Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers (2024 TV Movie) User Reviews

At least film it at the Breakers!!

[PrepUofA · 4/10 · 6 February 2024]

Hallmark did a wonderful job with A Biltmore Christmas, filming on location at the Biltmore in NC. I was sad to find out watching this movie, they did not even bothered to film it at the Breakers. Such a magnificent site to see in person. That would have been a saving grace for this bland and slow paced movie. Instead they filmed at the well played out castle in Canada. Aka Lex Luther's house in Smallville and a bunch of other shows.

I saw this series of books at the gift shops at those famous Newport mansion and they are on my list to read. Definitely so now after reading the other reviews that mention how good the books are compared to this movie.

Characters

[pgreywacz-500-46798 · 5/10 · 3 February 2024]

I hope if there are more of the movies developed from one of my favorite book series the characters will be stronger. I am not happy with the actors that are playing most of these parts. I know people say all the time that it doesn't know how we imagined these characters to be. If more are made, when nothing has changed, I won't be watching more of these movies. Hopefully they just need to get into the parts better. Emma's character in the books are much stronger. I'm sure it isn't the actors problem as much as it is the writers. I guess I just expected more. I expected more from Hallmark movies and mysteries.

Third rate (on average)

[glenno-42453 · 2/10 · 4 February 2024]

I confess that, yes, I usually like Hallmark movies. And I like period pieces. So this movie is a terrible disappointment.

I just finished watching season 2 of The Gilded Age so I hope I didn't grade this movie further down in comparison but these are the thoughts that came to mind while viewing:

It has second rate acting.

It has third rate plot and dialogue.

It has fourth rate directing. Over directing.

(Third rate on average.)

The endless and all too frequent quick cuts during conversations were nauseating. And the puzzling way some of the actors uttered their lines had me blaming the director too.

A period cosy mystery series based in Newport around the Vanderbuilt family...strong enough to warrant watching a second offering.

[cgvsluis · 6/10 · 6 February 2024]

I confess I am a huge cosy mystery series fan and I have enjoyed several of the series on Hallmark tremendously (especially Hannah Swensen, Aurora Teagarden-the original and Mystery 101). I haven't read that many, but I have enjoyed the ones I have. Having said that, I was unfamiliar with this particular cosy mystery series...Gilded Newport Mysteries, but I might add them to my to read list and I am looking forward to more Hallmark films.

I will talk about the elephants first before tackling what I did like. There are tons of inaccuracies in this film...from dialogue, to sentiments, to names, to antiques, to race, to etiquette, and ultimately the actual location. Unfortunately, it seems to be very popular these days to apply 2024 sentiments to even period pieces, which in this case is even more of a shame since there really is popular source material to draw from. If you can ignore all of that...aka press pause on the logical part of your brain, there were some enjoyable moments and I am likely to be kind when they are attempting to start a new mystery series which can sometimes get off to a bumpy beginning. The lead actress, Ali Skovbye, was lovely as Emma Vanderbuilt-Cross, our lady's entertainment reporter and amateur sleuth. It was really fun to see Danny Griffin outside of Fate the Wynx. He looked fantastic in period costume as Detective Jesse Whyte and potential romantic suitor to Emma. It was fun that they used a real life mother and daughter acting duo to play the Vanderbuilt mother and daughter, April and Ava Telek. Geoff Gustafson appeared outside of his beloved role as one of the Postables, as Emma's editor and boss. It was a bit role...but fun to see him nonetheless.

I loved seeing all of the antiques, as a collector that is always a fun pastime for me. The clambake at The Breakers was an entertaining pursuit to depict with it's festive crowd. I would definitely give this series a second chance and I feel like the mystery itself is a stronger offering than some that I have seen...but I am not sure that it makes it into my recommendations quite yet.

A Gilded Mess

[theRealKidneythief · 1/10 · 5 February 2024]

I was really looking forward to this but after 15 minutes realized it was a mess on every level. The main character is completely unbelievable as a "detective" and she slogs through her dialogue. Most of the characters are wooden and going through the motions. Reactions to events are shockingly unrealistic (a guy falls to his death and our MC doesn't even blink or act startled. She jaunts over to the body and asks "Mr Goddard?" as blood pours from his head)

In another instance a man is lying on the floor, clearly having been knocked out but it takes our genius MC hours to notice a bump on his head and she's very proud of herself for figuring out he was attacked along with the murder victim. Ummm... wouldn't the guy know if he was hit over the head?? Just ask him!

As others have mentioned, the class system of the era is completely ignored. It seems Hallmark has period costumes on hand so they think that makes for a good period movie.

This mess proves that it doesn't.

Rough

[itsdux · 2/10 · 6 February 2024]

Whew this one was rough. And I love a hallmark mystery. I also love a period piece.

The main actress was rough. Her inability to finish conversations with people. Her 2024 vibes in this era... nope. Her actual acting. 0 stars.

Also, she's kissing and almost betrothed to one guy but very easily flirting with another. Not for me.

How many times was she going to almost die in this movie? The worst one I've seen in a LONG time.

Script -1 out of 10 Plot- 2 out of 10 Acting- 2 out of 10 Set design- 7 out of 10 Level of annoying- 10 out of 10

If you're looking for a hallmark mystery that's good- go for mystery 101 or A Flowershop Mystery.

Wowza... so bad

[vbuten · 1/10 · 6 February 2024]

Kept trying to like it, but the acting was so bad. For a period piece, only a couple of the characters portrayed it well. The others characters were like JR high students merely just reading lines for a play. I like the lead in Firefly Lane, so I expected a much better performance from her.

I was excited for a new mystery series on Hallmark, so I hope if they do more if these, they improve the acting. I enjoy most of the Hallmark mysteries and he really find the acting and stories to be decent. I managed to finished it but only because I really hoped it would get better, but it didn't but at least I know who did it.

OMG so MANY TERRIBLE REVIEWS!! So I'm giving it a 10!!

[kall6695 · 10/10 · 5 February 2024]

I haven't read the book as so many reviewers apparently have. I have been to Biltmore and studied about the Vanderbilts. This show reminds me of Murdoch Mysteries and Frankie Drake Mysteries in that they include African Americans in the mix of characters, which wouldn't have really happened in this time period.

Having absolutely no preconceived conceptions about this movie, I found it very appealing. The complaints about acting and dialogue are difficult to comprehend. I didn't have any trouble with them. Do any of the reviewers have any acting experience? Or writing experience?

The setting is in a grand mansion complete with a the ball and the costumes are all reminiscent of Bridgerton. Which, I seem to recall, had multiple African American persons of royal birth, etc. In the two seasons out. So they didn't adhere to the Uber White of High Society back then. Who Cares?

I found the show very entertaining. The relationship between Emma and Detective Whyte reminds me of Miss Scarlett and the Duke. It was rather sad to see who the murderer was, however, it totally made sense.

Hopefully, nobody will read all the negative reviews and miss the movie. I never read reviews before I see a show- too many negative people out there!

Here is hoping that they will have several more Gilded Newport Mysteries!!

Very Poorly Done

[DanaOne · 1/10 · 3 February 2024]

The actress playing the main character is completely out of her element. She is supposed to be a young woman in 1895, but vocally she is coming at you from 2024. While the other characters are attempting a more proper accent and intonation, she is mumbling and using vocal fry to end her sentences.

And that's just the beginning of this mess.

African American characters are also being utilized like it's 2024. There would not have been a black, female assistant to the medical examiner in 1895. Add to that, the ball at the beginning of the movie consisted of a large group of African Americans. This is the same part of the country that didn't even allow Jewish people in their country clubs in the early '70s. It's absurd. At least stay true to history.

This is genuinely the LEAST I've ever cared about a story.

[babybatfan · 1/10 · 4 February 2024]

I cannot stress how unfathomably BORING this movie is.

It lacked in EVERY category. The writing was atrocious. The acting was INSUFFERABLE; notably the starring actress who played Emma. Her voice, her MUMBLING drove me to near insanity. The actor for Jesse also mumbles. I can hardly understand either of them. The inconsistency in accents was "interesting" as well.

The dialogue feels like it's written by AI, and they all talk like robots. It's so cheap feeling, like they're trying to replicate proper English but instead I feel like I'm speaking to a customer service chatbot. If I hear "perhaps" one more time, I will guild myself. I was waiting for someone to say "affirmative" instead of "yes", or "negative" instead of "no". On the topic of dialogue, this whole movie is basically just a bunch of shots of one person talking, then another person talking. Then it cuts back to the same person, then the other. And they're sitting down. And it's not remotely interesting at all.

They just word salad dump the whole story.

It's patronizing how obvious "clues" are, especially when Emma has to have a flashback for every "a-ha!" moment. It's like the producer knew that everyone would have forgotten about the clue by the point it became relevant because the pacing is so strenuous and STAGNANT.

The cinematography is nonexistent. So many shots you can tell are only there to make a TV advertisement preview.

Not to even mention the total lack of any world building at all. I had no immersion at all to this "story".

This movie is far from historically accurate, but not even in a way where it's acceptable. If the plot were really good, or the characters lovable, or even the story ENTERTAINING in any way - even if it were laughably bad - I'd STILL be able to excuse it. I really don't even understand why this story takes place in the Gilded Age, It could've been any other time and still the exactly same story. Say, it could've taken place in 2010 and swapped out all the old timey stuff with modern equivalents - like a ball with a house party, or a carriage with a car.

Not only is it historically inaccurate, it's also borderline offensive how it erases racism and misogyny. It's trying to be progressive, but instead it comes off as ignorant. They could've used period typical misogyny as a plot device to make you actually care about our protagonist in a way.

None of the characters have any chemistry, or really personality. The actors and actresses have *so* little emotion in their acting that you just have to laugh.

The story put me to sleep. I watch a lot of TV mysteries, and read mysteries too. I probably have hundreds of hours of mystery media consumption under my belt, and it is my favorite genre. I have never been this bored by a mystery. I don't want to include spoilers in this review, but I will say that as I'm writing it I'm forgetting more and more of the story. It is so forgettable that I feel like in order to tell you about it, I'd have to be watching it at the same time. I heard this was an adaptation of a book, and I can only hope the book isn't as terrible. I feel bad for the author.

On a positive note, I did like the actress for the housekeeper/maid.

Disappointing

[ahight-1 · 3/10 · 6 February 2024]

I looked forward to this group of Hallmark movies. I was so disappointed to see them ignoring historical truths of the time. I don't think different races mixed in higher social settings.

The clothes didn't fit right and were of the wrong fabric. Baggy full length gloves , baggy bodices, even the men's jackets and shirts were baggy.

The female hairstyles had curls dangling onto the face. In this time, hair was put up and didn't usually have curls hanging on the face. If curls were present, the were next to the ears, not in face.

Houses could have been wonderful but instead looked cheap and had the wrong floor coverings.

The plot wasn't bad but the directing and production aspects left it wanting.

I think these mysteries have big potential but can't be done on the "cheap".

Ioved the books hated the movie

[lakolesar · 1/10 · 4 February 2024]

Everything that the prior commenters said is correct. The gilded murder mystery books were terrific! Found them on a tour of Marble house in Newport and fell in love with them and the area. Read them all and visited several times after reading. The books really bring to life the era and the culture and when you take a tour you remember what you learned about the people who lived there. So when I heard about this movie I Couldn't wait to see it. So disappointed. Being politically correct completely takes you out of the authenticity of the period. And for goodness sakes, just call the character by her name Miss Cross- not the hyphen Vanderbilt-Cross. Dumbing terrific books down like we can't understand that you can have a different last name from your cousin is just irritating and insulting. And the sets were inaccurate too. They kept showing a shot of a fireplace screen behind the characters that was clearly art deco which is at least 30 years in the future. If you're going to make historical drama at least make an Attempt to make it accurate. The people who would watch it will know. If hallmark makes another one please correct this inaccuracies. Alice Vanderbilt is surely spinning in her grave.

Interesting. exciting and really good!

[tarajil41 · 10/10 · 6 February 2024]

Get taken away into the world of the Newport mansions, the olden days, with lovely dresses and a backstabbing mystery. The plot was good, acting was excellent. The scenery is beautiful with a garden party at the cliffs. Historical references are accurate and there is humor too. What more could you want for a fun watch! If you love Newport, Rhode Island you'll enjoy this tale of murder. See inside the mansions, and out on Newport city streets. A well done murder mystery. A feast for the eyes. The details are amazing in the fashions and the scenery. I highly recommend. All in all, hard to find any fault!

Disappointing

[Richinlove53672 · 1/10 · 3 February 2024]

I have followed this book series for many years. I bought Murder in the Breakers book when I toured the Breakers many years ago. It was in the gift shop and seemed interesting, so I bought it. Enjoyed it so much that I kept buying each sequel as they came out. Now own all 11 books thus far. I will say the movie was definitely not as good as the book. Sorry Ms Maxwell, but I assume you had say so in what was portrayed in the movie and who was selected to play the characters. I thought the person who played Emma must not have read the book. Her attitude and emotions did not adequately portray Emma from the book at all. The Derrick Andrew's from the book does not match the Derrick Andrews in the movie. The lady who played Gertrude was believable as well as Adelaide, and Jesse did a good job, somewhat, but all in all this was a poor adaptation. My wife watched it, and since she's never read the book, she told me she had a difficult time following the story line, since she didn't know the players and they weren't described effectively. As we readers know, Emma chooses to marry Andrew over Jesse in a later book, but watching this movie, comparing the 2, it is hard to believe she would do this. Ms Maxwell, it seemed this movie was about political correctness and not about giving us a movie that truly brought your book alive, especially to those of us that have faithfully purchased each book with anticipation. I'm afraid this movie has sated my appetite for further Newport Gilded Age books or movies.

Quite terrible

[dustymedlock · 1/10 · 10 February 2024]

Does Hallmark not hire professionals to write and direct their movies? I found the script to be typical and extremely lazy. The continuity of emotion was all over the place... it just didn't make sense at times and left me scratching my head and rolling my eyes... and it was obvious it was to create drama that just wasn't realistic at all. The main character's dialect was that of a high school teenager from Southern California in2024 while the accent of her main love interest was like he was a part of the British royal family itself.

Racism sucks and we all hate the way it was in the past, but for a historical piece it was just not realistic at all.

And finally why is the main character the ONLY ONE who does ANY investigating? It's like every one of the other investigators are completely incompetent.

Lost its potential to messaging

[mmarks72719 · 2/10 · 4 February 2024]

I had been greatly looking forward to this series from the moment I first heard of it. As someone who has studied the Gilded Age era, I've thoroughly enjoyed Julian Fellows' series and was hoping this one would fill the gap while waiting on season 3 of The Gilded Age. What a disappointment overall!

On the positive side, the lead actress is strong and I felt the hinted women's suffrage connect was positive. Her character would have had a link to Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, who had much to do with the Gilded Age society dynamics but later focused on the suffrage movement as her calling. There is potential in this.

The mystery itself was sufficient and allowed the main characters to develop our understanding of them as they worked to untangle what was afoot.

The settings, while short of the glamour Fellows creates, were nice and provided glimpses of the Newport world of the time. The costumes were also fine to bring us into the time period of the show.

So why only 2 stars? Because for some incomprehensible reason, the creators decided to repeatedly yank us out of 1895 Newport in an attempt to show an inclusiveness that absolutely did not exist at the time. That blacks would be received at the Breakers and that interracial couples would go about at parties and in town would be great in a show set today - but 130 years ago in ultra wealthy Newport it simply wouldn't exist. Had the creators built realistic and sympathetic characters into the story that showed the injustices of the era, we could have had depth and reality. Instead, we got jarring anachronisms.

I also found the closing scene both unrealistic and frankly a disappointing take on the lead. One minute she is toying with marriage or at least a relationship with the detective, then she's suddenly flirting openly with another man a room away? I'll let slide the extreme unlikeliness of the interracial aspect, but just that the lead would switch abruptly.... Just left me feeling less of her, though I'm sure some will enjoy the idea of this uncertainty in her.

I wanted to be drawn into the story, the characters, and the time period. Why the decision was made to portray the period as it never was kept me from being able to stay engaged. The Gilded Age series has found ways to enlighten and inspire us with the struggles and successes of black Americans in the era and richly integrated this into the story arcs. I feel Hallmark almost mocks the realities of black lives and struggles in this false portrayal.

A Bridgerton wanna be...

[mysay-97-581086 · 5/10 · 11 February 2024]

I have nothing against the diversity of the actors but I don't think they were appropriately cast.

I am pleased that Hallmark is going outside of it's box and trying to create a different type of movie other than female being pushed into a situation with a former male companion and then having a situation that is conflicting the relationship. Or a damsel in distress storyline. At least it was something different. But they still have a lot of work to do.

The plot I found myself yelling at the lead female was her interaction with the mystery character of Mr. Andrews. One minute she was kissing the detective and the next accepting invitations from the mystery man!!

Still not horrible but not great either.

alack, alas...

[madmeerkat · 9/10 · 6 February 2024]

...when an author of two series you have followed for years turns her work over to become unrealistic portrayals one cannot help feeling betrayed.

Not only does the author allow her work to be dressed up like a tart, her work is then turned into the ridiculous in a television movie, which in turn allows the name of a very good murder mystery book series to be dragged through the Hallmark spit and polish machine to become shiny, flashy and gaudy with no true redeeming features.

The Hallmark gilded age murder mystery series bears very little resemblence to the books they are based on.

Alyssa Maxwell you have let yourself down, while the main cast of characters in your novels fight for their rights as individuals, and the rights of the down trodden, you have pimped the characters, props and scenery up and sold them off to the highest bidder.

The movie is a mite purdy, and like a lot of purdy thangs, it lacks any form of substance to recommend the book series or Author.

Atrocious acting

[bellsauf-57493 · 2/10 · 20 February 2024]

I was so looking forward to this as I am a fan of Hallmark mysteries and have been very impressed with their period works like "Three Beds, Two Bathrooms and One Ghost" (with the incredible Madeline West) and "A Biltmore Christmas". But, this movie is a huge failure.

The entire cast (except for Nanny) is awful, with the lead actress sleepwalking her way through the role. The lead detective looks like a surfer dude and the third component of this "love triangle" is a complete bore. Add to that a story with horrible pacing and some unbelievably sophomoric detective work. I finally fast-forwarded to the last 10 minutes to find out whodunit because I couldn't take it anymore.

Hallmark, you've been warned. If this really is the first episode of a series, recast the main leads and for crying out loud, enough with the dopey curls!

Low Quality and Not True to the Book

[Twiggy95718 · 1/10 · 17 February 2024]

I submitted an earlier review, but for some reason IMDB has decided not to post it. The only thing I can see that was different from any other review already posted is that I actually quoted from the Book. Maybe that's not permissible. I'm trying again, but won't actually quote from book. This movie was a very poor rendition of the book. It does not follow the truth of the time, 1895. See page 78 for a description of Derrick - you'll see the actor doesn't match. Also I think the actress who played Emma did a poor job. Concerning the scene where the man falls, see page 24, and Emma's much different reaction from what the movie portrayed. There are other instances where the book is so rich in description and emotion but the movie is sorely lacking. The whole movie was poor quality in comparison to the book, and I'm disappointed in Mrs Maxwell, the author, in approving the actors and in this poor acting movie. I won't be continuing with her series since this is apparently who she thinks her characters should look like. Readers, just think how wonderful this movie would have been with other actors, such as Ryan Paevey as Derrick and Jocelyn Hudon as Emma (movie: From Friends to Fiance) and Andrew Walker as Jesse (from many Hallmark movies). Of course, we all realize Hallmark is pushing stuff on us. I was so looking forward to this movie but am so very disappointed in it. The costumes did look great, but it definitely wasn't filmed at the Breakers nor in Newport RI (been to both and it is a great place to visit!).

Weak.

[peggymakurat · 5/10 · 8 February 2024]

I generously gave this a 5 mostly because the story is fairly good. The acting is not. There's some bright spots in the acting but otherwise it's much like watching a middle school play.

There's problems in the casting which I'm sure relate to Hollywood's need to be diverse. In this period, there's a lot of unlikely relationships and job positions in this show. The gilded age is a period where eugenics is highly popular due to much prejudice and not just to people of color. (I'd suggest "Under a Gilded Moon" for a fiction read more realistic for the period.)

The dialog is weak and for people in this gilded class, not as familiar with each other as in here. Combine that with lapses into 20th/21st century language and it's uneven.

Fix these things & it might end up a franchise for a few seasons.