La conteuse d'histoire

Don't let the statement "tv movie" fool you. While regularly, the tv movie genre holds to the connotation of cheesy hallmark specials; this one is not like that at all. It has a great plot that appeals to the whole family, and is in fact a wonderful Christmas movie. The story develops quite well and the characters become real with the circumstances. Recommend during the winter season.

The moral of "The Story Lady" is something along the lines of the dangers associated with commercialization. Which makes it ironic, in a way, that the story arc of the film itself makes very nearly the same mistakes it warns against. The most powerful passages of this film revolve around the first scenes of Grace McQueen (Jessica Tandy) at the public access cable studio. Tandy has by far the superior acting capability to carry a film based solely on this premise. Somewhat unfortunately, then, does Robert Zeschin's script take a much more unnecessarily complex route.

But such are the dangers of low-ambition TV movies. Jessica Tandy is this film. She is the reason it exists, and why it is so much worth watching. Everything else (save for a wonderful performance from young Lisa Jakub) is par for the course. In spite of that, there's no reason not to like, even love "The Story Lady". Tandy creates a character of wondrous depth and reality. There's nothing remotely false or off about her performance. I very much encourage you to see this film.

THE STORY LADY was a delightful Holiday TV movie that starred late Oscar winner Jessica Tandy as a senior citizen who wants to stay active and starts her own public access cable TV show where she reads children's stories on the show. The show begins to attract such a devout following that it attracts the attention of a national ad agency who want to put the show on network television, and as always in stories like this, once they've acquired the show, try to change it. Tandy is absolutely enchanting in one of her final roles and receives effective support from Stephanie Zimbalist as a busy ad exec, Lisa Jakub as her neglected daughter, Ed Begley Jr. as Zimbalist's boss and Christopher Gartin as Tandy's favorite cameraman. The film also features Tandy's real life daughter, Tandy Cronyn. It may be overly sentimental and on the predictable side, but it is a delight from start to finish, thanks to the limitless screen charisma of Jessica Tandy. A fun holiday film for the entire family.

Great family film for all ages. Could be called a "Christmas" movie, but the Christmas part plays a small role. Lisa Jakub's film before she plays the daughter on Mrs. Doubtfire. Jessica Tandy does a fine job as the "story lady" - a grandmother for all the children watching her on her community access TV show.

A grandmother who cannot find anything worthwhile to do with her time, begins reading classic storybooks on Public Access Cable TV. When everyone starts watching her, the networks get interested....I just want people to know that this title is available on Amazon now. But they changed the title to, 'The Christmas Story Lady' - this is sad as many people will not find it. I guess they are looking for a new audience. But I am so happy that I finally have it on DVD. I had bought a VHS tape a few years ago and it was going bad. This is a really wonderful Christmas movie and I can't think of anyone who would not like it. Jessica Tandy is wonderful. Stephanie Zimbalist is wonderful. Lisa Jakub is wonderful. Fun, also, to see Jessica's real-life daughter, Tandy, playing her daughter in the movie.