The Lost Valentine

The Lost Valentine
based on the book by James Pratt [DVD Lost]

I'm a sucker for the Hallmark Hall of Fame productions that pop up on television two to three times per year. Invariably heart-warming and frequently sappy, these "movies with a message" are always well-made, with impressive casts and great production values. I originally watched The Lost Valentine when it aired on TV, mainly to see how Betty White did in a purely dramatic role. She is the heart and soul of this movie, and her performance is emotionally resonant. The rest of the cast, including Jennifer Love Hewitt as a pushy, but ultimately good-hearted reporter, who ends up falling into a relationship with Betty's character's grandson. It's all schmaltzy, but it's good schmaltz...and I dare you not to be teary eyed as White's Caroline learns what happened to her true love 65 years earlier. Good stuff! [Most other entries in the Hallmark Hall of Fame DVD series would work well -- I personally recommend Silver Bells, a Christmas-themed story of love, redemption and perseverance.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

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