Goodnight for Justice: Queen of Hearts (2013)

Katherine Isabelle plays Lucy Truffaut, a woman used to getting want she wants with a pretty smile and a flash of cleavage.

At present, she’s running a scan on gullible guys, selling them a counterfeit machine that doesn’t work.

Ricky Schroder plays Col. Cyril Knox, one of those guys who fell for Lucy’s pretty smile, figure and lies.

But it all went sour. A veteran of the Indian wars, he survived those unscathed. Now he wears an ugly scar on one eye thanks to Lucy. He’s determined to get even.

And Luke Perry is John Goodnight, who happens upon a stage Lucy is riding in just as its attacked by Knox’s henchmen.

He saves Lucy, who tells him she’s the daughter of a rich businessman back in Philadelphia, sent West to negotiate some mine purchases.

He’s immediately skeptical of her story. But he’s not about to let this pretty young lady fall into harm’s way either.

Review:

The third John Goodnight film for Hallmark features a paper thin plot — John, Knox and Lucy are the only characters that matter — but at least it doesn’t suffer from the bad B-Western plot twists that mar the first two outings.

Schroder doesn’t make for much of a villain. It’s just tough to see him in that role, even with a beard. Perry seems comfortable as always as traveling judge John Goodnight. But the best thing about the film is the charm Katherine Isabelle brings to the role of the oh-so-sweet and oh-so-conniving Lucy.

Isabelle also played a non-lead role in the Hallmark Western “Mail Order Bride” (2008) but is best known for her work in horror films. She had the lead role is Ginger in a trio of “Ginger Snaps” thrillers about two death-obsessed sisters, And she starred as medical student Mary in the horror film “American Mary” (2012).

Directed by:
Martin Wood

Cast:
Luke Perry … John Goodnight
Ricky Schroder … Col. Cyril Knox
Katherine Isabelle … Lucy Truffaut
Ted Mann … Captain
Jerry Wasserman … Sheriff
Ryan Robbins … Pinkerton
Kerry James … Butch Cassidy
Serge Houde … Banker
Adam Greydon Reid … Fat Cat
Duane Howard … Apache

Runtime: 87 min.

Memorable lines:

Goodnight: “You’d make a good lawyer.”
Cassidy: “Thank you.”
Goodnight: “That is not a compliment.”

Goodnight: “I notice you’re wearing the same dress.”
Lucy: “Are you interested in women’s clothes, Mr. Goodnight?”
Goodnight: “Off and on.”
Lucy: “Mostly off, I suspect.”

Goodnight, making a dinner invitation: “How do you like your steak?”
Lucy: “In a bottle. No ice. No glass.”

Lucy, after making love to John: “I feel safe with you. I’m not sure I’ve ever said that to a man before.”
Goodnight: “I’m not sure safe is what I was going for.”

Katherine Isabelle as Lucy with Luke Perry as John Goodnight in Goodnight for Justice — Queen of Hearts (2013)

Luke Perry as John Goodnight in Goodnight for Justice — Queen of Hearts (2013)