The Shell Seekers (1989)

A widow (Angela Lansbury) has three adult children. Two of them (Anna Carteret, Christopher Bowen) are rather selfish and more interested in their inheritance, a series of paintings by their long deceased grandfather (Andrew Keir). She returns to the seashore where she was happy and attempts to take stock of her situation. Based on the best selling novel by Rosamunde Pilcher and directed by Waris Hussein (POSSESSION OF JOEL DELANEY). I've not read the source material but one can only hope it is superior to this sentimental Hallmark movie. Lansbury gives a lovely performance and, as always, is eminently watchable. Still, one can't help but wonder why she just doesn't give her ungrateful kids the boot but the treacly ending with everyone warm and fuzzy is almost too much to endure. It's a nice looking movie what with the Spanish and Cornwall locations but unless you're a Lansbury fan, this will be tough going. With Sam Wanamaker, Michael Gough, Patricia Hodge, Sophie Ward, Denis Quilley and Irene Worth.