A Time to Remember (1988) User Reviews (11)

Not good at all

[Christmas-Reviewer · 1/10 · 7 January 2018]

Review Date 1/7/2018

PLEASE BEWARE OF SOME REVIEWERS THAT ONLY HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN! I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY GEMS IN MY QUEST TO SEE AS MANY " C H R I S T M A S " MOVIES AS I CAN.

Someone keeps reporting my reviews. I guess they are jealous because I do tell the truth. I want to point out that I never make snide remarks about actors weight or real life sexual orientation. If there acting is terrible or limited "I talk about that". If a story is bad "I will mention that" So why am I being "picked on"? IMDB will not even tell me what someone found offensive. Well on to this review

Now the story had hopes but the director pads out every scene with very little dialog. I think the film run the first 5 minutes without anybody talking.

It is small town America in the 1950's. Twelve year-old Angelo Villano has one dream: to someday sing like his idol, Mario Lanza. His grandmother, Mama Theresa encourages him; and his beautiful voice catches the attention of the formidable but kind Father Walsh who arranges for him to receive formal training.

I think the film could be better if they cut about 15 minutes out of it. The trims would not harm the story. Best of all the audience will not get bored!

Can not think of anything nice to say

[Sober-Friend · 1/10 · 22 January 2018]

This is about following what you want but your parents want something else for you. I think when you are a child you "Should Do What Your Parents Want" and when your 18 you move out and live how you want to live.

This film seems to boarder on homophobia to me. Made years ago but I truly think that the man doesn't want his son to sing is because he is afraid that "His son will then be gay".

Stupid film!

Oh What Torture

[elizabethbutts · 1/10 · 29 January 2018]

It fun to see how bad films can get and this one is big Christmas Fruitcake. If you are looking for a great "Christmas Movie" to see then keep looking. In this film it has a hidden "homophobia content to it".

A boy wants to be a singer. He has the talent but his "Macho Dad" doesn't want him to be a singer.

This has Donald O'Connor in minor role and that was disapointing. He was the reason why I wanted to see this to begin with

"You need a football coach. Not a singing coach."

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 24 August 2022]

The sweet charm of Ruben Gomez is noticeable from his very first scene, singing a solo in the church choir conducted by priest Donald O'Connor who wants him to see a professional coach, something that his very manly father (Eddie Serra) is quite against. Boys in his small east coast town pelt him with snowballs, obviously out of jealousy, but grandma Morgana King is supportive of his dreams of being the next Mario Lanza.

The sentiment is overwhelming in this Christmas drama, and the realism of how he's treated is sadly realistic, not only for the early 1950's, but for decades as kids (particularly young boys) with a talent were teased and called brutal names. Serra isn't a bad guy, just caught up in being a macho Italian who believes hard work and bread on the table comes from calices on the hands.

This may lose points from some for being a bit saccharine or even assumptions of a message from the religious inspired script. What it's really about is fighting for the right to achieve a dream, especially when forces are against that. Perhaps because I had a similar experience growing up like this little boy I can relate to his sadness of his desire for greatness being threatened. Not a classic holiday film, but nostalgic and touching.

Out-of-date sentimentality

[lor_ · 20 May 2023]

My review was written in June 1990 after watching the film on Studio Entertainment video cassette.

Old-fashioned sentimentality is overdone in "A Time to Remember", reviewed here for the record after nominal release two years ago.

Pic was shot five years back as "Miracle In a Manger" in upstate New York. Its abbreviated running time indicates some problems along the way, but filmmaker Thomas Travers simply doesn't demonstrate the chops needed to single-handedly bring back a genre (associated with Bing Crosby) popular over four decades ago.

Donald O'Connor brings sincerity to his role as a priest who encourages young Ruben Gomez in his choral work. The kid wants to be the next Lanza or Causo and is encouraged by mamma Morgana King (excellent in a more ethnic approach than her "Godfather" role) but opposed vehemently by his daddy Raymond Serra.

Told awkwardly in a flashback structure from the vantage point of the hero's concert hall success as an adult, pic lumbers along with an unconvincing central motif of the kid losing his voice temporarily after a fight. Other attempts at pathos fall flat and cast's singing is mediocre.

Give Travers credit for good intentions, but his film falls wide of the mark.

Endless

[behappysmile · 1/10 · 27 January 2018]

The kid wants to sing dad won't let him. Well instead of this being rip off of "The Jazz Singer" oh wait it is. Never mind.

This goes on for far too long for what the story is. It would of been great had it been shorter and not basically repeat every scene.

This film is a huge THUMBS DOWN

Sentiment and song land this on top

[Gblakelii · 7/10 · 26 December 2011]

There are at least 3 reasons to watch this drama, (1)if you like most Christmas shows, (2) are a fan of Donald O'Connor, or (3) Tommy Makem. Maybe most of the budget was spent on the stars as the production values and writing suffer. Yet the sentiments and songs win over in the end making this an hour worthwhile to watch. The child star almost steals the show from the vets. The plot has him wanting to sing, but it is a struggle uphill with multiple roadblocks. There are many opera tie-ins, mostly with Mario Lanza and the film, The Great Caruso. Donald O'Connor has a part that would have made Pat O'Brien jealous. O'Connor, a film legend, starting in movies way back in 1937, is best known for "Singin in the Rain" and the Francis the talking mule film series. He made a further connection with Christmas in 1992 with the album, Christmas with Donald and Debbie(Reynolds). It was popular enough to warrant a follow up. Tommy Makem, a well known recording artist with the Clancy Brothers[+ a semi-regular on The Danny Thomas Show] also made a Christmas album. Behind the scenes, some of the people connected with A Time to Remember had very few movie credits. Those that had more include, Editor Larry Marinelli, the sci-fi flick, Battle of the Stars. Make-up artist Bill Forsche also did Beetlejuice and the Exorcist III. Producer Randy Jurgensen is better know for his acting roles in such films as The French Connection and The Godfather. For the past few years, A Time to Remember has shown up on EWTN.

Outstanding Christmas Film!

[Divmercy1 · 10/10 · 6 December 2019]

This film accurately and very movingly brings to light the real and true meaning of Christmas!

Beautiful sentiments

[vikitoria · 8/10 · 3 February 2020]

To see Donald O'Connor was the reason I watched this movie, not thinking it would make me smile. It is a simple and straightforward movie. A boy has a gift, a tremendous gift in his singing voice. The other boys call him sissy and make fun of him all the time, even locking him in a room. Unbeknownst to those boys, a wonderful event happened, the joy of Christmas! The boy got a vision of what Christmas is about, the birth of a little boy many many years ago, who was bullied too. This boy slept and protected the infant in his arms as he slept, just as the grown up child does for us. That is what this movie represents, Jesus giving us Himself. If you want a tasteful, family movie, absolutely watch this. If you want trivial nonsensical whimsies, pass, but you just might enjoy it nonetheless.

Beautiful, Jesus-honoring film!

[hoosieraep · 10/10 · 20 December 2020]

This is a beautiful film which I just caught on EWTN. It reminds us of the tender, merciful, and personal love that the Lord Jesus Christ has for each of us, and the reality that He can do ALL things. Also -- and this is the takeaway -- no matter what's happening in our lives, when we know Jesus as our Saviour, we can have PEACE, contentment, and meaning.

GREAT MUSIC

[whiteef · 16 February 2020]

I loved all the songs wish I could find them on Apple Music... The dad did seem a bit abusive...