl dancing, Allie chooses to have a dance party for her birthday.

String of musical notes image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/pentagram-vector_710290.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com. 

Some thoughts to consider:

  • You’re probably wondering why I spelled Goldie’s name with an ‘ie’ instead of with a ‘y’ like I usually do. That’s because her name is spelled G-O-L-D-I-E in this episode. When it comes to characters’ names, I try to spell them how the show’s creative team intended. So, from now on, I will spell Goldie’s name with an ‘ie’ in future re-caps.
  • Thinking about the mystery of the coin and Earl Wyatt’s return to Hope Valley, I wonder if Earl’s family has something to do with the Rocky Mountain train robbery of 1907? As I mentioned in this re-cap, Earl said his father works for the railroad. Plus, Earl’s arrival and the discovery of the coin took place around the same time. This would explain why Earl and his family left Hope Valley all those years ago.
  • In this re-cap, I said Rosemary becomes curious after being told Lee created a will and recently had a doctor’s appointment. In a scene where Lee pays Faith a visit, it’s revealed Lee’s father died of an unnamed medical condition. Lee is not only concerned about developing this medical condition himself, he’s also worried about leaving a legacy behind for his daughter. Faith reassures him that he has a clean bill of health. However, I wonder if Lee’s medical history will become an overarching story this season?
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Who do you think is behind the Rocky Mountain train robbery of 1907? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Enjoying the Time We Have

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

Going into the twelfth season of When Calls the Heart, a Heartie can’t help but become reflective over their favorite show. However, it seems like When Calls the Heart’s creative team wanted their fans to look back at how far the show has come. A few examples are Elizabeth teaching her son the meaning of the word, ‘reflective’, and Rosemary reminding Nathan how no one knows what the future holds. It’s amazing this program has stayed on the air for eleven years and twelve seasons! In the history of television, few shows have made it that far. But if the history of television has taught us anything, another season is not guaranteed. While renewal news has usually come quickly for When Calls the Heart, it’s easy for Hearties to take that news for granted. Earlier in this introduction, I mentioned Rosemary telling Nathan how no one knows what the future holds. She followed that up by saying how we should enjoy the time we have. So, let’s enjoy this re-cap of When Calls the Heart’s season twelve premiere!

Just a reminder: If you did not see the season premiere of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

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

Season: 12

Episode: 1

Name: The Mountie Way

Major stories:

Superintendent Andrew Hargreaves arrives in Hope Valley to give Elizabeth one of Jack’s prized possessions. This object is a medal Jack earned before he passed away. The medal leads Elizabeth to explain to her son what ‘reflective’ means. She also allows Jack Jr. to wear his father’s medal on his first day of school. Inspired by Jack’s bravery, Jack Jr. lets Lilly borrow the medal when he learns she’s nervous about being one of the youngest kids in Elizabeth’s class. Jack Jr. and Elizabeth also agree how having the medal is a reminder that Jack will always be with them. Meanwhile, Superintendent Hargreaves assigns Nathan to train a Mountie cadet named Oliver Garrett. Nathan is told Oliver is at the bottom of his class. But after he and Bill talk to Oliver, they think something isn’t adding up. That’s because Oliver seems enthusiastic about being a Mountie. In fact, he expresses interest in the forensic and scientific sides of the profession.

Throughout this episode, Lucas encourages Lee to go to Capitol City to work on their national park project. Lee is hesitant because of how much time he thinks he’ll spend away from his family. Rosemary is also hesitant about Lee’s potential travels for the same reason. Henry comes up with the idea to name the national park after Goldy. This development makes Rosemary reconsider letting Lee go to Capitol City. In the end, Lee and Rosemary compromise. Lee goes to Capitol City during the week and comes home on the weekends. When Lee is contemplating his potential trips to Capitol City, Rosemary is frustrated by The Valley Voice’s decreased readership. Lee jokingly recommends radio shows advertise in the newspaper. This suggestion inspires Rosemary to create her own radio program.

Winner’s medal image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/golden-awards-set-with-colors-details_844356.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/gold”>Gold vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor story:

Lucas and Lee have different priorities when it comes to the national park project. For Lucas, it’s about revitalizing his disastrous approval rating. For Lee, on the other hand, the project is about providing Goldy and her generation with a gift that keeps on giving. On the train ride to Capital City, Lee and Lucas cross paths with Edwin Mitchel, who used to work with Lucas. Edwin brings up Lucas’ approval rating and says he has some ideas to save Lucas’ reputation. Even though Lee is skeptical of Edwin’s offer, Lucas is open to hearing what Edwin has to say.

Railway Train image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-train-retro-background_1112415.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.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • Back in 2021, I wrote a list of the top ten things I’d like to see in When Calls the Heart’s ninth season. One of those things was Hope Valley’s first female Mountie. When I discovered a new Mountie would be introduced in season twelve, I was so excited at possibly getting my wish. But season twelve’s premiere left me disappointed. Oliver has potential to be a well-written, well-acted character. However, not giving Hope Valley their first female Mountie is such a missed opportunity.
  • Is it just me or has Lee’s sawmill disappeared from Hope Valley? When Lee made his debut in season two, one of his purposes was to open a sawmill and provide job opportunities for Hope Valley’s residents, especially after the coal mine’s closure. But ever since Rosemary started the town’s newspaper, it seems like the sawmill isn’t a priority for Lee like in past seasons. In fact, the sawmill wasn’t brought up in this episode. If Lee is not running his sawmill anymore, who is?
  • Throughout season twelve’s premiere, the children of Hope Valley become obsessed with a comic book about a character named Captain Billie. It even gets to the point where the children debate if comic books should be considered literature. I found this debate ironic because When Calls the Heart is based on a pre-existing book series. I also think it would be a good idea for Elizabeth to take that aforementioned obsession and turn it into a class project where her students create their own comic books!
  • In this re-cap, I mentioned Rosemary being inspired to create her own radio show. For me, this part of the episode was ironic. That’s because, in my re-cap post about season ten’s finale, I said I wanted to see Fiona create her own radio show. From the way Rosemary described her ideal radio program, the primary focus would be on news within Hope Valley and its surrounding areas. Since Rosemary has written for The Valley Voice for a few seasons, this seems like a good idea that I can’t wait to see upfold!
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What are your thoughts on When Calls the Heart’s season twelve premiere? What are you most excited about this season? Please tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sally Reads… ‘Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire’ by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

*This book review was written before Hurricane Helene*

On this day in 1984, Murder, She Wrote made its television debut. What started as a simple story of a woman solving mysteries in her own backyard grew into a legacy standing strong in the test of time. I mentioned in my Cabot Cove-thon announcement post how Murder, She Wrote is a multifaceted program. One contributor is the Murder, She Wrote book series! Two of these books, Murder, She Wrote: The Highland Fling Murders and Murder, She Wrote: The Queen’s Jewels, have been reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane. This time, I’ll be writing about Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire! The reason why I selected this book for Cabot Cove-thon, let alone a review, is how the story takes place in Florida. On the first day of my blogathon, I published an editorial about why Universal Orlando Resort should host a fan event called Murder, She Wrote Weekend. Knowing ahead of time I would be discussing the show’s connection to Universal Studios Florida, I thought Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire was an appropriate selection!

Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire book cover found on Goodreads

Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire is not only the third Murder, She Wrote book reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane, it’s also the third book where Jessica travels outside of Cabot Cove. In these stories, the destinations are exciting and inviting. What made South Florida such an appealing location in Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire was the combination of descriptive imagery, facts, and tidbits of information sprinkled throughout the story. While taking a road trip to Key West, Jessica searches for the perfect present for Seth’s friend; a key lime pie. During her search, Jessica (as well as readers) learn about the different ingredients used to make this beloved dessert. Other cultural elements are woven into Jessica’s travels, such as a “ceremony” where residents and visitors of Key West applaud the setting sun. These elements help introduce readers to South Florida, as well as educate them about this destination!

Colorful travel suitcase image created by Pikisuperstar at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/beautiful-illustration-of-travel_2686674.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/watercolor”>Watercolor vector created by Pikisuperstar – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

The Murder, She Wrote book series creates original stories instead of rehashing already existing episodes. However, the spirit of the show exists in the books because of the inclusion of characters and locations from Murder, She Wrote. In Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire, the characters felt like they either came directly from the show or should have been on the show. This was achieved because of how the dialogue was written and how characters were described. Sam Lewis is a resident of Foreverglades, Florida. He not only volunteers with the local police department, Sam also drives a pink Cadillac and, at one point, even wears purple sneakers. While he is a quirky individual, he is endearing as he tries to make his neighborhood a better place. Sam was so well integrated into the story, he felt like he belonged in Jessica’s world! Sam also represents a consistent strength of the Murder, She Wrote books; the creation of unique, distinct characters.

Even though Jessica takes a road trip in Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire, fans of the show would know she wasn’t the one driving. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

Murder mystery stories typically contain a sense of urgency. Because the murder takes place within the story, there is an urgent race against time to stop the perpetrator from hurting anyone else. For the majority of Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire, however, urgency was lacking. The emphasis on the laid-back, easy-going atmosphere of Florida and the victim being murdered prior to the story are the reasons for this creative flaw. Dialogue is an important component of any story. But Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire was dialogue-heavy, with very few non-verbal clues provided. If readers aren’t actively paying attention to what they’re reading, they may miss key information. It also doesn’t help how some of Jessica’s conclusions seemed a bit far-fetched.

Magnifying fingerprints image created by Balintseby at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/glass”>Glass vector created by Balintseby – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/fingerprint-investigation_789253.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

When I reviewed Murder, She Wrote: The Queen’s Jewels back in 2022, I claimed that book was my least favorite among the Murder, She Wrote books I read. Two years later, it looks like I found a new least favorite. Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire is not a bad book. But most of the story lacking a sense of urgency decreased the mystery’s intrigue and caused the book to, sometimes, feel meandering. A dialogue-heavy story may frustrate some readers, forcing them to actively pay attention or they’ll miss important information. However, there are strengths found in this book. New characters and even familiar faces were well integrated into the story. The South Florida setting was a delight to read about due to the incorporated creative elements. Similar to the show, the Murder, She Wrote book series boasts creative ideas and interesting topics, which always gives Jessica and company something to do. As far as I know, this book series is still in publication. That allows the stories of Cabot Cove to continue, even after the show itself concluded.

Cabot Cove-thon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original picture found on IMDB.

Overall score: 3.1 out of 5 stars

Have fun in Cabot Cove!

Sally Silverscreen

Disclaimer: Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire is a murder mystery story, so the subject of murder will be brought up from time to time. Swearing does occur on a few occasions and there are mentions of violence. Other topics include chronic illness, grief, and the fair treatment of older people/the elderly.