A Homecoming for the Holidays - a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Miracles of Christmas Movie starring Laura Osnes and Stephen Huszar

MOVIE REVIEW

Movie: A Homecoming for the Holidays

Network: Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Original Air Date: December 7, 2019

CAST:

Laura Osnes ... Charlotte
Stephen Huszar ... Matt
P. Lynn Johnson ... Patty
Jan Bos ... Glenn
Jesse Irving ... Eric
Loosen Chambers ... Gretchen
Markian Tarasiuk ... Taylor
Havana Guppy ... Hadley
Donald Heng ... Jesse
Paula Giroday ... Dana
Vicki Passmore ... Reporter
Natalie Von Rotsburg ... Kelly

PLOT:

Storyline via Hallmark: When singer/songwriter Charlotte meets Matt she’s entertaining the troops, and he’s starting his third tour. Charlotte’s brother Eric is deploying too, and she’s off to ignite her career. Fast forward three years and three albums later, and Charlotte is home for Christmas, Eric announces plans to reenlist, and Matt, turned civilian, is working for Operation Homefront. Everyone enjoys being together, especially Matt and Charlotte, whose romance is aflame. But when she’s asked on a Christmas Special in Nashville on the 23rd, she’s torn. Hopefully Matt and Charlotte’s love can survive, especially when a photo of Charlotte and her ex surfaces.

Movie Review:

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*images via: Hallmark Crown Media Family Networks
Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss

💮 REMEMBERING DORIS DAY 💮 AS SHE TAKES A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY HOME...

Today, we remember Doris Day, who sang her way into our hearts with classic songs like: 'Sentimental Journey,' 'Que Sera, Sera,' 'Please, Please, Don't Eat the Daisies' and many more cherished tunes.

Doris Day was known for being the epitome of sugar and spice and everything nice... all sweetness, wholesomeness, and goodness! Her style was bright and cheerful; she was the legendary girl next door.

UPDATE: Details on TCM's Doris Day movie tribute below...

According to the Doris Day Animal Foundation, Doris had been in excellent health until she recently contracted a serious case of pneumonia. She passed away Monday, May 13, 2019 at the age of 97, in her home in Carmel Valley, California surrounded by dear friends.

What an incredible, soothing voice she had, recording over 600 songs, in which generation after generation, have enjoyed listening to. Many of her hit songs, such as: 'On Moonlight Bay,' 'Love Me, Or Leave Me' and 'April in Paris' were the highlight of the films she starred in. No matter your age or the era you grew up in, Doris' songs still evoke a certain sentiment... a heartwarming emotion... a feeling of ease, like a warm breeze on a carefree Summer day.

Doris was born April 3, 1922; her given name was Doris Mary Ann Kappeloff by her parents, William Joseph Kappeloff and Alma Sophia. Doris had two older brothers, Richard and Paul. Richard, however, passed before Doris was born.

As a young girl, Doris initially wanted to be a professional dancer, but after she injured her leg in a car accident in 1937, that dream ended. Instead, she realized her singing talent as she sang along with the radio, recovering from her accident. Doris took singing lessons and worked with the Les Brown band, eventually recording the hit song 'Sentimental Journey' in 1945.

screen-cap image via 'Romance on the High Seas'

From there, she was recommended for an audition for the movie 'Romance on the High Seas' in 1948. Doris, of course, earned the role, which led to more films thereafter. She even co-starred in a feature film with future President, Ronald Reagan, in "The Winning Team". In all, she made 39 films, even dancing in many of them, thus fulfilling her first dream, as well!

Even more than her entertainment dreams, Doris yearned to be a housewife and mother. She had one son, Terry, who, sadly, proceeded her in death in 2004. Terry's son, Ryan, is her only grandchild.

Doris Day with her son, Terry

In her later years, Doris loved being surrounded by the love and companionship of her animals. In 1978, she founded the Doris Day Pet Foundation, now the Doris Day Animal Foundation.

Doris Day and Jimmy Stewart
in promotional photo for "The Man Who Knew Too Much"

My personal love of Doris Day films began with movies like "Move Over, Darling" with James Garner and the Alfred Hitchcock film, "The Man Who Knew Too Much," with Jimmy Stewart. It has also been a thrill for me, personally, to share my birthday with Doris Day each year and send her a birthday greeting here on my blog.

Doris Day and James Garner in promotional shot for "Move Over Darling"

Doris' song 'A Bushel and a Peck' brings to mind a very special childhood memory for me of my Grandmother (we called her Ma-Ma). My own Momma would often sing to me and my siblings many of her favorite Doris Day songs, as we were growing up and still today! Furthermore, a dear, precious Aunt of mine, actually looked a lot like Doris Day. She was such a beautiful lady, inside and out.

Like an old movie reel playing in my mind, I can still see family members (past and present), sitting around in a circle at holiday gatherings, singing gospel hymns and cherished Doris Day songs like 'Sentimental Journey,' 'You are my Sunshine' and 'By the Light of the Silvery Moon'.

I imagine many of you also have your own sweet memories, in which Doris Day is a special part. Please share yours or any favorite Doris Day movie or song you may have, in comments below - as we remember Doris Day today in her 'Sentimental Journey' home...

May God bless and comfort
all the dear family and friends of Doris Day.

In God's Love... with my prayers, Net

(See TCM's Doris Day tribute schedule below...)

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will celebrate the life and career of iconic actress, singer and animal activist Doris Day with a 24-hour, 13-film tribute on Sunday, June 9.

TCM Remembers Doris Day – Sunday June 9

6:00 a.m. Romance on the High Seas (1948)- A singer on a Caribbean cruise gets mixed up in a series of romantic problems.

8:00 a.m. My Dream Is Yours (1949) – A talent scout turns a young unknown into a radio singing star.

10:00 a.m. Tea For Two (1950) – An heiress has to say no to every question for 24 hours if she wants to star on Broadway.

11:45 a.m. On Moonlight Bay (1951)– A small-town tomboy falls for the boy-next-door in the years before World War I.

1:30 p.m. Carson on TCM: Doris Day (1976)– Doris Day joined Johnny to discuss why she decided to set the record straight about her life and write her autobiography.

1:45 p.m. Love Me or Leave Me (1955)– True story of torch singer Ruth Etting's struggle to escape the gangster who made her a star.

4:00 p.m. Calamity Jane (1953)– The Wild West heroine helps bring a star attraction to Deadwood and finds love.

6:00 p.m. Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960) - A drama critic and his family try to adjust to life in the country.

8:00 p.m. Pillow Talk (1959) - A man and woman carry their feud over the telephone line they share into their real lives.

10:00 p.m. Lover Come Back (1961) – An ad exec in disguise courts his pretty female competitor.

12:00 a.m. Move Over Darling (1963) – Five years after a woman disappeared in the sea after a plane crash, her husband remarries and sets off to be with the new wife only to be confronted by the woman he had pronounced legally dead.

2:00 a.m. The Glass Bottom Boat (1966) – A woman writing a scientist’s biography is mistaken for a spy.

4:00 a.m. Julie (1956)– A stewardess is stalked by her psychotic estranged husband.

(All times Eastern)


Listen here to Doris Day singing 'Sentimental Journey'...

Hallmark Channel's 'It's Christmas, Eve' Stars Singer/Actress LeAnn Rimes

Press Release:

MUSIC ICON
LEANN RIMES
STARS IN

‘IT’S CHRISTMAS, EVE,’

PART OF HALLMARK CHANNEL’S
#1-RATED PROGRAM EVENT

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

image via: http://www.hawtcelebs.com/leann-rimes-on-the-set

Studio City, CA – April 10, 2018 – Hallmark Channel announces music icon LeAnn Rimes will star in the network’s original movie, “It’s Christmas, Eve,” which premieres this holiday season as part of the most watched holiday program event on television, the eight-week holiday extravaganza, COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS. COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS is the #1-rated program event on television and Hallmark Channel is the #1-rated TV network in all of Q4.

In addition to starring, Rimes has also written three songs for the film, two of which she performs in the movie: the title song, “It’s Christmas Eve” and “You And Me And Christmas.”

“LeAnn Rimes is such a multi-talented artist, and we have wanted to work with her for years,” said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming & Publicity, Crown Media Family Networks.”

“Our viewers are in for a treat as LeAnn is the lead in a Hallmark Christmas movie and has also penned beautiful original songs that she sings in the film. LeAnn was the youngest artist to ever win a Grammy, and her vocal nuances remain soulful and timeless to this day,” Vicary concluded.

In “It’s Christmas, Eve,” Rimes plays Eve Morgan, an interim school superintendent whose job it is to travel from city to city turning broken schools around. One day, Morgan is surprised to find she’s been assigned to a high school in her hometown. In a “meet cute” moment, Eve meets Liam Bailey (Tyler Hynes), single dad of Abby Bailey (Eden Summer Gilmore), and head of a music department that is in the red and under the gun to miraculously turn around or be shut down. Music is close to Eve’s heart; her late father was a jazz musician who taught her how to play music and sing. So raw is her dad’s passing that Eve hasn’t performed in a very long time. Now, the interim school superintendent predisposed to saying no may be persuaded to say yes to save the dreams of many while learning to live her own.

“It’s Christmas, Eve” is executive produced by Stephanie Germain, LeAnn Rimes, Allen Lewis and Michael Shepard. The movie is produced by Harvey Kahn for Eve Road Productions Ltd. and Front Street Pictures Inc. in association with Stephanie Germain Productions. Director is Tibor Takacs. Writers are Mark Amato and Tracy Andreen.

press release via: Pam Slay, SVP, Network Program Publicity & Social Media Content

-- HALLMARK CHANNEL --

*Starring alongside LeAnn Rimes in 'It's Christmas, Eve' are Tyler Hynes, Gary Peterman, Christian Convery, Giles Panton, Lara Gilchrist, Beckham Skodje, Paula Elle, and Patrick Rinehart.

Living Out Loud

MOVIE -

Living Out Loud:

Hallmark Channel Original Movie starring Gail O’Grady (American Dreams)

CAST:

Gail O’Grady ... Emily Marshall
Michael Shanks ... Brad Marshall
Jessica Amlee ... Melissa Marshall
Alex Ferris ... Ben Marshall
Babs Chula ... Connie
Patrick Gilmore ... Drunk Karaoke Guy
Eve Harlow ... Jenny Skinner
Kelly-Ruth Mercier ... Minister
Carrie Ruscheinsky ... Karaoke Gal
Elizabeth Thai ... Karaoke singer
Brittany Tiplady ... Nicole
Vanesa Tomasino ... Chemo Nurse
Matt Ward ... J.T. Deavers
Ashley Whillans ... Courtney
Calum Worthy ... Henry


PLOT:

from Hallmark-

Emmy award-nominated actress Gail O’Grady (“N.Y.P.D. Blue,” “American Dreams”) stars in “Living Out Loud,” a compelling drama about a woman who gives up her dream of becoming a singer/songwriter for the dream of a family. When she discovers she has breast cancer, she wonders if it’s too late for one more dream to come true.

Emily Marshall (O’Grady) had aspirations and the talent to be a singer/songwriter, but instead, she decided to marry her husband, Brad, and together they raised two children, Melissa, 14, a cross-country runner and 10-year-old Ben. Now a busy mother and high school music teacher, Emily is shocked to discover that she has breast cancer.

Overnight, her life changes in ways she could never imagine. She finds herself having to face the challenges of her illness -- the treatments, the difficult side effects, the emotions and relying on her family for help – while continuing to teach her music class. Emily also finds unexpected inspiration and a whole new way of looking at life from a new friend who encourages her to wake up, stop sleepwalking through her life and start dreaming again.



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