User reviews

Sometimes I think that Betty is risking overexposure considering all she has been in lately, but then you see something like this. Wow! Did the other actors bow down on the set in "we're not worthy" reverence? They should have. All the actors were fine in their roles - no big issues with any of them. Betty just stepped it up several notches.

You watch something like this that links to such an iconic time in history. You realize that there are fewer folks around who lived it, and maybe they know or knew something we have forgotten. Like how to love completely and forever. They are now old and generally carry their hurts with such grace and dignity that it can really pull the tears out when you get a glimpse at what their life has forced them to bear. Betty makes you believe it totally. Let's keep her around forever.

I saw The Lost Valentine a few months ago on you tube it was the kind of movie that pulls at the heartstrings and makes you believe that when it comes to true love anything is possible. Betty White is a fantastic woman and actress having seen her comedic performance as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls and other television shows as well as films.

This is a movie that touched my heart not just because of it's content but also due to the wonderful performances of it's talented cast featuring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sean Faris, Bill Magnussen & Meghann Fahy. There were a few scenes that brought tears to my eyes such as when White's character learns the tale about her husband's fate and when his body is brought back home and given a proper service, seeing her finally get to say goodbye was emotional.

On Valentine's Day 1944, it's Neil Thomas's (Magnussen's) first wedding anniversary and his pregnant wife Caroline (Fahy) has gone to the train station to say farewell as he goes to fight in World War II. He makes a promise that he might not be able to keep and that is he'll return home safe by the next anniversary, 66 years later a now elderly Caroline (White) accompanied by her grandson Lucas (Faris) has come to the train station every year on valentine's day in the hopes that she will finally welcome her husband home.

The story is brought to cynical reporter Susan Allison (Hewitt) who at first refers to it as a fluff piece rather than the true tale that it is, she apologizes and the interview begins. As it progresses Caroline talks about how she & Neil met, to their wedding day and the house they fixed up that she still resides in and how for all these years she's been unable to get any information from the navy about her husband. Also Susan & Lucas appear to be falling for each other, as the film gets close to it's conclusion she hears about what Neil sacrificed in order for others to live and with help from Susan's ex boyfriend Andrew(Chase) they locate a Filipino man named Morang (Zano) who via teleconference tells the truth about what happened to Lieutenant Thomas he was killed by a Japanese sniper and then buried. Seeing her reaction to the news was heartbreaking, I mean her love for him was what kept her going all those years and never did she give up hope that somehow he would return.

The final scene shows Caroline dancing in her garden reminiscing about happy times she shared with Neil and a vision of him appears with his arms around her while they dance. The Lost Valentine is a wonderful story not just for 2011 but for all times and anyone who believes in true love.

Hallmark Movies have long been synonymous with Tear Jerkers and sometimes multiple tissues required.

This movie is no exception. Betty White stars as a young mother to be whose husband goes off to war as a pilot and becomes missing in action. Jennifer Love Hewitt is a news reporter wanting to do a story about the lost love and hopes to help find out exactly what happened to the missing pilot. The plot also features an absent boyfriend and grandson as potential new love interest.

Good movie - worth a view!

I had always thought of Betty White as a comedienne, and an excellent one. But it turns out that she can also do drama, and here she delivers an Emmy-worthy performance. Clearly the World War II era and the story of the Greatest Generation still has a hold on the American psyche, and this story captures that. It's about an American World War II widow named Caroline Thomas, whose veteran husband has been missing since 1943 and is presumed dead, yet she goes to the train station where she last saw him in hopes of welcoming him home. Her story catches the attention of a television docudrama network and they assign crack reporter Jennifer Love Hewitt to cover it. She initially dismisses the assignment, but quickly becomes attached to both the story and to Caroline and her family, especially her handsome grandson Lucas (Sean Faris). However, the story delivers some surprises. The ending, while perhaps far-fetched, is surprising and moving. There are a few unexpected twists to the story and a few which are no surprise at all. Yet even the obvious points don't matter. The entire cast delivers credible performances, but White truly commands the story. The moment when White's character finally tells her husband goodbye is an example of filmmaking at its best. This show is a credit to everyone involved.

I have never cried and smiled so much during a movie before! Juxtaposition right? Well, this movie made me cry like a little baby. I kid you not, I went through the tissue box. The story line is good, the actors are amazing. The whole thing was so believable and Betty White.. Ohhhh Betty White... I am speechless. I wanted to go and hug her. I literally just finished watching it and my eyes are all red and watery, but I can't get over how good it was! Honestly, one of the best movies I've seen. Hallmark almost never ceases to disappoint. Most Hallmark movies, though, are very light and fluffy, and your typical rom-coms with happily ever afters, but this one goes the extra mile. It's happy, it's sad. It's the real deal.

I also loved the message is sent out throughout and at the end, with the rose (which is not a spoiler at all). The ending seemed a bit scripted, but it was good. It's already 2 AM. I told myself I'd finish the movie tomorrow, but I couldn't stop watching! If I left it for tomorrow, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight and would be analyzing the different outcomes of the movie.

Sean Farris and Jennifer Love Hewitt :: loved it! Absolutely wonderful! The cast was chosen so well, I don't think they could've done a better job with it!

Altogether, I give this a 10/10 because it truly exceeded my expectations and made me laugh, and cry, and love, and hate. Stories like this make you believe in everlasting love. It does exist. And after watching this movie, I hope to someday find it.

On Valentine's Day 2010, Caroline Thomas visits Union Station for the 65th time, hoping her husband Neil will return. The friendly conductor says she's been on time every year for the 25 years he has worked there.

Susan is a reporter for the TV news magazine "American Diary", and she is tired of stories that she does not consider meaningful. Still, she gets sent to do an interview with Caroline, which she considers more of the same. She's about to find out this is the best story she has ever done, and one of her show's best stories as well.

Andrew, whose job involves lots of travel, proposes to Susan in front of their friends, but Susan rejects him because the proposal was not romantic enough--and not done in private. Andrew goes off on his latest trip.

Susan and her crew meet Caroline, who is reluctant to do an interview at first. Caroline is persuaded when Susan claims to know her grandson Lucas, a physical therapist who she met once. Lucas helps talk his grandmother into doing the interview, and it becomes clear that Lucas may be a better match for Susan than Andrew.

Through flashbacks narrated by Caroline, we learn that Caroline and Neil met but did not have a relationship at first, but then they became reacquainted after Neil became a Navy pilot in World War II. At the time, Neil was not part of the fighting, and he and Caroline married and moved into a rundown house which they fixed up (and they must have done a good job because Caroline still lives there). Then, after Caroline was already pregnant, Neil decided he had to join the war. In one of the first flashbacks we see Neil getting on the train and Caroline handing him a handmade heart--a very emotional scene. One wonders if this couple will ever be able to separate.

During the war, Caroline receives numerous letters from Neil, but she occasionally sees the Western Union man delivering bad news to her neighbors. And then one day it's her turn.

But missing does not mean dead. Susan and Caroline become good friends, and Susan has become quite fond of Lucas as he has helped her with back problems. And she really wants to find the conclusion to the story. There are clues as to what may have happened to Neil to keep him from coming back.

Meanwhile, though Susan and Andrew are not getting along, Andrew has connections in the Phillipines, where Neil was last seen. The investigation uncovers a wonderful story, which is well-done, though I shouldn't give away too many details.

The final scenes prove a worthy tribute to our men (and women) in uniform, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Betty White gives the best performance of all, and I expect to hear about her when Emmy nominations are announced. Although she is best known for comedy, she delivers a full range of emotion, sometimes demonstrating her comic abilities but also achieving fine results with drama. Yes, there is heartbreak, but it's not all bad.

Jennifer Love Hewitt does a good job here, though I have to say her scenes with Andrew seemed more like a Canadian Lifetime TV-movie than a Hallmark Hall of Fame. She and Sean Faris have much more appeal, and even give us some laughs in a movie that really needs them.

Billy Magnussen and Meghann Fahy both do a good job as the leading cast members from World War II. They too have a couple of scenes with some laughs, but they mostly deliver real drama.

I really liked the World War II music in the flashbacks. Mostly, though, these scenes had the pleasant orchestra music that seems almost boring by comparison to the high-energy jazz from wartime.

It was a perfect story for Valentine's Day, even if it aired two weeks early.

A movie, like a story, that can elicit a strong emotion of one kind or another must be considered 'good'. Despite this movie's negative points which include average acting and a simplistic 'been there and done that' plot line this movie was one that was able to accomplish this while being a feel good movie at the same time. A good watch. Jennifer Love Hewitt was stunningly beautiful as usual. The side plot romance between herself and Lucas was every man's dream. Being awarded not one but three top medals posthumously was a bit out there. The rose flower appearing long after the plant's death a far stretch. Again the movie was a reach. But it did elicit emotion. I am glad I watched it.

Caroline Thomas (Betty White), a grandmother, goes to the train station every Valentine's Day. It was there that she last saw her husband, Neal, who was shipped off to the Pacific during World War II. Also, the two of them, young and in love, were married on February 24th so its a special day. Since the day Caro got the telegram stating that her husband was missing in action, this fine lady makes this gesture of hope that he will return one day. Luckily, she does have loving support from her handsome grandson, Lucas (Sean Faris), whose father never met his dad, Neal, because his birth came after the squadron was sent away, too. By some happenstance, the story of Caroline's faithful station visits comes to the producers of a show called American Diaries. They send beautiful reporter, Susan (Jennifer Love Hewitt) to Mrs. Thomas' house to investigate the possibility of doing a human interest television spot on the war widow. At first, she is a bit reluctant, but soon she is delivering a captivating tale to Susan. Grandson Lucas also spars with Susan a few times but then grows warmer in his attitude. This begins to complicate the situation because Susan is almost engaged to another globe-trotting reporter named Andrew (Will Chase). Then, Caroline has a mild heart attack. Also, Susan discovers that she may have path to discover what did happen to Neal. So, will the program be made and will it include the truth about Neal's fate? This lovely film deserves to be FOUND, by anyone and everyone. It is just terrific in every way, from the cast to the production to the heart-felt story. White doesn't get to display much of her sensational humor but she is great in a more serious role than she normally undertakes. Love-Hewitt and Faris make a very fine, potentially romantic duo. Also, the flashbacks to the forties are made with care, providing a wonderful glimpse into an era gone by. Do you want to spend an evening at home with the best possible entertainment? Then, silly, don't wait and go find The Lost Valentine.

Here is a story that so could have easily gotten out of hand, but it didn't. It stayed quite believable from beginning to end, with solid direction, writing, cinematography, and production from music to costumes. All the actors gave solid performances, but Betty White is in her glory here. Capping a life time before the cameras playing every part from bubble-head wife, to game show staple, to man-chasing TV "Home Maker" to senior Nordic-American widow, we now have a consummate pro, the caliber of Tracey or Heburn in their latter days giving a performance that is total "Emmy" caliber all the way. If you some how missed this, catch a rebroadcast, or put it on your purchase or rental list when it appears on DVD or Blu-Ray disc. You will not be disappointed. One caveat: Have the box of tissue handy because Betty's gonna get you!

This movie is one of the best movies i've seen in a while. The cast does such a great job bringing all the characters and the story to life. I'm a big fan of Jennifer Love Hewitt, I've seen almost everything she appear in and I can honestly say that she is amazing in this movie and it's probably one of her best work she has done to the date. In the other hand Betty White has done some amazing comedies but she does a great job in this drama and, finally, Sean Faris was good in Never Back Down but in this one he really is great. The story is really good and touching. It's a shame it was only a TV-movie and it's not world wide known because it should be.

What an outstanding movie about a difficult time in history. Everyone in the cast displayed excellent acting abilities; absolutely believable. The people at Hallmark earn my business with their outstanding contributions - this being one of them, and one of the best.

I really like Ms. White and she does (as the rest of the cast) a marvelous job...I would very much like to think of her in real life as this character, NOT what I have seen on Saturday Night Live or Lake Placid. She does not need vulgarity to be a great actress, especially in her twilight years...

Only glaring mistakes - watch for them - using the small 50-star flags in a few scenes instead of the 48-star flag, correct for the period. And as for the Philippine village scene, well it looks like the tropical rain-forest about as much as my back yard in Indiana!!! These are very small nit-picky things in comparison to how fantastic and enjoyable this movie was. Thank you Hallmark, you always send out "The Very Best"!!!

After several months of sitting in my DVR, I finally decided to watch this "Hallmark Hall of Fame" movie that stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Betty White. Ms. White is Caroline Thomas, an elderly woman who-despite her Navy husband declared missing since World War II-still waits for him to return at the Union Station after about 60 years. Ms. Hewitt plays a reporter named Susan Allison assigned to cover her story. I'll stop there and just say how excellent Ms. White is in her performance. It's probably because of her that I found myself crying several times during the film. Ms. Hewitt, who's also an executive producer, isn't too bad on her end though sometimes I think her character can get a little annoying. Still, she holds her own when she's with Ms. White. I also loved the actors that played Caroline as a young woman and her husband Neil. And Sean Faris is okay as Ms. White's grandson and potential love interest for Ms. Hewitt. And dig the vintage music from the likes of The Ink Spots, The Mills Brothers, and Louis Armstrong! All in all, a nearly excellent picture presented by the producers of "Hallmark Hall of Fame". So on that note, I highly recommend The Lost Valentine. P.S. Was interested enough to watch the Hallmark commercials-both classic and current-spread throughout especially the one from 1967.

"Isn't there supposed to be magic?"

Caroline Thomas, played by Betty White, was a twenty year old WWII war widow who was left pregnant and alone. Every year for 40 plus years she has been going to the train station on Valentine's Day just in case her husband came home.

She knew her husband Neal since grade-school but they lost touch and weren't reunited until 1942, while Caroline was working for the USO and Neal was a Navy pilot.

"One thing people learned from the war was not to waste time."-Caroline.

I love the time period and I loved the storyline. Betty White put in a fantastic performance and she was well supported by the fellow cast including Jennifer Love-Hewitt.

I love stories like this one. She really loved him. Beautiful story. Gives people hope that something so pure and everlasting exists. Till death do us part.

If, on the other hand, you are not a fan of sentimental drivel, and if you are not impressed with movies where you can predict the plot AND all of its details within the first 5 minutes, then you may choose to watch another movie. Generally, I shy away from Hallmark productions because I am looking for more originality, and less obvious jerking of the tear ducts.

I ALWAYS read the Users Reviews and then average the numerical ratings of the first five reviews to get an idea of what the movie may really deliver. This time, my system failed me. Because the preponderance of reviews were literally glowing, I thought that I would take a chance, expecting something to be surprisingly different about this Hallmark production. I was wrong.

This turned out to be your average Hallmark fare - which is to say - TOTALLY predictible with obvious tugs at the heartstrings and the tear ducts. I love Betty White, but even she couldn't save this production. I kept waiting for its promise to be fulfilled in an interesting fashion, but it never happened. The movie is in no way truly horrible, but it is in no way is it truly memorable, either.

If you like Hallmark productions, you will probably really like this. If you are a bit more discerning, go find and watch another movie.

Wonderful love story. Well done for the creator and full cast/crew. Story people can relate and some lived and still do, From the past. present and future. Believe me you going to cry.

I have never cried and smiled so much for a movie. Purely amazing, very heart touching. I recommend this to everyone and anyone. You could feel the emotions of the actors. I wasn't expecting it to be this good. And this is coming from someone who never cries while watching movies.Good for any age group. I guarantee you'll cry while watching this.I cannot explain how much I truly enjoyed this movie. Purely Outstanding . The Notebook used to be my favourite romantic movie. But after watching this, I have without a doubt changed my mind. If you ever get a chance to watch this, I highly recommend you do. I promise you will not regret it! Long story short,absolutely fantastic, and a must watch.

I don't usually cry watching a movie, but i was balling. That was such an incredible movie.