Dreams in the Attic: The Houston-Made ’90s Movie You’ve Never Seen

Dreams in the Attic was a 1999 made-for-TV movie starring Shelley Duvall, Haylie Duff, and Mary Beth McDonough, originally produced with the goal of being picked up by Disney. It was passed over and never aired. Houston Cinema Arts Society uncovered the lost movie, which will be screened at the River Oaks Theatre on July 7th and July 12th.

It’s not uncommon for a movie to be made that never quite hits the silver screen. What is uncommon is when a movie is made – only to hit theatres 25 years later. What is truly special is that this passion project from a group of Houstonians is getting a second chance to shine at the River Oaks Theatre.

Dreams in the Attic was a 1999 made-for-TV movie starring Shelley Duvall, Haylie Duff, and Mary Beth McDonough, originally produced with the goal of being picked up by Disney. While it was passed over and never aired, the devotion of the cast and crew resulted in the movie becoming a sought-after piece of lost media. It was never distributed and thus lost for 25 years until the Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS) uncovered the lost movie to be screened at the River Oaks Theatre on July 7th in honor of the late actress Shelley Duvall’s birthday. 

Rachael Valentine Acosta, Partnerships and Programs Manager at Houston Cinema Arts Society, captained efforts to resurface and screen the previously-lost film Dreams in the Attic. Here, Rachael is pictured in front of the River Oaks Theatre, where Dreams in the Attic will be screen on July 7 (the late actress Shelley Duvall's birthday) and July 12. (Photo Courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Society) 

One might assume that there was a National Treasure-style heist performed to release this movie; however, the process was unexpectedly wholesome. I spoke to Rachael Valentine Acosta, a filmmaker in Houston and the Community Partnerships and Programs Manager at HCAS, about how the organization found the copy. To my surprise, Acosta was actually the one who found the movie's hiding spot.

Rachael’s partner, a student at Texas Southern University, was mentored by Professor Bob Willems. Acosta’s partner mentioned the movie in passing when discussing their teacher's filmography. Acosta felt there was something special going on and asked Willems if he knew where they could find a copy. To Acosta’s surprise, he responded with a golden Vimeo link lost-media fans would faint over. 

Shelley Duvall stars as Aunt Nellie in Dreams in the Attic, a 1999 made-for-TV movie that was originally produced with the goal of being picked up by Disney. (Photo courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Society)

Dreams in the Attic is a homegrown labor of love. The film follows the eccentric Aunt Nellie, played by Shelley Duvall, who has a magic costume trunk that can make dreams come true, and a group of teenagers. The filmmakers were a team of Houston creatives with dreams of their city hitting the big screen. From stars like Duvall and Duff to hometown heroes, the movie is a love letter to Space City. While watching the movie, eagle-eyed viewers can spot the famous Houston skyline or might start craving taffy when they see La King’s Confectionery in Galveston. It wasn’t just the people on the screen; however, Dreams in the Attic was all-around Lone Star-studded. Writer and producer Carolyn Johnston owned several Shipley Do-Nuts locations, making this movie truly run on H-town spirit. 

“A lot of people who worked on the movie are still working in the Houston film industry today. It’s a very Houston story,” said Rachael. 

A still shot of Shelley Duvall as Aunt Nellie (left) in a scene from Dreams in the Attic. (Photo courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Society) 

The team behind Dreams in the Attic wasn’t ready for their story to come to a close just yet. In 2013, a sequel film was created. Starring Stephen Baldwin and Houston-local Sara Gaston, the movie was set in each of the characters' futures with the original footage being used as flashback scenes to their childhood. However, this movie was also passed over and never premiered.

The screening on July 7th will be followed by a talk back with members of the cast and crew from the movie. This results from reaching out to many 25-year-old contacts; director Bob Willems, local actress Kara Houston, and Sarah Lukowski, who owns the Shelley Duvall archives, among others, will be in attendance. While others may not be available for an appearance, Acosta said each participant was thrilled to hear that the film and its team was getting its due flowers. The screening on Saturday, July 12 will feature an extended introduction by the film's director Bob Willems.

Acosta highlighted the importance of allowing the local gem to be seen and honored as both an unaired work of Duvall but as a unique celebration of artists from our very own city. “They had this passion for this movie; they were trying to figure out how to make it happen. Twenty-five years later, and this is the way it’s getting seen,” said Acosta. 

A still of Shelley Duvall as Aunt Nellie in the titular attic full of costumes. (Photo courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Society) 

This event will be honoring the late Shelley Duvall in addition to the lineup of her greatest hits being played at the River Oaks Theatre throughout the month of July including Popeye, Nashville, and Thieves Like Us. 

HCAS doesn’t see this event as the end of the journey for Dreams in the Attic. Acosta has hopes for screenings outside of the movie's hometown as well as a digital release. “There’s an audience out there for it. It wasn’t able to find the audience at the time, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,” said Acosta. 

The Dreams in the Attic World Premiere will take place on Monday, July 7th at 7 p.m. at the River Oaks Theatre. There is an additional screening planned for Sat., July 12, 2:15 p.m. Tickets are $25/person.