A Special Tour by Kristoffer Polaha
Most women and maybe a few men are catching a Hallmark Channel movie during the holidays. I recently watched this one and have to say I gave it a 10. Actress, Bethany Joy Lenz portrays Lucy Hardgrove and actor, Kristoffer Polaha portrays Jack Huston.
The plot revolves around a magical hourglass that sends modern-day screenwriter, Lucy Hardgrove to the set of the holiday movie classic His Merry Wife. The film follows Lucy as she is hired to write the script for a remake of the holiday movie. She joins a tour of the grounds and when she knocks over an hourglass, she finds herself transported back in time to 1946.
When the head of the studio isn't satisfied with the ending Lucy wrote because it deviates from the original's feel-good conclusion, he sends Lucy to Biltmore for research and inspiration. While there, she unwittingly discovers the ability to travel to the set of the 1940s movie. After shaking off the initial shock of this turn of events, Lucy embraces this as her chance to uncover the truth about the movie's original ending. While on set, she and Jack Huston spend time together and become close though her sudden appearance has set off a chain of events that put the production in jeopardy. Before she can return to the present, Lucy must make things right or threaten to alter the future forever.
This movie highlights the wonder and beauty of the largest privately owned house in the United States. The Biltmore Estate is a 250-room property built for George Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895. Filmed at Biltmore in January 2023, this Hallmark movie features locations across the historic estate including the Library, Tapestry Gallery, Main Hallway, Staircase Hall, Vestibule, Winter Garden, Banquet Hall, the Conservatory and The Inn on Biltmore Estate. Biltmore's long history as a film location dates back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, but for the first time Biltmore House has a central role in the storyline of A Biltmore Christmas. Biltmore is mentioned 9 times in the film and 15 days of filming took place at the Biltmore Estate.
A Scene from A Biltmore Christmas
Eight vintage cars were used during the filming of A Biltmore Christmas; 200 yards of artificial snow were used; 300 Asheville-area locals were hired as extras in the movie; 8,000 plus people submitted applications online to be cast as extras which Hallmark producers said is the most they have ever received. Four rooms were decorated with a 1940s theme. Eleven costumes were worn by Miss Lenz. The most dramatic costume was Lucy's exquiste ballgown created by costume designer, Keith Nielsen. Nielsen sourced an original Carolina Herrera design specificially for its fabric reminiscent of men's tie patterns of the era. Modifications included a gathered bust that drapes around the back and the addition of a tiered tulle underlayer. Lucy's necklace is an original 1930s Czech crystal from the collection of Nielen. The costume will be on display at The Inn on Biltmore Estate throughout the holidays.
If you are planning to visit the Biltmore Estate this holiday season, be sure to look for the mysterious hourglass in the library plus several costumes worn by the stars Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha, as well as props from the set on display throughout Biltmore's Christmas season. For extra-holiday-movie-magic, the decor in the library this year will be based on the 1940s plot line of the movie featuring classic red and green elements with dramatic cascades of silver-sequined tinsel adoring the room's Christmas tree.
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