18 reviews
nice depression era film
Hidden Places is a nice film about a young mother of two whose husband has died, she moves her family back to her father in laws orchard in the 1930s. The father in law dies leaving the family with a mortgage payment and other hardships. A young handsome world war one veteran drifter comes to town and helps the family out, this is a quaint and heartwarming story about hard times and how the salt of the earth survived the depression. Good cinematography and scenery. The dialog struggled some in places, but the experienced cast did a wonderful job making the characters as believable as possible in a film whose era has few living members left. A good movie about overcoming tragedy and hardship for the entire family.
Fantastic Move for Everyone of All Ages
I am a very huge follower of All My Children, which Sydney Penny is in playing the role of Julia Santos-Keefer. Being a fan of hers, I thought I would record this and watch it. Wasn't really sure if it would be very good but it was an incredibly fantastic movie! This movie is great for all ages, children and adults alike. It is not necessarily a chick flick either. It is a clean movie that reminds me of the old Disney movies that actually has a moral to the story. It does have references to having faith which is not a bad thing. I know some people don't believe in God but most people have faith of some sorts. Jason Gedrick was wonderful. I have never seen anything with him before but he is a very talented actor, along with the Sheriff, Barry (now I can't remember his last name, sorry). Of course, Shirley Jones was tremendous as well as Aunt Batty. Sydney Penny is great in anything, my opinion of course. This flick is a definite must-see for all ages! (and no swearing for a change!)
- julie_comer
- Jun 10, 2006
- Permalink
Excellent Romance story
Once again Hallmark brings us another good and wholesome movie into our living rooms.
This story is about faith, hard work and determination during their difficulties and trials times that seem to be impossible to turn it around for better, especially during the great depression with a family struggling to keep their farm and home from being foreclosed. Shirly Jones plays Aunt Betty who has strong faith in God to get them through this trial period.
This story reminds me of "Run the Wild Fields" but the ending is different. Great story!
This story is about faith, hard work and determination during their difficulties and trials times that seem to be impossible to turn it around for better, especially during the great depression with a family struggling to keep their farm and home from being foreclosed. Shirly Jones plays Aunt Betty who has strong faith in God to get them through this trial period.
This story reminds me of "Run the Wild Fields" but the ending is different. Great story!
One of the most horrid adaptions of a book
When I sat down to watch this film, I was expecting an engaging story, with fascinating characters. Instead, I knew within the first twenty minutes that all I would get is a sappy love story. How could Lynn Austin allow her incredible book to be horribly blasphemed by this movie? It was worse than Ella Enchanted. The whole story was changed. The setting was changed. The characters were changed or, like Eliza's other son, Jimmy, done away with altogether. In fact, the only things that stayed the same were the characters' names and the skeleton plot--a mother fights to save her farm for her children with the help of a hobo and an aunt. I knew that things from the book would have to go. But this--this...thing desecrated everything Lynn Austin wrote. In the book, Frank Wyatt is portrayed as an evil man, with only greed in his heart. He carries on a pretense of religion, but does not know God. Yet in the movie, he is seen as a man who simply does not know how to say "I love you." He is simply rough around the edges. And I could not stand the movie any longer when Luke says, "I miss him." I was like, "How could you miss him? You were starved for love and affection, and he gave you none! He refused to get help for your father Sam, leading to a horrible and painful death by tetanus! And now you say you miss him??!" (In the book, Frank Wyatt collapses and tells Luke to get help, but instead Luke runs away because of his anger toward him for not getting help for his father) Do not bother seeing this movie, I beg you! It will only ruin your mind. Read the book; it is a masterpiece. When you only see the movie, you miss so much that the book has. There is a back story that I sorely missed in the movie. (It involves Aunt Batty's and Frank Wyatt's younger years) You miss the everlasting themes, and the raw emotion that is poured into the book. The book is worth looking at. The movie is not.
P.S. Eliza's real last maiden name is Gerard. In the movie it's Montclair. Come on, it's just a name. Could they not even get that part right? Well, they didn't, and I sorely advise you to avoid this movie like the plague.
P.S. Eliza's real last maiden name is Gerard. In the movie it's Montclair. Come on, it's just a name. Could they not even get that part right? Well, they didn't, and I sorely advise you to avoid this movie like the plague.
My Aunt's movie
I'm a little bias, because this was based on my Aunt Lynn Austin's novel. But aside from that, it was a great, clean, uplifting movie in which they are few and far between. The movie starred Sydney Penny, Jason Gidrick (Iron Eagle), Shirley Jones (Partridge Family), Tom Bosley ( Happy Days)and Barry Corbin (Northern Exposure). Good job to the Hallmark Channel which made and aired Hidden Places, Saturday night, January 28th, 2006. If you liked this movie, you'll love the book by the same name. She also has many other great titles in bookstores. She did a series on the Kings from the Bible in which she used facts and fiction to create a knowledge of just what the old Kings in the Bible had to do the keep their standings.
poor quality shallow
Having read the book first, several times as a matter of fact because it was so very good!!!, I was truly let down by the movie. The movie was no where close to the book. The book lets you get to know each character in such an intimate way, whereas the movie jumps into the plot to quickly with no "hidden places". Gee they didn't have her have the right amount of kids, or the right orchard (apples not oranges). They didn't speak about the hidden past of the Wyatt family(Batty, Lydia, Matthew, Frank etc) and Eliza's (circus family, how she hooked Sam etc) No suspense or anything. Just pure lameness. One should be ashamed to put out such a pathetic rendition of and absolutely wonderful book. The whole purpose of the book was to help one see how God can taken so many broken lives and work it all out despite so much pain and hurt and deception. I hope Lynn Austin did not watch the movie, what a let down.
- jimsbox-guard4
- Sep 7, 2007
- Permalink
A tender story of overcoming all odds when you are at your wits' end
I watched this movie because Sydney Penny was in it....she never lets us down! How beautifully she portrayed the character, Eliza....Sydney always brings part of herself to her characters (it's underlying, and adds color). Having lived through similar circumstances, I felt a real bonding with all of the characters. Shirley Jones is a real professional...and was totally believable as the aunt. Tom Bosley never fails to please us. He is always "into" his part, and we can feel his emotions. Barry Corbin is one of my favorites, since I first really enjoyed him in The Thorn Birds (he co-starred with Sydney Penny), and various other projects. And last, but not least - Jason Gedrick - he has matured so much in the past few years, and was believable in his role. I feel that this will become a real classic.
- aviator602
- Feb 27, 2006
- Permalink
Very good book made into a bad movie!
I reside in Holland. I had this DVD shipped to me, because i heard about Lynn austen's book being made into a movie . . man how sorry i was for spending my money on this . .with all respect to the book which is outstanding.
This movie to me had nothing to do with the book, it was just another feel good movie . .with a very uninspiring end. I think the casting of eliza was wrong . .sydney penney didn't feel like eliza to me throughout the entire movie. Jason kendrick (i hope that's how you write it) was better cast but didn't have a lot to work with in this movie. I love the woman who played aunt Batty, liked her a lot actually . But again she had little to do in this movie.
My advice; i would skip this movie, it has nothing to do with the book story-wise.
This movie to me had nothing to do with the book, it was just another feel good movie . .with a very uninspiring end. I think the casting of eliza was wrong . .sydney penney didn't feel like eliza to me throughout the entire movie. Jason kendrick (i hope that's how you write it) was better cast but didn't have a lot to work with in this movie. I love the woman who played aunt Batty, liked her a lot actually . But again she had little to do in this movie.
My advice; i would skip this movie, it has nothing to do with the book story-wise.
- zendeling84
- Feb 18, 2009
- Permalink
Wonderful Film on the Hallmark Channel
I really liked this film about decent people being kind to each other and trying to do the best they could. Kindness and decency are rare things to find in a film these days.
I was very pleased with the cast of this film--Jason Gedrick is one of my favorite actors, who unfortunately doesn't get the roles and recognition he should. He reminds me quite a lot of another actor I really like Anthony Zerbe. Other members of the cast were Sydney Penny--a very pretty young actress, whom I had not seen before, and the wonderful Shirley Jones.
The story revolves around a young widow, with two young children, who is trying to hold things together following the death of her father-in-law.
I quite liked the setting which was a farm (an orange grove to be specific), during the early 1930s. The big old house they lived in was an absolute delight to see-- there are so few houses like that left anymore.
A young man named Gabe Harper (Jason Gedrick), a drifter, arrives in the area and is stopped by the sheriff in questioned. As it turns out, the sheriff is a really good guy and he gets Gabe on at Eliza's farm.
To say too much more would be to give the plot away.
9 stars
I was very pleased with the cast of this film--Jason Gedrick is one of my favorite actors, who unfortunately doesn't get the roles and recognition he should. He reminds me quite a lot of another actor I really like Anthony Zerbe. Other members of the cast were Sydney Penny--a very pretty young actress, whom I had not seen before, and the wonderful Shirley Jones.
The story revolves around a young widow, with two young children, who is trying to hold things together following the death of her father-in-law.
I quite liked the setting which was a farm (an orange grove to be specific), during the early 1930s. The big old house they lived in was an absolute delight to see-- there are so few houses like that left anymore.
A young man named Gabe Harper (Jason Gedrick), a drifter, arrives in the area and is stopped by the sheriff in questioned. As it turns out, the sheriff is a really good guy and he gets Gabe on at Eliza's farm.
To say too much more would be to give the plot away.
9 stars
- MagicStarfire
- Feb 5, 2007
- Permalink
Not At All Like The Book
- rjensen-15231
- Mar 28, 2021
- Permalink
Excellent for chick flick night
I did a search on romance/drama movies and this was on the Hallmark channel. I've always liked Jason Gedrick (since Heavenly Kid :), so I figured I'd curl up Saturday night and watch (without much thought of getting enthralled in the story). I didn't realize I would enjoy it so much!!!! I remember Sydney Penny as the new Gidget and have always liked her, too. This is not a movie to critique writing styles, direction, etc. I usually enjoy movies that people criticize because movies are meant to be enjoyed - if you don't like it, deal with it and realize that just because you don't like it, doesn't mean everyone agrees with you. My suggestion about "Hidden Places" - Just watch the movie and get lost in the pain and joy that Eliza and her family go through and smile at the ending (you'll be able to even if you're crying tears of happiness :)
No one should ever hide this film from anyone! It's the loveliest of the loveliest!
Strong Women & Hard Times
It is refreshing to watch a movie that shows women working with men, rather than women proving to men that they can do everything by themselves.
It takes strength to ask for help or receive help when life gets hard; it also takes strength to have faith that life will get better when living through hard times.
This movie is a comforting reminder that life has ups and downs, and that life can get better with faith, hard work, and working together.
It takes strength to ask for help or receive help when life gets hard; it also takes strength to have faith that life will get better when living through hard times.
This movie is a comforting reminder that life has ups and downs, and that life can get better with faith, hard work, and working together.
- JenExxifer
- Feb 6, 2021
- Permalink
Review
What a wonderful movie Gabe such a sweet caring man and Eliza needs someone to care for hervand the family.love Aunt Betty.
- mitchellrharl
- Jul 15, 2021
- Permalink
question about the end
I saw this movie and fell asleep at the very end of it. How did it end? And now I have deleted it and can't get it back from my DVR!! It was such a great movie and I don't like missing the end of movies. I hope that it comes on again since it was this years movie. Maybe this is why Sydney Penny wasn't on All my Children for so long??? I like her character in AMC now. I have been looking for it on Hallmark Channel and can't seem to find that it is being repeated anytime soon. I doubt that it's on DVD since I believe Hallmark told me that they don't release their movies to DVD. I will also write to them and see if they are going to play it again and then e-mail me to remind me of when it will be on again.
Another great Hallmark Movie
A simpler time
This is a beautiful story of simpler times. Of neighbour helping neighbor, faith and coming together to overcome the odds. A great movie.
Enjoyable family film
I really enjoyed watching this. Yes, some parts were predictable but it had a great message of having faith even in the face of hardship. I think it's an all around good film you can watch with the family and that's not easy to find these days.
- sateigdraleah
- Feb 7, 2019
- Permalink